Have you ever tasted ramen in Tokyo, Japan? No? Me neither. To compensate for the lack of having a plane ticket to Japan, I decided to visit OKI Bowl in Georgetown, D.C.
Washington D.C., if not know as a foodie’s paradise. However, if you want to teleport (factitiously) to another country for a few hours and try highly rated local eats, there are a few culinary staples to find without needing a passport.
The Location
Located at 1608 Wisconsin Ave, OKI Ramen Bowl Georgetown is the second establishment for this restaurant. The bright red brick building is definitely hard to miss. The hosted was friendly and showed me to a table right away.
The Decor
The decor in OKI Bowl was very interesting and vibrant to say the least. Just look at the picture below. The ramen however, isn’t the only thing that is spicy and appealing to the senses. Actually, the decor reminded me of something out of the animated movie Coco or your great grand aunts neglected basement in Notting Hill London.
For instance, I looked up at the ceiling and of course OKI Bowl didn’t miss a beat. The electric aesthetic carries all the way up to the ceiling.
One thing that was not cool, was the heat. I’m not sure if the air conditioner was broken. On the summer day that I visited it was about 100 degrees inside. Ordering take out make more sense. While I waited, I decided to run to the restroom. Inside the restroom the vibe was either the most uniquely curated work of art or some loopy recovering hoarder’s nightmare. I can’t really describe it and don’t think I should. Make sure you go check it! And if you feel like a creepy monkey is watching you wash your hands, you’re probably right.
Joking!
The menu at OKI Bowl wasn’t very extensive which I appreciated. I decided to try the Curry Ramen for $15. It sounded delicious and it would be a first.
The Taste
After paying I collected my order and headed home. At home I unpacked my OKI bowl ramen. It packed very well. There were no spills and everything I ordered was in the bag. I tried to reassemble the ramen like the menu picture. My first sip was amazing. The curry broth was a delightful surprise. The sweet and savory flavor with the hint of coconut milk was refreshing. The chicken crispy yet juicy. The noodles were al dente. OKI bowl’s ramen noodles tasted home or freshly made. The whole meal gets a 10.
The soup was too much to finish in one sitting. This meal was enough for two people. You can save money by splitting the $15 in half!
This wasn’t a real trip to Japan. However it was great for a staycation and short taste of Japanese cuisine. If you are in the area of Georgetown, let me know if you check it out!
Next stop we will take a reminiscent trip back to South Korea for fried chicken!