Reasonable, affordable ramen at Baikohken Ramen, but best to focus on side dishes
Our two bowls of ramen were passable but unspectacular and if we ate at this restaurant again we would order less noodles and more vegetables and side dishes
Tucked away on Tang Lung Street in Causeway Bay is a new branch of Hokkaido-style ramen restaurant Baikohken Ramen. It is the second Causeway Bay branch of the chain that first opened in the food court of nearby Hysan Place, and there are also branches in Taikoo and at Hong Kong International Airport.
The recently opened branch faces tough competition on a street already crammed with ramen shops and Japanese restaurants vying for the attention of the many shoppers and office workers in the area.
Meen – healthy fast-food noodles for under HK$100 in Central
We went on a weekday evening to see if it stands up to its nearby competitors. The small restaurant was already packed with people grabbing an early dinner when we arrived, and we saw several more customers waiting outside for seats.
The ramen itself, however, was unspectacular. While the miso ramen (HK$80) came in a big portion, we thought it could have used more toppings, having only a few pieces of menma (fermented bamboo shoots), bean sprouts, negi and two slices of char siu pork. The shio (salt) ramen (HK$75) was in fact a bit too salty for our tastes. For both bowls, we found the broth did not have the depth of flavour required of top-notch ramen.
The butter corn (HK$15) and generous vegetable selection (HK$20) saved our dishes, and if we were to return we would order a half portion of the noodles and load up on vegetables and sides for a more enjoyable meal. This time, we were unfortunately too stuffed to try any of the sides (gyoza, croquettes) or Hokkaido milk pudding for dessert (HK$22).
Baikohken Ramen is certainly a reasonable choice if you’re looking for a no-frills bowl of ramen during lunch hour, but we found that the quality of the food and the restaurant’s general ambience both fall below many of the other ramen restaurants on Tang Lung Street – all of whom have similarly priced menus.
Baikohken Ramen, Tang Fai Building, 44 Tang Lung Street, Causeway Bay. Open: 11am-11pm
While you’re in the area:
Restaurant review: Papi in Causeway Bay – casual Italian that will satisfy your hunger
Restaurant review: The Kam’s in Causeway Bay – sizzling Sichuan stone pot and signature dishes
Sichuan dishes with a Cantonese twist at Sichuan Delicacy, Causeway Bay hit the spot
