Zool Zool
One to try for dumplings that rival those in Tokyo.
Overview
Right in the middle of Mount Eden Village, I found myself walking into a trendy new ramen house which goes by the name of Zool Zool. A little bit of an unassuming eatery from the outside, the inside was packed out with people slurping away - surely a good sign. I perched myself on a stool by the window and ordered.
Going with my tradition of just-asking-wait-staff what the crowd pleaser is at any new place I go, I ordered the Tonkotsu - pork milky broth with pork charshu, bamboo shoots, ginger, wood ear mushrooms, spring onion, egg and nori for $14. (Although for my drink choice I did buck the crowd favourite (Asahi) and went for the Suntory pilsner ($9) instead.)
From the gun metal grey bar stools and chalk board menus, you never would have thought you were in a place specialising in handmade noodles and traditional Japanese cuisine. The food arrived and from my previous ramen experiences (being a trip to Chop Chop in Ponsonby and having it made by a good friend of mine) I had come to expect a highly generous quantity of meat in one's ramen, so I was a little sad by the less than bountiful serving of pork sitting a top of this ramen. It also (unfortunately) wasn't as Instagrammable as what I had seen online, but in its defence it was still flavourful and filling.
Although I didn't try any, the guy next to me said that the Zool Zool gyoza dumplings rivalled the ones they had had in Tokyo and whatever salad turned up at their bench just as I was leaving also looked amazing. It's definitely one to inspect a little further at another time.
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