392 Bridge Road, Richmond (map)
Phone 03 9421 1661
Despite many visits, I’m surprised that I haven’t written about the venerable Momotaro Rahmen until now. It’s the place that probably kicked it off for specialty ramen joints in Melbourne, boasting hand-made noodles and authentic flavour. As I am ever on the quest to find the best ramen in Australia, it would have been remiss not to include Momotaro on the list. So we decided to check it out one afternoon after an intense ramen craving brought on by a viewing of Chef of the South Pole and Jeroxie’s tweets about going to Momotaro the night before.
Located on a street best known for cheap fashion rather than noodles, Momotaro is a small cafe that can be a bit hard to spot from the road (just look out for the awning in Mandarina Duck yellow). Not quite the greasey spoon vibe of some of Japan’s ramenya’s, it’s a neat little space with cafe -style tables and chairs indoors and out; you can also perch on a benchtop next to the window.
The menu is of course geared towards ramen, and selections include shoyu (soya sauce), shio (salt), miso and tonkotsu (pork) broths, with toppings of either charshu (pork), seafood (my Dad’s favourite), wakame (seaweed), and yasai (vegetables). Prices are very reasonable but be warned: servings are HUGE. They also do other fare like gyoza and rice dishes, but trust me: stick with the ramen.
I almost always go for the shoyu ramen wih extra charshu, and this time was no exception 
This beast of a bowl came chock full of beautifully tender charshu pork slices, dried seaweed, half a hard boil egg and plenty of veg including corn, mushroom, and spring onion. It’s certainly not the usual shoyu ramen, but the broth has wonderful depth of flavour and the hand-made noodles were very tasty and eminently slurppable. It certainly satisfied my ramen craving!
Mellie had the veg yasai ramen, which was similar to mine but with no meat and the addition of more greens like carrot and broccoli, all in a light flavoursome vegetable broth. Vegetarians should rejoice in this one, and it’s pleasing to know that a ramen joint has such a fantastic meat-free option, as normally the chances of finding such an option in a similar noodle place is, let me see, zero.
We also tried the veggie gyoza. They were filled with garlicky chives and were OK, but I much prefer the pork version.
So, is this the best ramen in Melbourne? It is certainly an extremely good bowl of noodles but, if compared with the ones served in Japan, it’s sadly not the same. But, I can categorically say that it’s probably the healthiest bowl of ramen in Melbourne, and one of the best value. And the regular Japanese patrons don’t seem to mind that it’ s not 100% like in Japan. Highly recommended!
I really like the movie and it is why I got the ramen craving. I agree that it very good value for money but it is certainly not the best. I still have ramen craving. I should make some from scratch soon. Just to get it out of my mind! heh
The bowls are just so big, I often feel defeated before I even begin! And let me say, that is a rare thing indeed
Thank you for reminding me to return to this place. I have been on a ramen crave ever since leaving Japan a year ago. It’s been quite a few years since I have been back at momotaro. this might just be the place to take my brother when he visits.
Forgive me if I’ve posted a reference to them before, but I think the best Ramen in Australia is at Menya Ramen in Sydney. 3 locations. Japanese language website with a non-functioning english version.
http://www.menya.com.au/jp/index.html
That and the enormous 250 litre stock pots they use should give you some indication as to its authenticity and yumfactor!
This Ramen craving thing is contagious! Now I want one…
This place looks good. I’m currently on a bad luck run with Happy Kappa- each time I go to either the Richmond or Brunswick st joint…they’re closed! Yikes! LOL And that’s ringing them beforehand to make sure!
I’ll try this place next.
The tonkatsu there is awesome, super tender and juicy
I’m definitely going to try out this place soon. I’ve been following your ramen trail around town Dan. You’ve got me hooked to them. I can’t wait to try some yummy ramen in Japan one day.
Yes! Charshu Ramen is eternally the best choice of ramen, lots and lots more charshu please! Haha, and soft boiled egg is great too
When I saw the gyoza photo, I was really confused. I thought you had a filter on when you took the photo! Never tried it before – I’m pretty sure I’d side with you and say that I’d like the pork version better though!
Thanks for everyone’s comments!
I’ll definitely have to check out Menya, Misterhorsey. I can sense a foodie sojourn to Sydney pretty soon.
Adrian, know what you mean about Happy Kappa and now the Brunswick St one has closed… permanently
Thanh, nothing really beats the ramen in Japan. Once you taste it, you can never go back to other ramen. For now, I think Ajisen comes the closest for me (and it wasn’t so stinky on my last visit).
AY, yes the gyoza were a bit odd. Their pork versions are not too bad though :p
This is one of my favourite restaurants in Melbourne, have been going for years. My fave dish is probably the shio wakame or negi miso – don’t ask me to choose, hehe!
I read they have a gyoza eating challenge here where if you finish 50 gyozas in 20 mins you get the meal free? Is this still the case?