Taste With Tori: Terakawa Ramen Noodle House
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Authentic Asian cuisine is on the menu. Vittoria Woodill tracked down some of the best bowls of noodles in Philly. She wound up at Terakawa Ramen Noodle House in Chinatown.
In a haze of Terakawa's steamy and aromatic kitchen chef's dish up bowl after bowl of ramen, a Japanese noodle dish that actually originated in China.
Noodles are the main-stay in every Japanese home says Nelson Tam, Terakawa's co-owner.
"When I was young, you know, nothing to eat, only the noodle," Tam said. "It made me so happy."
So when Nelson grew up he decided to open a noodle restaurant.
"It looks like art," Tori said.
"Thank you," Tam replied.
The art of the noodle began as a sort of fast food for laborers in Japan. Today, Terakawa's diners linger over bowls and savor the flavor of noodles in a bone marrow broth that takes time to make.
"It's the right portions," said customer Steve Wu. "It's delicious."
"It's very subtle and it's still really flavorful," said Porfirio Castellanos.
Nelson loves watching his customers eat.
"They take the spoon, take the soup, and put it in their mouth and then what you know what going on here?" Tam asked.
"What?" Tori asked.
"They close their eyes and they keep moving," Tam replied. "It makes me so happy."
And there's more to the menu than noodles. We're talking about steamed pork buns. But, it's the steaming bowls that Terakawa is known for.
The beauty of the ramen menu at Terakawa is that each noodle dish reflects the many regions of Japan, so different broths, veggies, meats, and toppings for each bowl of ramen.
