Dining

Koraku’s menu offers more than mere ramen

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Koraku’s spicy, funky buta kimchee is served with miso and rice.
Photo: Brock Radke

I love me some ramen, but I’m a little surprised the rich, hearty Japanese noodle soup has taken off in Las Vegas. Ramen shops seem to be popping up all over the place, and I wonder if there’ll be enough appetite for the hot, satisfying dish through the scorching summer months to support this noodle boom.

Also puzzling: Most of these restaurants have nearly identical menus. How will they distinguish themselves? Koraku, the newest ramen-ya on Spring Mountain Road, offers lots of variety, and not just in flavors of soup. There are plenty of affordably priced and familiar entrees like chicken teriyaki ($11.45), ground beef steak with hayashi sauce ($11.95) and assorted rice bowls.

The Details

Koraku
3775 Spring Mountain Road #301, 257-7005.
Wednesday-Monday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.

Koraku’s kitchen also has a tendency toward the spicy. A simple dish called buta kimchee ($9.95)—garlic pork stir-fried with everyone’s favorite fermented vegetable mix—set my mouth aflame for the rest of the day, even though my server said it was the mild version. Of course, you can get the ramen version of this dish, too, or go all-out for the spicy house special ramen ($8.95), loaded with shrimp, squid, pork, vegetables and a quail egg.

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Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

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