Ramen at Cafe Japone?

[dcgremlintummy]

Hi Chowhounders,
My husband and I are recent L.A. transplants dying for our ramen fix. We missed out on Ren, but recently got a tip from a waitress at Kushi to check out the ramen at Cafe Japone in Dupont Circle. I did a quick search and came upon some really heinous reviews on Yelp, but they were all about the sushi. But descriptions of the environment (late-nighters vomiting on the floor!) have me a little nervous. Anyone tried the ramen at Japone, or have any other suggestions within metro distance? We're sick of driving and ditched our cars in L.A. Doesn't have to be the world's best ramen; just good enough to get us through cravings. Thanks!

[Lori D]

Just in case you missed the thread specifically on Ren's, it is reopening shortly: http://www.bethesdamagazine.com/Blogs...

[hamster]

Just read this about a new ramen place opening in Penn Quarter, but who knows when it will happen. Could be good.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/goin...

[hamster]

Also, speaking of ramen places that are supposed to open. This Toki Underground place on H Street was supposed to open for ages now, and the menu was going to involve dumplings and ramen. Anyone know anything about their prospects?
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington...

[mejesster]

I'd eaten at Ren's, which was totally satisfactory, if not spectacular, and I have been poking around DC boards for replacements. There are TONS of pho joints all over the area, but only three restaurants with ramen:
1. Temari Cafe in Rockville
2. Satsuma in Bethesda
3. _______ in NoVA. (blanking on name/location, blue sea something?)

I went to Satsuma once, hoping to get ramen, but they told me that it wasn't available that day. Sort of baffling. I remember being pleased with the restaurant otherwise, though I don't recall any specifics.

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Temari Cafe
1043 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852

[Lori D]

No 3 is probably Blue Ocean in Fairfax - I don't think it is Metro accessible.

Maneki Neko in Falls Church has ramen on the menu. I've never been, so I can't speak to the quality. It is accessible via Metro (though it is a bit of a walk).

[sweth]

Blue Ocean and Maneki Neko both have adequate bowls of ramen (although IIRC Blue Ocean's seasoning was off--it was either undersalted or oversalted--it's been a while...); neither is as great, but if you've got that craving and you're in the area, both will do. (Maneki Neko is also pretty good on the sushi front; I haven't tried Blue Ocean's sushi, since I was heading out there on a special quest for ramen.)

[Steve]

I'm not sure if a catch-all Japanese restaurant is capable of putting out a satisfying bowl of ramen. It also appears on the menu of Yosaku and Tono Sushi (lunch only) in DC.

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Tono Sushi
2605 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008