Mochi Ramen Bar runs on a first come, first serve basis, and we got there a little over an hour…read morebefore closing. The line looked daunting at first, but it moved surprisingly fast. While waiting, we struck up a conversation with two new friends, one visiting from the US like us, and the other a local from the neighborhood, so we decided that we share a table to save time. Hearing the local's strong recommendation reassured us that we were in for something special, and they were absolutely right.
Despite the late hour, the service was excellent, efficient, and attentive. Our orders, the Tonkotsu and Wan Tan Ramen, arrived fairly quickly. The broth was rich and deeply flavored, perfectly balanced without being overly salty. The noodles had just the right spring and chew, firm enough to hold their texture, yet tender enough to soak up the broth beautifully.
We stayed until closing, but the staff never once made us feel rushed. Since we shared a table with 2 others, they allow splitting the bill into 3 transactions which was very accommodating. We had the perfect late night comfort meal, especially for our Asian palates craving familiar flavors while traveling through Europe. Mochi Ramen Bar truly hit the spot and was worth every minute of the wait.
Our new local friend mentioned they also have their own vending machine for those looking for a quick fix, so we went to check it out afterward and it had a good selection of the restaurant's ramen bowls, ready anytime you crave it.