Yelp’s 8-Course Noodle Kaboodle @ Sobo Ramen

It's not every day that most people – even those illustrious Elite Yelpers – find themselves indulging in four bowls of ramen in one sitting. Plus, four appetizers beforehand. AND a few carafes of sparkling soju cocktails. But Sobo Ramen in Oakland Chinatown knew that if anyone could handle such a stomach-stetching culinary adventure, the East Bay Yelp Elite Squad could.

On Tuesday night, 25 lucky Yelpers gathered around the communal tables at Sobo Ramen for a very VIP-tasting experience, featuring an 8-course menu of Sobo's signature dishes: spicy Hamachi Shooters, silky Agedashi Tofu, rich Baked Mussels, and crispy Karaage chicken nuggets, along with mini bowls of their Sobo Special Ramen, Spicy Miso Ramen, and a full bowl of their most popular ramen: Tonkotsu, a pork-based broth stewed for 24 hours and enhanced with black garlic oil, soft-cooked egg, bean sprouts and sesame seeds.

"The kicker, however, was the vegan coconut ramen bowl," professes Lara W. This brand new recipe was an invention that the Sobo chefs were eager to test out with Elites, and was reminiscent of
"Thai sticky rice; a little sweet, but mostly just rich broth
with cilantro leaves and delicious noodles," Lara W notes.

Trish A appreciated that "the owners of this family-run establishment, Stella and Ken, gave us the
low-down on their well-thought out menu: local, organic ingredients,
tonkotsu broth that boils for twenty-four hours, and their new foray
into vegan ramen with egg-less noodles and coconut soy broth." Not all ramen shops are as ambitious in pleasing their customers, ominvores and veg-heads alike.

After the two-hour feast, Egan B recalls "I eventually went home, found my bed and continued to dream of lightly
fried agedashi tofu, and the complex flavor explosion know as 'hamachi
shooters.'

Jenn B was similarly charmed, divulging "Sobo Ramen makes some amazing Japanese fare! I can't wait to come back
again…and again and again. Arigato, Nique and the Sobo Ramen team!"

Check out all the steamy photos and reviews here! And definitely check out Sobo Ramen for yourself.

Nique F

Noodle Novice & East Bay Community Manager