If you're after a traditional, no-nonsense bowl of Japanese-style ramen then the menu at this Sydney Road ramen house will likely disappoint. But if you're open-minded and keen to see the type of ramen that can come out of local Australian produce and a commitment to sustainability, then book in for a meal at Gomi Boys.
In Japanese, 'gomi' has two meanings depending on the characters used. In the hiragana alphabet, it means garbage, and in kanji, it refers to the five flavours that we can perceive: savoury, sweet, sour, bitter and umami.
While garbage may not seem like a particularly appetising name for a restaurant, the M.O. here is sustainability and reducing waste by utilising waste products, composting everything and using sustainable locally-sourced seasonal produce. The menu, which changes around twice a month, is based on the best available produce from local farms like Ramarro, Timbarra and Somerset Heritage Produce. Chicken is from Milawa free-range chooks, eggs are from the Rooke in Cororooke and noodles are made daily using biodynamic Powlett hill stone-ground flour.
Around half the menu is vegan, and almost every component on the menu is made in-house, from bar manager Rae Kirby-Brown making syrups and ferments used in cocktails to the paste used in the mazesoba. For components that aren't currently made in house, the staff are on a mission to find ways to do so.
While the menu is subject to change, think mains like a chicken shio (salt-based) ramen made with lemon myrtle poached chicken breast, pickled tropea onion and chicken thigh rillette or a roasted Otway shiitake ramen served with grilled kale, peach and strawberry ponzu and chrysanthemum greens. For entrees, you can expect sides like chicken skins with rayu salt, peach, shallot and ponzu or chilled tofu topped with eggplant treacle, heirloom tomato and pickled cucumber.
Similar to the food menu, the drinks menu also boasts a roster of local makers like Starward Whiskey, Melbourne Gin Company, Site Wine and Hop Nation.
Walk-ins are welcome, or you can make a booking through the Gomi Boys website.
