One day a while ago I googled 'vegan ramen melbourne' out of vague curiosity. Turns out there's at least three vegetarian options in the CBD - Menya, Little Ramen Bar and Fukuryu. We set out for Little Ramen Bar a couple of weeks ago but were turned away by the massive lines. Our visit to Fukuryu was a much bigger success.
Despite being in a little laneway off Chinatown, it's quick and easy to find. Up a flight of stairs and you walk into a warm spacious area filled with small tables. Ordering happens at the front of the store, then you take an electronic order whatsit and sit and wait for your meal to come to you. Super easy. There's a good variety of drinks too - you can have the usual Coke et cetera, a Ramune, or Japanese beer and cider (they carry three varieties of Kirin - apple and mandarin, apple and apple/umeboshi). I'm fairly sure Kirin is v-friendly - next time I'll be giving them a go.
Your only vegan ramen option is the Vegetarian Miso Ramen ($12.90), ordered without buttered corn and egg. But it's SO worth it - and honestly, this doesn't need the extra toppings. Rather than pork and egg, this comes with fine slices of grilled pumpkin, crispy nori, enoki mushrooms and pumpkin seeds. The broth is lovely - savoury and a little rich - but the pumpkin and seeds are the perfect toppings. Each table has bottles of chili oil, shichimi togarashi, chili paste and sesame seeds, so you can spicify your ramen if that's your jam. Either way, this was brilliant and by the time I'd finished it I was already making plans for my next bowl. This is an incredibly well thought out vegan option, instead of "let's throw a bunch of veggies on some broth", and I'm just plain excited it exists.
Oh, and where the omnis have chicken karaage and beef bowls and such - we can have fried nori tofu, $4.90:
This was delicious; paper-thin batter encasing soft tofu, so hot it burnt your mouth, and scattered with nori salt and pepper which made the perfect ramen side. I forgot to ask for it mayo-less, so if you're vegan make sure to do so. I just got Omni Boyfriend to eat the mayo'd pieces and all was well. He had the (meaty) Tam Tam ramen and half my tofu and thought both were brilliant.
Fukuryu Ramen is cheap, cheerful and absolutely delicious. The service was stupidly fast, the waitresses lovely and it was a great place to sit and enjoy a meal out of the torrential Melbourne rain. The reviews are true: this place rocks. Get on it.
Fukuryu Ramen
Level 1, 22-26 Corrs Lane, Melbourne
11:30 - 2:30 lunch sitting, 5:30 - 9:30 dinner sitting
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Fukuryu Ramen
Level 1, 22-26 Corrs Lane, Melbourne
11:30 - 2:30 lunch sitting, 5:30 - 9:30 dinner sitting
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
