Kristie HangSay goodbye to waiting in two-hour-plus lines at various food festivals for the original ramen burger from New York. Keizo Shimamoto’s Ramen Burger will officially become a permanent resident of Los Angeles starting next month.
The Ramen Burger brick-and-mortar, which will soft-open on Aug. 1, will be a walk-up window located next to the popular Koreatown bar Lock & Key. Patrons of Lock & Key will be able to order the ramen burger inside the bar, as the two venues will share a kitchen. A hidden cocktail bar PLUS ramen burgers: It doesn't get much better than that. ]
Ramen Burger keychains and phone charms; Credit: Kristie Hang
The Ramen Burger menu will consist of the original ramen burger, which features a handmade ramen bun, scallions, ground beef patty, baby arugula and secret shoyu sauce. The spicy La Sriracha Macha specialty ramen burger, which debuted at last month’s DTLA Night Market, will become a regular menu item available at the brick-and-mortar.
The veggie ramen burger will also be available, as will various iterations of french fries: red miso and cheese; aonori seaweed and sea salt; and Shaka Shaka fries. There will also be the option to add a fried egg and bacon to any of the burgers.
If that's not enough for you, upcoming items include a salmon Ramen Burger and the Surf n’ Turf ramen burger, made with salmon and ground beef. Both new items will be making their debut at the upcoming 626 Night Market this Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19.
Shimamoto also is working on a special dessert ramen burger that he will debut in the near future — and ramen fries. If you thought the ramen craze was slowing down, well, no.
But wait, there's more! Ramen Burger paraphernalia will also be on sale. You know, if you need a reminder on your set of keys for where to have dinner.
Soft opening begins Aug. 1, and hours will run Thursday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to midnight. The grand opening will be Sept. 1, when hours will extend to Sunday — with a possible extension until 2 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Because anything that you'll wait two hours to eat in broad daylight probably will taste even better after a drunken night out.
See also: Sriracha Ramen Burgers, Ramen Pizza + More Reasons to Hit the First DTLA Night Market
Aonori seaweed french fries; Credit: Kristie Hang
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