As a self proclaimed connoisseur of ramen (although only in the instant kind), I was ecstatic to find out an authentic Japanese ramen restaurant had been open and operating in Carmel, IN for years. A quick google told me all I needed to know, with great reviews and stunning pictures of what was on the menu.

The drive from Fishers to 2450 e 146th St in Carmel was just over 20 minutes long, but as I stepped into the beautifully decorated restaurant, welcomed in with the Japanese phrase “Irasshaimase!” by the busy cooks in the kitchen, I reckoned it was worth it. I quickly got a table and took a look at their sizeable menu, consisting of a large list of mouth watering appetizers, 12 differently flavored ramens, and 4 rice dishes if none of the ramen caught your eye.

I ended up ordering the onigiri and Japanese pork bun as my appetizers, then shio ramen as my main course. The wait was actually surprisingly short for both. The tuna mayo onigiri,  a dense rice ball with tuna in the middle and wrapped with seaweed, was warm and soft to the touch. The balance between seaweed, rice, and tuna was perfect with my first bite, making a salty and refreshingly simple snack. The Japanese pork bun was a more experimental take on the classic pork filled dumpling, instead opting for serving the tender pork belly between two slices of fluffy bun with green onions and cucumber.

Finally, my shio ramen arrived. I had never tried actual ramen before, so I was amazed by the amazing presentation and rich smell. Shio ramen consisted of a french sea salt, kelp and bonito broth, as opposed to the classic miso or shoyu (soy sauce) base. I quickly dug in, finding the fresh noodles to be perfectly cooked, and the included pork chasu to be deliciously tender and fatty. Salty and rich, this ramen was better than any instant ramen I had whipped up in my kitchen.

The staff was kind and responsive, and service was fast. Although a little bit pricy, I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who wanted to try genuine Japanese ramen!