a long way to foo foo tei

sometimes, you run across things that just look out of place, you know what i mean? like a handbag that doesn't look quite right with an outfit, or a toupee that doesn't look quite right on top of someone's bald head. foo foo tei and its location is like skinny jeans on a really short, plump man...it just doesn't look right.

first of all, it's located in a quiet residential/business area of hacienda heights and is possibly one of the more random restaurant locations i've been to. it's also a rather small space so all the people awaiting for a chance to slurp up foo foo tei's ramen adds the only life you'll see on that street.

since there was a group of us ramen eaters that night, we ordered a little more than the average fat belly could hold. first up was the tuna with oroshi ($6). it's a small bowl of sliced fresh tuna with nori strips that can be demolished in 5 bites. a yummy start to the meal and a great way to temper a sushi crave.

next came the chilean seabass ($10) which was so soft and buttery! the fat from its skin was a bit too unctuous for me so i left that oily coil of fish skin on the plate like a shredded piece of automobile tire on highway 101.

stir fried liver with bean sprouts and leeks ($5). the liver was grossly overcooked which left it grainy rather than creamy. ahhh, what a sad sad day that was in liver eating history! i had sooooo wanted to nibble on that while i drank my beer...but alas, i nibbled on the bean sprouts instead.

finally, the ramen! i ordered the nanchatte tonkotsu ramen ($7.50) which had a white cream broth, half a boiled egg, and two slices of fatty pork floating amidst thinly sliced green onion rings.

the creamy broth was complex and added a fullness to my belly that only heavy creams could...and the ramen was perfectly aldente. what a heavenly bowl of ramen it was!

i was also able to taste the tantanmien ramen with a hot and sour sesame soup base ($8). this ramen was completely different from the nanchatte because the soup was sweet and tart with the faintest hint of spice. the sesame seeds floating on top added a much appreciated nuttiness to your bite. i REALLY like this one too.

the meal finally ended with all of us rubbing our fat ramen bellies. although i'm happy to have tried their much adored ramen bowls, the drive to foo foo tei is a huge deterrent for a traffic-phobe like me. i think i would rather stick to daikokuya in dtla.

Foo Foo Tei

15018 Clark Ave

Hacienda Heights, CA 91745

(626) 937-6585

price: $

verdict: tasty, try it!