What wins you over when slurping up a steamy bowl of ramen? Is it the meaty broth, so collagenous that it makes your lips stick together? Is it a nest of skinny but al dente noodles? Perhaps a well-prepared collection of seared chashu, jammy egg, and toothsome bamboo?
In the immortal words of Meatloaf, “two out of three ain’t bad.” In my estimation, even one of the three is acceptable. But recently, I tried a bowl that hit every mark. It was at Sanchome Ramen in Centreville. With noodles that are made in-house daily, immersed in a long-stewed broth, even I, a soup agnostic diner, couldn’t help but smile.
That satisfying bowl was the basic tonkotsu ramen. I also tried the restaurant’s eponymous Sanchome ramen, which includes spicy chopped pork alongside the chashu. Its fats and oils mix with the viscous soup, leaving the whole combination suffused with a likable nip of heat.
But the ramen isn’t the only thing for which I’d return at Sanchome. The $24.95 “You Pick Two” deal allows diners to choose a full-sized ramen bowl and a smaller rice bowl on the side. Along with spicy triangles of pickled daikon, I enjoyed the gyu don.
The bowl of thinly sliced, fatty-edged beef is buttery, sweet, and impossible not to finish. I would return just for the simple combination of beef, onions, and well-cooked glutinous rice. My dining companion enjoyed the kakuni don, a pile of tender cubes of sugar-and-soy-braised pork. We were also impressed with the well-marinated karaage, the fried chicken with which we started our meal.
We ordered all of the above using a tablet that rests on a stand on each table. Service is friendly and helpful, but don’t even consider what you’ll tip. That’s because the staff “respectfully” refuses gratuity. “A clean plate is more than enough,” the restaurant’s Instagram says, with a heart. I, too, am feeling the love. 14240 Centreville Sq., Centreville
Feature image of Sanchome Ramen by Alice Levitt
