Fast Facts

Restaurant Name: Bodega Ramen 

Address: 64A Wale Street, CBD, Cape Town, 8001 

Contact Number: 078 241 3285 

Opening and closing times: closed Sunday and Monday; Tuesday to Saturday 6pm to 10pm 

Average main meal price: R120 

Corkage: No BYO 

Parking Situation: Parking along a pavement 

Food Type: Japanese 

Best for: Groups, casual lunches, first dates 

Food

A rotating blackboard menu assures attention to seasonality and freshness – the menu is divided into ‘small plates’ and ‘ramen’. Don’t skip the small plates – this is where the Bodega magic is. With choices like charred broccoli with black vinegar and sesame and green bean doubanjiang, even the most committed carnivore could capitulate. Share these plates as you are going to want to taste them all. The Korean fried cauliflower offers up perfectly fried florets tossed in a sticky sweet and spicy sauce with a smattering of sesame and spring onion.

 

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The burnt cabbage with peanuts, Kewpie mayo and nori is another stand out: the expertly braised then charred cabbage drizzled with mayo with a crunch of salted peanuts and strips of toasted nori packs an umami punch. OK, maybe you don’t want to share these plates after all.  

 

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Ramen bowls on offer include miso pork, beef and kimchi, Sichuan hotpot pork and shitake and tofu. The bowls all feature freshly-made noodles and the meat options include a perfectly cooked ajitama egg – a jammy-yolked, soy-marinated boiled egg that warms up in the steaming hot ramen broth. The mala spice (Sichuan and chilli) in the Sichuna hotpok pork adds a nice kick, while the beef and kimchi offers slow-cooked tender morsels of shortrib. This is comfort food for sure. 

Drinks 

Small but well-curated local wine list – 4 reds, 4 whites and a rose plus a sake. 7 of the wines were available by the glass too. Brief tasting notes on the menu offer good guidance. 

Service

Waitress was friendly but not overly attentive and not knowledgeable (when asked about whether the chicken was free range, she didn’t know, and didn’t return with an answer).  

Ambience 

The unpretentious décor suited the restaurant. The acoustics are not great due to high ceilings and few soft furnishings. Bench seating uncomfortable.

 

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Eat Out critics dine unannounced and pay for their meals in full. Read our full editorial policy here.