I did not realize Taishoken was owned by the same legendary Ramen shop in Japan, which was featured in the very first episode of The Mind of A Chef, visited by Anthony Boudain’s buddy and chef hero David Chang. I would have ordered it if I knew it was THE Tsukemen on the show!
Here we are again, sitting by the bar at Taishoken Ramen in Crosstown. And I finally get to try the Tsukemen.
![Taishoken Vancouver](http://www.pickydiners.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_7699.jpg)
We started with some Okonomi Gyoza, which was pretty much just pan fried Gyoza topped with ingredients you find in Okonomiyaki, a popular pizza-like dish originated in Osaka, Japan, such as bonito flakes, Japanese mayo, and Okonomiyaki sauce that tastes similar to teriyaki sauce. There were a lot of flavours going on on the dumplings, and I think I would prefer just the regular Gyoza.
![okonomi gyoza](http://www.pickydiners.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_7698.jpg)
Pascal’s Tonkotsu Ramen with spicy garlic was surprisingly subtile, not quite spicy as what he was expecting.
![tonkotsu ramen with spicy garlic](http://www.pickydiners.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_7697.jpg)
And finally the long waited Tsukemen. There were not a lot of noodles like what I saw on TV. And the broth was quite rich, and it was more flavourful than Pascal’s spicy garlic broth. It was good but it was not amazing. I wonder if how close this is to the broth they have in Japan.
![original tsukemen](http://www.pickydiners.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_7696.jpg)
Although the Tsukemen was okay, it was not quite what I expected, and maybe I need to visit their Japanese shop if I really need to experience what David Chang has experienced.
![Taishoken](http://www.pickydiners.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_7694.jpg)
![Taishoken](http://www.pickydiners.com/www/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/IMG_7693.jpg)
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