Thank you, Monday, for bringing us news of more ramen coming to our fair city. In case you haven't heard yet, chef Phillip Frankland Lee (The Gadarene Swine, Scratch|Bar + Kitchen) has partnered with chef Luke Reyes (Butchers & Barbers) to open Oh Man! Ramen in Encino sometime at the end of summer. Fortunately, we don't have to wait that long to get a taste of the new Valley restaurant.
Starting this Sunday, Oh Man! Ramen will offer a pop-up series at various restaurants around LA to showcase some of the proposed menu items. On May 22, you'll be able to stop by the Gadarene Swine for vegetable ramen, cucumber and pear salad, tempura sprouting broccoli and lettuces with nori sesame ranch, edamame, avocado and tofu. On May 29, Lee and Reyes will be cooking up their new fare on the El Chavo patio, offering chicken miso ramen and a variety of yakitori: beef filet mignon, octopus and chicken thighs. A cocktail pairing by Cocktail Academy's Brandyn Tepper will also be available for $26, and includes a whisky sour, martini and sips of sake, sherry and dessert wines. Finally, the duo will offer a more decadent pop-up at Scratch|Bar + Kitchen on June 6. Tonkotsu pork ramen, a King crab dynamite monsieur sandwich, scallop and salmon sashimi and chilled spicy ramen noodles will round out the series.
All pop-up events will take place from 5pm to close on their respective days; reservations can be made at ohmanpreviews@gmail.com. The menu is a la carte, with items ranging from $7 (yakitori) to $17 (crab monsieur sandwich). Feedback is welcome as Lee and Reyes perfect their menu—but with culinary talent like theirs backing the project, we're pretty sure there won't be much tweaking needed.
Oh Man! Ramen will be opening in late summer 2016 at 16101 Ventura Blvd, #242 in Encino. Will you be attending one of the pop-ups to preview the new restaurant? Let us know in the comments below!