Best of Arlington 2018
Gaijin Ramen Shop
Best Ramen
If it’s a blustery day and you’re craving an antidote to the cold, this Cherrydale eatery will do you right. Gaijin (which means “foreigner” in Japanese) is a fun space with pop wall art and gregarious service, but it’s the ramen that keeps folks coming back. Owners Nicole Mazkour and Tuvan Pham leave the MSG out of their flavorful, slow-cooked chicken and pork stocks, and their noodles are made in-house daily. From there, you can customize each order to your liking, choosing from a long list of toppings. The tonkotsu ramen with chashu pork, made creamy from pork marrow, is comfort in a bowl—especially with the addition of a soft-boiled egg, marinated mushrooms, crispy fried garlic and roasted sesame seeds. Still hungry? Order a side of decadent kimchi fries topped with bulgogi, cheese, green onions and Japanese Kewpie mayo.
—David Hagedorn
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