Miso Pork Ramen

Menkoi Sao used to be Menkoi Sato in Greenwich Village. They focused, previously, on Hokkaido-style ramen, and I believe they imported their noodles straight from Hokkaido. Nothing has changed under new ownership -- same recipes, same decor. She's very friendly, and I am happy this place is back. It's a pleasantly thick broth, very porky and fatty, the miso taste is prominent, and the noodles have a solid chew, and are very slurpable. The chashu? I could have skipped. It's fine, no doubt, but not what you're here for. An egg and some menma would have been a nice touch here. No corn in the miso ramen, either, but I believe that's a different style of ramen. I probably should have ordered the spicy miso, given my preferences, but this was a good baseline for another visit (she recommended I try their signature shoyu ramen next time, and I'll make sure to get the fried chicken, which looks like a signature dish). The little ramen I've had in Japan was always saltier than American ramen, and this is no exception. It pairs well with a cold Sapporo, which I grabbed. It's not a cheap option, but it is a quality one. I generally don't crave ramen, but if you want a nice fix that is reminsicent of Japan, this is one of the better spots.