The dining room at 409 Opera Alley in Eureka’s Old Town has been painted but there are some kitchen updates needed before Kokoro Ramen can open in the former Opera Alley Bistro spot. Owner Joe Tan, who also runs and prepares sushi at Rooftop only a block or so away, says he’s eager to get started.
“I love ramen. I always wanted a ramen shop,” says Tan, who cut his teeth making sushi in Japan. Seeing the success of Susukino Ramen in Arcata has given him confidence about local appetite for something like an old-fashioned shop with only ramen noodles and a few appetizers on the menu, especially among younger people. “Maybe we need one in Old Town,” he thought.
Tan, who says he’s ready to for something new, plans to serve a more traditional ramen than Rooftop serves. Expect a handful of scratch-made soups — like pork and/or chicken based tonkotsu, miso, spicy miso and tan tan men, as well as a vegetarian broth — that cook for seven to 10 hours.
Kokoro Ramen has no set opening date yet.
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This article appears in There’s a Fish Market Splashing into Eureka.
