Goma Tei @ Ala Moana

Goma Tei is a restaurant that exemplifies the idea of a restaurant that does one thing, and does it right. A ramen specialty restaurant, Goma Tei’s local claim to fame has been its delicious and wildly popular tan tan ramen. Unlike traditional ramen broths made as a salt or shoyu base, this broth utilizes the subtle spiciness of roasted sesame seeds to enrich the flavor of the soup.

Whether you dine at the Goma Tei location in Ward Center or Ala Moana, you will find the atmosphere to be bright and lively. Both locations are bright and inviting, the perfect setting to enjoy a hot bowl of noodles. I have enjoyed good service at both locations from the courteous and attentive staff. You will find that both locations build up quite a few customers around peak lunch/dinner hours, so I would recommend going at an off hour or making sure you get there early.

In addition to the standard ramen offering, Goma Tei also provides its customers a variety of appetizer choices:

Ban Ban Ji Chicken

The cold Ban Ban Ji chicken is a rather unique starter offering. Thin slices of cold chicken breast rest atop a bed of “cucumber noodles”, topped with a sauce that is based on their tan tan ramen broth. This cold dish is very refreshing, with a savory and tangy flavor. The cucumber noodles are actually my favorite part of the dish!

Chicken Tatsutaage

My favorite dish at Goma Tei (aside from the ramen of course) is their chicken tatsutaage. These warm morsels of chicken are succulent and juicy with a slight, wonderful crunch. The sauce that accompanies the chicken adds a great tangy bite to the experience. These pieces of chicken always come to the table fresh from the fryer and are piping hot.

Enjoyable as the appetizer options are, the real star of Goma Tei’s menu is their featured tan tan ramen. A little spicy with a depth of earthy flavor from the roasted sesame seeds, this ramen broth experience is quite unique. I do not often make it a point to drink up all the broth in my bowl of ramen, but I make an exception with Goma Tei’s tan tan broth. You can order your ramen with a variety of toppings:

Tan Tan Ramen with Egg

The basic ramen order comes as pictured above, minus the egg. You get a nice helping of ramen noodles and a thick piece of charsui! Other variations include:

Charsui Tan Tan (3 pieces of charsui)

Vegetable Tan Tan

Final thoughts: A unique and delicious take on ramen, Goma Tei delivers consistently delicious food with fast and friendly service. Although not the only game in town for this type of ramen, I dare say that Goma Tei is my favorite. A bowl of ramen will run you a little extra here than in your traditional ramen shop, but the flavor is well worth it!