I never thought I’d be lining up for an hour to get ramen noodles. But hey, when everybody else is doing it, I had to see what all the fuss was about. Bad Bones Ramen is located at 178 Water Street in St. John’s and has been busy since they opened their doors.
Their dining room has limited seating so they can only serve several people at a time, and for the time being, they aren’t offering takeout. This means the lineup can be pretty long, but the staff are friendly and will offer you a drink while you wait. We were lucky enough to go on a gorgeous evening, so we didn’t mind waiting outdoors and people watching.
This is the menu at Bad Bones Ramen. They offer 5 different kinds of ramen, all at very reasonable prices (especially for the amount of food you get!). On the side, you can get seaweed salad (my fave) or soba noodles. They have Quidi Vidi Iceberg beer on tap and various soft drinks.
As I mentioned, the dining room is pretty small, but the atmosphere is hip. I loved the decor and the overall vibe of the place. You can see the ramen being prepared right in front of you, and the dining room is kept very clean. I don’t recommend coming in a large group because all of the seating is bar-style; there are no regular tables for you to gather around.
I decided to try the Veggie Shoyu with egg, and holy crap, it was to die for. There were so many fresh veggies packed into this bowl including bean sprouts, bok choi, carrot, green onion, celery, mushrooms, and more. They threw on a nori sheet and sesame seeds to finish it off. The broth was flavorful but not spicy. Bear in mind that I’m no expert on ramen, but I was really impressed.
There was so much food I couldn’t finish it all! I ended up getting a takeout container and have it with me for lunch today (I wonder if it is even better left over??). You can’t go wrong with two delicious meals for $10!
We were told that recently they have begun opening on Saturday nights from 12-3 am. At this time, they serve smaller bowls for $5 that are different from their regular menu as well as various cocktails and beers. I can’t say that I know of anywhere else in the city that offers something like this, and it’s about time somebody did.
Overall, my expectations were exceeded. Way to go Bad Bones Ramen, I will be back and I will be recommending you to everyone I know.
Let us know what you think!