Ajisen Ramen, Regent Arcade

I'm told tori karaage ramen doesn't exist in Japan. This seems a little weird to me. They have numerous iterations of fried chicken on one hand - and various types of ramen on the other hand. It seems like the most natural thing in the world to mash them together into a SHINING DISH OF GLORY - but apparently not. Apparently tori karaage ramen was invented to appease the western palate.

You learn something new everyday, don't you?

Whether this is true or not, Ajisen Ramen's tori karaage ramen is probably the best in the Adelaide.



Notice how the plump balls of chicken beckon with juicy promise? If you've read my previous post about Ajisen Ramen (where I wasn't happy with my practically dessicated chicken balls) you'll have some inkling on how pleased I was. See the fatty sheen of flavour floating on top of the broth? See the lightly braised cabbage? See the... eggy... egg? Heaven.

Tori karaage ramen may be a dishonorable western bastardisation of traditional Japanese cuisine but it'll always have a place near my heart - in my stomach, in fact. Check out Ajisen Ramen for Adelaide's tastiest version.   

Cafe 146, Gawler Place

This is a slice of pizza from Cafe 146 along Gawler Place.



They promised BBQ chicken pizza and they more or less delivered. It was a triangle of cooked dough (albeit without much flavour), chicken of the sandwich meat variety (which I'm not convinced belongs on a pizza) and an overgenerous splash of BBQ sauce.

It wasn't an awful slice of pizza but wasn't that good either. To be fair, I only eat at Cafe 146 when I'm low on time because they're nearby and fairly fast with their specials. And I have had a number of pretty damn good chicken schnitzel sandwiches here.

But if you are going to have a cheeky piece of lunch time pizza then you are probably better off going to Romano's in Southern Cross Arcade.

The dough has more taste, the range of flavours is broader, the toppings are better quality and you get two pieces of pizza and a can of soft drink for the some price as one slice at Cafe 146.