Noodle Lover’s Awesome Sydney Ramen Adventure – Ichi-Ban Boshi (6/7)

Located at Bondi Junction, which is about 2km away from the famous Bondi Beach, Ichi-Ban Boshi popped into my radar at the very last minute while doing some shopping at the market. That was the plan originally, but I eventually set foot at Harris Farm Markets located in Bondi Junction’s branch of Westfield to get my goods.

I couldn’t find what I was looking for at the Junction Markets but I returned later and tried some empanadas. They remind me a lot of curry puffs back home, with more fillings to choose from.

But let’s jump right in and talk about today’s star: Ichi-Ban Boshi, and how they paved the way in establishing the ramen scene in Australia.

History of Ichi-Ban Boshi

Ichi-Ban Boshi first established their foothold in Bondi Junction for more than 20 years in April 1998, with another outlet in Sydney CBD and a takeaway outlet located at The Gallerie, also located in the CBD. Aside from some shifts in location over the years, they specialize in all sorts of ramen, from miso to shoyu and everything in between. In short, they serve pretty much everything under the sun.

Taste Test – Miso Ramen (AUD18.90) & Agedashi Tofu (AUD13)

I was somewhat conflicted upon taking my first view of my ramen. The chashu in the miso ramen has plenty of room for improvement, as I felt like it wasn’t given enough attention. Texture’s cold, dry and unappealing. I felt the chashu could be more succulent if the slices were blow-torched or roasted for the second time fresh from the pan or pot.

Compared to the miso ramen I had at Yasaka, the corn at least blended well with the dish but not by much. Menma was a little tough to chew. It’s a topping that not many stores get it right. Noodles were the thicker type that’s more common in Hokkaido-style ramen.

The noodles were decent that complement the broth well. The soup comes with a mild, sweet aftertaste and it was warm enough to counterbalance the cold afternoon air that sneaked their way in from the store’s entrance.

Agedashi tofu was also pretty good with the fact that they gave not one, not two, but four large slabs of tofu to my surprise. Gave enough time for the fried tofu to be soak into the shoyu sauce that the skin doesn’t turn overly soggy. The chili paste and ginger paste provided gave a bit more kick to the tofu to provide another dimension, but that’s it. By the time I finished the tofu, I was pretty full. All I want to do for the rest of the day is to head to the arcade and play till my heart’s content.

Final Thoughts

Six down, and one more to go. We’re finally heading down to the last store in this ramen series. Time to put on your seat belts, as we’re heading back to the CBD and return to the basics.

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Location of Ichi-Ban Boshi (Bondi Junction)

Address: 1/171-173 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction, NSW2022, Australia
Opening Hours: 11am to 8.30pm, Wednesday to Monday (Closed on Tuesdays)