Overall CID rating 2.50 out of 5
Thumbs Up: gyoza skin
Thumbs Down: retched-smelling bamboo shoots, heart-attack pork belly
Recommendations: Customize your order, “No smelly bamboo for me, please!”
“CID Highlight” – Pork Gyoza: CID Rating 3 out of 5
This dish was the highlight of my meal tonight though still nothing to write home about. The gyoza skin was thin, light, and crispy on one side. The filling however needed a bit more seasoning. I still prefer the pork gyoza at Sapporo.
Shrimp Gyoza: CID Rating 3 out of 5
Though this dish did have whole shrimps as the filling, again, there was not enough seasoning and the shrimp was actually a little tough. I think if you’re making a dumpling, then make a dumpling with chopped fresh ingredients plus seasoning. The dumpling should be delicious even without the dipping sauce. In this case, even the soy-vinegar was a bit tart.
Minca Ramen: CID Rating 2.25 out of 5
What the heck is that smell? Oh, it’s coming from my noodle soup. I give this dish a 4 out of 5 for presentation. It looks delicious but smells horrible. As for flavor and quality, it just wasn’t there. The canned bamboo shoots completely devoured any appeal that this noodle dish had to offer. The pork belly did melt in your mouth but that was because 90% of each slice was fat.
Miso Gyoza: CID Rating 2.25 out of 5
Is it only my noodle or yours as well that’s stinking up our corner? The Miso Ramen was a bit more bearable considering the miso flavor probably drowned out the stench a bit. But none the less, still no seasoning and the pork was just as fatty.
every great ramen place has a decent to extraodinary miso ramen. following this logic at minca was my mistake and evidently minca’s as well. although the noodles used at minca was up to hype, the miso flavor never made it to my bowl. and what is ramen without the flavor of the broth? think college dorm – hence shooting down the overall rating to a 2 out of 5. CID, you are more generous than me!