Don’t come for the decor, come for the large portions and cheap eats. Being from the mainland, in particular the midwest, I haven’t eatin much Ramen in my life (beyond tons of packets in college), but I do enjoy coming here. A friend referred me to the Ezogiku Ramen shop since she liked to come here for cheap eats while she studied – I was glad she did.
The shop is absolutely tiny, the seating capacity is probably about 25, most of which is counter space, but the meals are made fast, hot, and in generous portions.
Ezogiku Ramen of Waikiki is one of those places that you tend to walk by without ever noticing. The storefront is set back a bit and is on a one way side street between Kalakaua and Kuhio Streets so there’s not major foot traffic and the only indicator are some red lanterns hung outside, which only help at night.
If you’re not a huge Ramen critic I’d recommend trying it on for size. Their most popular ramen is the miso and it’s byob (bring your own alcoholic beverage) since they currently don’t have a liquor license. Good thing there’s an ABC store a half a block down the street!
The Atmosphere
The ambiance feels like cramped diner and you’ll most likely be surrounded by Japanese tourists, but the food is tasty. Most people would consider this place a dive, but that’s part of what makes it attractive to me. The staff was friendly enough and prompt in service and fluent in both Japanese and English.
The Menu
There are about 20 dishes to choose from, all of which offer gyoza for a slight upcharge. Both warm and cold dishes are served and only chopsticks are an option. The portions are large and I’m full everytime I’m done eating here, but sometimes the meat is a bit skimpy in the dishes. When I stopped by and ate the Ankake (as pictured above) I paid $13 (tip included) which included the gyoza.
The Basics
It’s easy to remember their hours they’re open 11am-11pm every day of the year.
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