Daruma

They have matcha ice cream. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

Daruma, the manga-clad eatery that recently relocated from Töölö to Verkkosaari, has a few surprises up its sleeve. While the previous location leaned heavily on sushi, the new menu wanders more freely between Vietnamese and Japanese comfort food: stuffed bánh mì baguettes, fluffy Japanese sando sandwiches and a very respectable plate of karaage fried chicken.

Where Daruma truly shines, however, is the noodles. Their eight-hour simmered Ramen is among the city’s best, but the real star is the turmeric-based Mi Quang from Central Vietnam. In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to find another restaurant in Finland that even offers it.

Owner Michelle is refreshingly upfront about her version. It isn’t 100% ‘authentic’, she explains, simply because a key ingredient – củ nén – is impossible to find in Finland. This intensely aromatic little bulb, often loosely translated as ‘wild garlic’, doesn’t even have a widely agreed English name, so we’re inclined to let the substitution slide.

And in practice, it works beautifully. The broth – built from pork bones, shrimp and turmeric – lightly coats the noodles rather than drowning them, which is exactly how the dish is meant to be served. Tender chicken and snappy shrimp bring substance, while lettuce and fresh herbs keep things bright. Crispy bánh tráng rice crackers arrive on the side for dipping or crumbling into the bowl, adding the kind of crunch that keeps every bite interesting.

As a starter we also tried the karaage (€9): crisp on the outside, juicy within, and generous enough that it could easily double as a main.

Save room for dessert. The matcha ice cream with anko (red bean paste) is simple but spot-on, while a chocolate pudding topped with roasted pistachios quietly steals the show.

Perhaps the best endorsement I can give is this: a few weeks passed between my visit and writing this review. As I type these final lines, I realise I’ve been thinking about that bowl of noodles again – which probably means I’ll be back soon.