"Tonkotsu Oh So GOOD!"

August 22, 2012

• outdoor seating
• ramen

• Food: Japanese
• Decor: Open, Light, Modern
• Service: Harried at lunch, more attentive during dinner service
• Cost: $$
• Wine / Cocktails: Varied menu, cocktails are yummy

Overview:

The star of the show here is the ramen. I have tried a lot of items on the menu and I always go back to the Tonkotsu ramen. Egg noodles in a pork broth, slightly silky/creamy from rendered pork fat, slices of braised pork shoulder, pickled greens and fresh bok choy.

Word of warning: the broth is a bit salty, so drink plenty of water so you don't get sausage fingers later on in the day!

Recommended Dishes:

Tonkotsu, Slurping Noodle, Bento Boxes, Duck Fat Fried Chicken

"Big Bowl = Happy Turtle"

June 13, 2012

• Food: Ramen, Noodles
• Decor: Modern, Lunch-like
• Service: Hospitable and knowledgable
• Cost: $$
• Wine / Cocktails: Interesting Cocktail menu

Overview:

This is the perfect spot for a rainy day. I went for dinner but am itching to try the lunch service. I had a big bowl of the steaming Shoyu Ramen. It had all my favorite veggies (bamboo shoots, bok choy) and a herbaceous broth. The braised pork shoulder, which I was skeptical about because I don't eat much pork, but tender and heavenly. I couldn't finish the whole thing because we had a scallop appetizer that was on special, but come hungry and you'll leave happy.

Recommended Dishes:

Shoyu Ramen

"Duck Fat Fried Chicken......PERIOD"

May 23, 2012

• Food: Japanese noodle bowls and small plates.
• Decor: Communal Dining
• Service: Great! Cat, the bartender was very helpful every step of the way.
• Cost: $
• Wine / Cocktails: Could have more variety

Overview:

First of all. Do NOT wear a white shirt when you dine here because I guarantee you might get a little messy. They were not kidding when they named this restaurant "Slurping Turtle."
The Tonkotu Noodle bowl had a broth that is flavored beautifully, but in order to enjoy everything in it, trying to be prim and proper goes out the window. So was it tasty enough to get messy for? Yes indeed.
While there, I also tried the brussel sprouts and the duck fat fried chicken. I had read a few reviews before visiting the restaurant and I'm glad I did because the menu is quite large. I very much enjoyed everything about the sprouts and the flavor of the chicken. I have decided that anything that has "duck fat" in the name is going to be good! I dined alone and sat at the bar and found the bartender to be very helpful as I was making my decisions on the menu. This restaurant is not for everyone, as some do not enjoy communal dining, but if you love Urban Belly and Belly Shack, you should give the Slurping Turtle a try!

Recommended Dishes:

Duck fat fried Chicken Brussel Sprouts Noodle Bowls

"A Taste of Home... Away from Home"

April 25, 2012

• Food:
• Decor:
• Service:
• Cost: $$
• Wine / Cocktails:

Overview:

I was fortunate enough to spend three months in Japan while in college, over ten years ago. Since then I've rarely come across food that really felt like authentic Japanese cuisine - that reminded my of my temporary home away from home.

Then Slurping Turtle came along. I literally had not had a bowl of ramen or udon that good or authentic since I lived in Kyoto. The noodles make me want to do a stage there just to learn how to make them that good on my own.

Recommended Dishes:

ramen, udon, duck fat fried chicken, bento box

"Duck fat fried chicken"

March 3, 2012

• Food: Asian / noodles
• Decor:
• Service: Still needs a lot of work and to recognize the dishes being served!
• Cost: $$
• Wine / Cocktails: Good

Overview:

Just came back again for lunch. The duck fat fried chicken tapas is a must. Incredible. Steamed shrimp and pork dumplings are still good, simple but good. The oysters were a little too fried but good, the pork belly snack I would skip, the steamed buns were great but the pork was really chewy. Skip the shrimp / prawn bincho grill - too overcooked.

Overall, I would still go back. It just isn't as amazing as Takashi.

Recommended Dishes:

Duck fat fried chicken, shrimp and pork dumplings

"Dumplings, noodles, sashimi"

December 9, 2011

• Food: Asian
• Decor: modern Japanese
• Service: Needs improvement
• Cost: $$
• Wine / Cocktails: Good, Spirited Away was good

Overview:

I went to both Takashi and Slurping Turtle this week and they are definitely very different places. Slurping Turtle reminded me more of a Bill Kim restaurant rather than a restaurant from Takashi but I did like it. Definitely very casual, modern Japanese interior with booths that look like they are in floating pods. The entire center of the restaurant is communal seating.

They didn't have all of their drinks on the menu available but the Spirited Away was very good. Gin with honey-lavender syrup that was very light and refreshing! Very well balanced. The octopus salad was first and I really liked this dish. The octopus was done very well and not chewy as octopus can be. For the dumplings I had the steamed shuami (pork and shrimp) which were very good. I really loved the fried oysters dish with both of sauces served with it. I had the coconut creme puff for dessert. It was quite larger than I expected but the coconut flavor was great.

Overall, I liked it. I think expectations are very high here but for a good casual place for Asian food, I would definitely go back. The service was very slow and could use some work. Not slow or needs improvement because it is still a fairly new restaurant but it was more than half empty (late afternoon) and there were a ton of staff available just standing around, they were nice but they just weren't very attentive or fast.

Recommended Dishes:

octopus salad, fried oysters, steamed shuami, coconut cream puff