This post is belated. A friend of mine informed me that Red Robin just released the Red Ramen Burger a must try. I had planned to publish the post but then I had heard that Prince had died. Social media was memorializing and remembering the great musician on that day and my blog post seemed very insignificant. Then I just kind of forgot about it. I suppose in many ways it was indicative of my experience eating a ramen burger for the very first time. It was not a wow moment of having eaten something so delicious that I wanted to devour the whole thing. I am not sure if it was because it was from Red Robin or because the combination of meat, carrot and cabbage slaw, condiments etc. just didn’t do it for me. I really wasn’t fond of the flavors. The teriyaki sauce on the burger too cloying and sweet and the jalapeño mayonnaise too spicy and jarring to my tastebud. The ramen bun was crispy on the outside and hefty enough to hold the burger in place but all I wanted was a regular bun instead. The ramen burger is rather ingenious and probably very popular with the younger generation. I talked briefly to the Red Robin manager, very nice guy, who asked me what I thought of the ramen burger. He said that he felt it was going to be a love it or hate it item. Totally agree. I don’t think it will be a permanent fixture on their menu since I can’t imagine it will be that popular but I really have to hand it to Red Robin to think outside the box and go for it.
I follow Keizo Shimamoto on Instagram, he is well known for originating the ramen burger, and his versions look rather tasty. So before I pass judgment on all ramen burgers one day I must try one of his.
For now proud to be a traditionalist. Just give me a bowl of noodles to slurp and I’ll be happy.
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