The Best Ramen in OKC This Month: Chilled Ramen
As the temperatures climb in Oklahoma, many tend to trade soup for salad, straying away from hot foods and transitioning into colder, lighter foods. And although we could eat a steaming hot bowl of ramen every day of the year, we can understand the need to ease the oppressive heat. Lucky for you, we’ve got a great solution: chilled ramen.
While there are thousands of variations of ramen, the dish traditionally is a hot and hearty soup with rich flavors, thick noodles and a variety of heavy toppings to keep you feeling full, comforted and warm. Chilled ramen is a complete 180 from this *and* your new summer obsession. Heat is traded for cold, broth is traded for dressing, and a rainbow of light and colorful toppings are added. The noodles, dressing, and toppings combine together to create a bowl of flavor and texture, while still being refreshing.
The Ingredients
Now that a general introduction has been made, let’s dive into the details on our menu item. Goro’s chilled ramen combines a number of ingredients to create a traditional, yet creative and unique dish. Chilled, brothless noodles are coated in sesame dressing, and accompanied by shrimp, surimi, mustard greens, negi, fried shallots, and the optional menma.
Chilled Noodles
Noodles, being a staple in all ramen dishes, need no introduction. However, our noodles do. Goro’s noodles never come from a box or bag, they are handcrafted by our cooking staff and made with love for ramen, and love for you (aww).
Sesame Dressing
We hate to brag, but really, our sesame dressing is out of this world. The base of sesame combined with other amazing ingredients produces a sauce that is tangy, refreshing, and flavorful.
Shrimp
Shrimp is the perfect addition to this light summer meal. While it does add a bit of texture and protein to the meal, it doesn’t make the dish too filling.
Surimi
Often referred to as imitation crab meat, surimi is very popular in Japanese cuisine, and is gaining popularity in western countries as well. This ingredient brings delicious flavor and adds a bit of sweetness to combat the tangy sesame dressing.
Mustard Greens
Related to kale, cabbage and collard greens, mustard greens are often used in Chinese, Japanese, and Indian cooking. While these leafy greens prove to taste less bitter than, say, kale, they have a more peppery flavor– such as arugula. While these veggies do not overpower the other ingredients, they do a great job of tying together the dish’s flavors.
Negi
Fresh green onions, or negi, sprinkled on top of the chilled ramen truly complete this dish. They offer a satisfying texture, while providing a mild onion-y flavor, along with a touch of sweetness and spice.
Fried Shallots
Similar to negi, adding crispy fried shallots into the meal adds a pleasant crunchy texture. With a sweet and salty taste, like many fried foods, fried shallots bring even more flavor and pure delicious-ness to this dish.
Menma
Menma is a slightly crunchy and very flavorful ramen topping. The word, menma, refers to fermented bamboo shoots, and tastes both savory and sweet. While this topping does not automatically come with the chilled ramen, it is highly recommended and can be added.
Vegan and Vegetarian Options
For all of our vegan and vegetarian customers out there– don’t worry, we didn’t forget about you!
There is a vegan option available for our chilled noodles, and all toppings are available to be subbed out or taken off. If you’re someone who doesn’t eat meat, feel free to add other toppings instead of shrimp and surimi– we’ve got some refreshing veggie topping options for you to choose from, like corn, mushroom, tomato, or bean sprouts!
Beat the Heat at Goro Ramen
If you’re looking for a refreshing summer meal and a moment out of the sun, stop by and see us at Goro Ramen. If you have questions, or want to check the seating availability, feel free to call us. If you’d like to see what other items we serve, check out our menu online (we’d recommend the Japanese Shrimp Ceviche for the summer.) And finally, if it’s 105º out and you can’t even think about being away from your AC for a second, we’ve got you covered! Order for delivery through our partners Toast Tab and DoorDash. We’d love to see you soon and show you why Goro is the best ramen in OKC!
Address
3000 Paseo, Oklahoma City, OK 73103