Ramen at United Noodles UniDeli

[SmartCookie]

Just added to their menu, made with white miso, roast pork, 1/2 tea-smoked egg, bok choy, sprouts, green onion, and marinated ginger. Only $7; totally worth it.

If you haven't been there lately, or at all, you have to give it a try. The daily lunch special is a choice of 3 items (one meat, two stir fry) and a choice of white or friend rice for $6.49. Great deal!

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United Noodles Asian Supermarket
2015 E 24th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404

[ChancesR]

Love their beef noodle soup. Nice chewy noodles. Great star anise flavor - just like Taiwan. Only con is the beef can be kind of fatty.

[stepawayfromthetable]

Just had the spicy tonkatsu ramen yesterday and it was delicious. The broth was milky from doing it right and boiling those bones...good spice with bok choy, sprouts, the delicious char sui for the pork and a tea egg. They have raised the prices, but I can't complain because thankfully, they extended their hours.

[SmartCookie]

Extended their hours to what?

[stepawayfromthetable]

http://unitednoodles.com/store/contac...

[namabiiru]

I stopped shopping at UN when they severely reduced their Japanese products for sale. Now they are using Japanese food to draw people in?

Whatever. Maybe I'll stop in for some ramen, I've been told by a couple of Japanese its good(they recommended tonkatsu ramen). Not gonna shop there though.

[KTFoley]

Where do you shop instead to locate Japanese products?

[steve_in_stpaul]

While the selection has never been close to what UN offered (or likely offers now; haven't been in -- umm, too long), Kim's on Snelling in St. Paul has a surprising amount of Japanese food among the Korean.

[namabiiru]

Steve_in_stpaul is dead on. Korean markets usually have significant Japanese products. The Kim's he mentioned is good, I also go to a place in Bloomington called Hana Market. its at 1716 E Old Shakopee Rd. Its easy to miss, little strip mall..in between a subway and I think a gyro joint. Its not a big store but they are better than UN imo.

Hana may not be as good going forward though, as they just got new owners within the last month or so. I don't know if they will make an effort to service the local Japanese community like the previous ones did. We'll see!(crossing fingers)

[namabiiru]

Just a quick addendum on this. I stopped in for lunch yesterday. The Japanese chefsan wasn't there (mon/tues off) but I and my J gf both got ramen. She also got age dashi tofu. We liked both of them. I'd even say the ramen was excellent.

I'm actually impressed, for a grocery store cafe I wasn't expecting there to be great attention to detail. But, the bean sprouts were cooked before adding to the ramen, and the color scheme of the presentation was on. Not a bad job at all. And for the price, 7 bucks, you just can't beat that.

There might be better around town, but you'll be paying 3-5 bucks more. I think the ramen here is the best in town if price is a factor. If price isn't a factor its still top tier.

The age dashi tofu was good as well, I thought 3 bucks for it was steep until the dish was set in front of us. Large portion. It is worth 3 bones.

After having a look around, I still won't shop there...but I will be back when I get a ramen craving!!

[AnneInMpls]

I'd like to know, too. I'm looking for a fancy Japanese soy sauce that United Noodles used to sell but doesn't any more.

[SmartCookie]

And what would that soy sauce be?

[AnneInMpls]

I wish I knew! I tell myself I'd recognize the bottle if I saw it, but... About the only thing I remember is that a smallish bottle cost about $7-10.

[Mplsfoodie]

I'm sure if you ask someone from the Customer Service area of the store, they will help you identify it. Maybe they will even see if they can stock it for you. Who knows? I got Kosuke to add Spam Masubi to the menu. Anything is possible. ;)

[namabiiru]

Hi Anne, I was just thinking about this and I don't know if any place would have what you are looking for. You could try the Hana Market I mentioned above.

Here is a great website: http://www.mitsuwa.com/english/
This is a Japanese grocery store chain with some locations around the US. The closest one to MN is in Chicago. I would bet they have what you're looking for. And if you don't get over to Chitown much, they have an online store too. It has like 20 soy sauce choices. Maybe you can find it there and have it delivered right to your door!! :)

[EinnaD]

Namabiiri, Not sure what you're talking about here... United Noodles has only increased their Japanese products selection over the years from what I've seen, never reduced it at ALL, and I've been going there since about 1995 or so. Although they've remodeled so many times, and have so many other types of food, that I've definitely gotten lost in the store looking for what I want. I've tried other so called Asian grocery stores around the cities, and they really just all end up being smelly convenience-type-stores with little selection. U.N. is the only one I trust to be clean and have everything I want.

[AnneInMpls]

United Noodles used to have at least four times the shelf space for Japanese groceries. (A while back, the first area to the right of the entrance - 4 or 5 aisles - was all Japanese goods. Now it's just a portion of the 3 short shelves to the left of the checkout line.) I suspect that the high price for Japanese imports prompted the reduction in floor space and variety. But, like Namabiiru, I really miss the large selection.

Anne

P.S. N, thanks for the link to Mitsuwa. I keep meaning to go when I'm in Chicago - next time, for sure!

[Enso]

I have noticed a general/overall reduction in Japanese products, which is the main ethnicity that I purchase there. I don't know about the total number of products since that's not relevant to me, but I can name at least 3 Japanese products off the top of my head that they no longer carry and I've had to find substitutes for.

[toshio]

This seems to have become about three different Threads so:

1) Had the ramen a couple weeks ago - great - not quite up to Tampopo for noodles, but super good for ramen and available at lunch time when I'm often in the 'Cities. (I sure miss lunching at Tanpopo during the work week, but there is Masu)

2) Great Soy sauce, I think I know the one you mean, however I really recommend Kamada Dashi Soy. It comes in a little milk carton like container and is just super say on some just cooked spinach or green beans. They have a web site http://www.kamadafoods.com/english/in... for mail order and are great to order form. (They were once in Canada importing to the US, but got catch up in 9/11 food regs and had to create a US office - offline for a year or more - hard to take from a consumer side) My favorite product is the noodle base, but since moving to the US they don't offer it alone any longer.

3) I do try and hit Mitsuwa when in the Chicago area, it's right by the airport and there are a couple great japanese restaurants in the area (avoid the in store places unless you are in a hurry or whan so easy takeout). It's very similar to the CA versions of the chain. If you are in Madison there is a little hole in the wall called the oriental shop 1029 S Park St.
Madison, WI that is Japanese only - more stuff than United Noodles and some fresh specialties such as Sakura mochi and mitsucashi (sic) mushrooms in season. I agree that they have cut down on certain Japanese items (I am really missing my favorite canned pickles right now) and the varitiey of instant ramen and ramen bowls is quite a bit lower. If they would just say they can't get it anymore that would be something at least.
My half breed family used to shop for Japanese goods at Kim's Oriental grocery on Snelling, north of University. They still have some things, including the best Sukiyaki meat you can get in the 'Cities (from Chicago) but they tend to hold onto things past there expiration date so I don't seek them out except for the Sukiyaki.

[Mplsfoodie]

My girlfriend I just popped at the UniDeli for a late lunch yesterday. I was able to get their new menu (starting next week). A computer guy adding the new files onto the usb keys for the display monitors emailed them to me. The only new dish UniDeli is adding is something called Masubi, which is apparently a popular sandwich substitute in Japan and Hawaii.

Kate and I had the awesome Ramen and a new secret roll called the Seven Samurai, which is a spicy tuna roll with pieces of avocado and nigiri tuna on top ($9.00).

We've also been there for the lunch special before. You get food piled high, but I think it's more geared for people who care more about quantity than presentation or quality.

The Chef said they are adding prepared Asian drinks and desserts in the Spring. Kate and my two nieces will LOVE that.

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United Noodles Asian Supermarket
2015 E 24th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404

[SmartCookie]

I don't care much about presentation as long as the food is good, and I think it's great - never had anything that I haven't liked...

[JimGrinsfelder]

I've had Spam Musubi in Hawaii. It's like a piece of very large sushi, the size of a slice of spam with a garlic aioli on top of the rice under the spam, where you'd expect wasabi in normal sushi. It was served warm. I kinda liked it.

[The Dairy Queen]

Oh, I love spam musubi! Weird but true. I missed that part of the prior posters comment, so thank you for bringing that to the forefront.

~TDQ

[Mplsfoodie]

According to Kosuke (the Chef), the Masubi starting next Wednesday will be without spam... It's called Omasubi. I was able to convince him to add the Hawaiian version too. He said it will take another week because he needs to buy good old Hormel Spam!

[The Dairy Queen]

Well done. How can you do musubi in Minnesota without Spam? It would be crime, I say.

~TDQ

[Mplsfoodie]

:) The next time I make it to UN, I'll see if I can get more out of Kosuke on the upcoming Asian drinks and desserts.

[jeanmt]

Thank you for posting. I will be there as well this week or....next...have to wait for the spam methinks. Also a third for the Japanese grocery suggestion.

[AnneInMpls]

Mmmmmm... The next time I need to go to Seward Co-op midday, I'm going to zip over to United Noodles first for some ramen. It sounds wonderful! Plus, I'll probably buy fewer snacks at Seward if I'm full. Thanks for the info!