Best dishes countdown #2: Ramen at Ramen Kazama
The pursuit of perfection.
Highly specialized cooking is a blessing and a curse for all involved. For the chef it means painstaking hours in the pursuit of perfection, allowing for no corner-cutting and no fuck-ups.
For the customer, it means endless lines and endless restrictions: no reservations, walk-in seating only, no takeout menu, parties limited to four and under.
But still the specialists specialize, and still we line up.
Though we're a real, live, grownup food city, the Twin Cities still has precious few culinary specialists, those folks who do very little, but do it extremely well. Ramen Kazama is one of those specialists.
The broths take many precious hours to get right, and naturally there is no shortcut for coaxing gelatin, marrow, and connective tissue from bones. The result is profound and medicinal, with deep and fatty cutlets bobbing about meatily.
Noodles are a gold standard brand, Myojo, imported from Japan. A soft egg stares up at you like an approving eye.
And that's it. Which is the same as saying: That's everything.
Ramen Kazama
3400 Nicollet Ave. S., Minneapolis
100: Caramel Bacon Puffcorn at Red Cow
99: Pappadams from the Curry Diva
98: The Kingfield at Five Watt
97: Raspberry Cream Scone at Sun Street Breads
96: Bacon and Bourbon from 6Smith
95: Biscuits and Gravy at Ward 6
94: Burgers from Peppers and Fries
93: The Everything Bagel from Rise Bagel Co.
92: Bent River Camembert from Alemar Cheese
91: Two large pizzas and a pitcher of beer, Original Red's Savoy
90: Boiled Peanut Hummus at 4 Bells
88: Fried Green Tomato BLT from Butcher and the Boar
87: Charcuterie Board at Surly Beer Hall & Restaurant
85: Aloo Tama from the Himalayan
84: Caramelized Cauliflower at Libertine
83: Banh Mi Joy Dog at Prairie Dogs
82: Salmon Poke at District Fresh Kitchen & Bar
81: Savory Waffle at Birchwood Cafe
78: Spicy Golden Tofu from Peninsula
77: Chicken Fantastic from Safari
75: Puttanesca at Foreign Legion
74: Salted caramel hazelnut tart at Eastside
72: Housemade sausages at Ox Cart Ale House
70: Pernil from Tinto Cocina + Cantina
69: Beef tartare at the Commodore
68: Dry rub chicken at Breaking Bread
67: The footlong burrito at El Taco Riendo
66: Eggs Benedict at Grand Cafe
65: Vanilla buttercream donut from Bogart's
64: Chicken and waffles at Bradstreet Craftshouse
63: Umeboshi sour at Tattersall Distilling
62: Lobster deviled eggs at Lela
60: Yellowtail with passion fruit from Il Foro
59: Matzo ball soup from Nighthawks
56: Cocktail Flight at Tongue in Cheek
55: Classic burger from Burger Burger
54: Chicken pot pie at the Draft Horse
52: Duck Fat Brunch Potatoes at Meritage
51: Pulled bulgogi jackfruit from LolaRosa's
50: Classic truffle from Legacy Chocolates
49: Simple breakfast at the Kenwood
48: Panzanella salad from Burch
47: Thai drunken fish at Chino Latino
45: Lemon Meringue Pie at Revival
44. Sandwiches at the Bachelor Farmer Cafe
43: Teasers at Tongue in Cheek
42: Green chile cheese fries at Halftime Rec
41: Brussels sprouts at Hola Arepa
40: Snapper ceviche at 4 Bells
39: Chocolate chip cookie from Black Walnut Bakery
38: Cheese curds from Lone Grazer Creamery
36: Poutine at the Rabbit Hole
34: Braised Short Ribs at Parella
33: Limoncello mussels at Italian Eatery
32: Pizza rolls at Red Wagon Pizza
31: Fried chicken at Dixie's on Grand
29: Duck meatloaf sliders at Spoon and Stable
28: Chilled blue mussels at Heyday
27: Swedish meatballs at Upton 43
25: Pelmeni at Russian Tea House
22: Curried goat at Smalley's BBQ
21: Chicken dumplings at Rainbow Chinese
19: Bespoke cocktails at The Alchemist
17: Lamb tartare at St. Genevieve
16: Sandwiches at Lowry Hill Meat
15: Spaghetti Nero and clams at Il Foro
13: Red wine poached eggs at Spoon & Stable
11: Beet salad at Surly Brewer's Table
10: Lexington pork shoulder at Revival
9: Belgian chocolate brownie at L'etoile du Nord
8: Bologna sandwich at Saint Dinette
