It makes sense for a successful chain of local Japanese teppan steakhouses to expand into the ramen market. That’s why there are two Ohjah Noodle Houses in the Valley, one east and one west, to complement the five Ohjah Steakhouses ... with more on the way.
What doesn’t seem to make sense is floating a big, meaty oxtail bone in a hot bowl of pork tonkotsu ramen, rich broth already loaded with noodles, slices of chashu pork belly, hard-boiled egg, bean sprouts, scallion, seaweed and woodear mushrooms. But that’s Ohjah’s house ramen ($11.50), and once you dip your chopsticks in, you’ll find another surprise—more beef. Strips of tender brisket are hiding, too, making the meatiest ramen yet. It might seem extravagant, but every component is done well, from noodles with just the right chew to the melt-in-your-mouth goodness of the pork and the beef.
Ohjah Noodle’s menu goes beyond ramen house standards in other ways. You can get just oxtail or beef ramen or slurp your way down a different path with tan tan men, a ground pork and noodle dish with miso broth (all $9.75). Salmon, chicken or pork katsu and grilled beef entrées ($8.75-$9.25) are available for those opposed to noodle soup, and shrimp fried rice ($8.75) makes for a solid side to share. Need something salty and fried to get things going? The appetizer menu offers squid skewers ($3.25), fried oysters ($4.95), juicy and crunchy wings ($4.95) and crisp takoyaki ($3.95), which are essentially octopus hush puppies. That’s another dish that might not make sense until you eat it.
Ohjah Noodle House 7150 S. Durango Drive #190, 702-614-8888; 35 E. Horizon Ridge Parkway #160, 702-564-8888.
