Googling my way for ramen.

If you Googled for 'best ramen in Melbourne', Little Ramen Bar will surface on the search results. That was how I got acquainted with this name when I was looking for ramen - well, a routine craving that comes and goes from time to time. This ramen bar is hands down the most accessible and easiest to find in the city, visible from the tram stop on the busy Elizabeth Street. It is very tiny and packed but I've not yet been subjected to queuing on the two occasions I've been there.

Swinging by during lunchtime, Little Ramen Bar is always the dependable choice for its range of gyozas, ramen and the usual suspects in a Japanese eatery, but bear in mind that most of the selections are rather basic and practical. It sure didn't wow me, but hey, at least I didn't have to walk another few blocks down the CBD to hunt for more food. The Chashu Tamago (top) is indeed the best out of the three ramen bowls I've tasted, so go for that if you have to. The ramen noodles were on the firmer side across the board, and the chashu was also on the tougher side. I've also tried the Tan Tan Men on the second try, which was supposed to be Chinese-inspired and slightly spicy; it ended up being quite forgettable. It sure didn't live up to its reputation of being No. 1 on the Google search engine. Lexi reconciled with her love for spiciness with the Spicy Miso Ramen which was acceptable but not spectacular. I guess Little Ramen Bar is good for convenience and a lunch fix, but not if you're looking for good ramen. On the bright side, the service here is always cheery, efficient and polite which made the visits very pleasant. I have a couple more ramen places around Melbourne to introduce to you that are surely better, so hang around a while more.

Postscript: I went twice to Little Ramen Bar for three reasons
(1) I wasn't convinced that this ramen standard could be considered the 'best'
(2) It had an extremely convenient location
(3) I wanted to get a second opinion with trusty Lexi

Yes, but verdict is... walk a few streets down to my upcoming recommendation because it'll be worth it.

Little Ramen Bar
346 Little Bourke Street
Melbourne, VIC 3000