Today, you can add one more ramen joint to compete with Ajisen a few blocks away in Diamond Jamboree. Mizuki, with its 125 seats, is purported to be the “biggest” ramen restaurant in these here United States. I'm not sure about that claim, but I'll attest to never seeing a ramen restaurant having that many seats.
The restaurant, steps away from Sports Chalet and Mother's Market at the corner of Jamboree and Michelson in Irvine, officially opens today. It boasts a full bar and will open seven days a week, 11 a.m.-midnight.
And here's a fresh review from our friend Melissa, who visited today!
“Not bad! Edwin, since you like Ajisen, you'd like Mizuki I bet. Gyoza was good and the tonkotsu broth was solid.
Only bad part is the lunch specials are $12.50 and the ramen has virtually no pork or vegetables. Loooots of noodles. I may return but I figure for $4 less I'll stick with Ajisen lunch specials.”
Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.