Nombe

Ah, that's a shame. I just read today that Nombe is closing at the end of the month after five years of serving fickle hipsters in the Mission. Married owners Gil Payne and Mari Takahashi apparently have been struggling to keep business up amid all the competition in the 'hood, and when I came here a month ago, I saw only one table occupied during my visit. I was actually here soon after it opened when Yelp threw one of their hot new spot events (review: http://bit.ly/1uYNmgO). The concept of a tapas-style izakaya was still a novelty back then, and I liked the small plates I tried. Takahashi had since taken over the kitchen, and I returned because I just happened to notice they were serving ramen. I also heard they originated ramen burgers, but the appeal of that particular novelty escapes me.

I believe it was Payne who served me as he was very nice and conscientious about the service. The menu is quite a fusion hodgepodge but maneuverable (photo: http://bit.ly/1AyEJOv). I first tried one of the $5 Bites, the Nasu Dengaku (Miso Glazed Eggplant), just two tiny skewers of Japanese eggplant slices dipped in a sweet glaze sauce and freckled with sesame seeds (photo: http://bit.ly/1x4bJ3L). It was kinda lukewarm when I was hoping it would be grilled. I moved up to an $8 Small Plate, the Bacon Wrapped Mochi (photo: http://bit.ly/1xtgX94), which I knew would be tasty since I had a superior version at Halu. It was and I could have probably gone for another order had I known the portions of everything they served. Speaking of which, I ordered what I was hoping would be my entree, the Tonkotsu Ramen (photo: http://bit.ly/1wRO0ka).

I think the baby-size, four-ounce bowl threw me since I am a colossal slurper, and a ramen order served in the Land of the Munchkins just wasn't going to do me. Mind you, there wasn't false advertising here as it was in the Small Plates section, so I knew I had to order the $4 option of Pork Belly. The requisite ingredients were there - scallions, bean sprouts, ginger and mushrooms (kikurage) - and there were two decent-size slices of the pork. But I just wasn't in the mood to tell Dorothy to follow the yellow brick road. My appetite felt unfinished, so I ordered dessert, an $8 Coconut Panna Cotta with Lime and Matcha Crumbles (photo: http://bit.ly/1ANhsZ6). Liked it, not too sweet. The owners are still keeping the space for cooking lessons and a venue for future pop-ups, so all is not lost, but it does feel like the end of a mini-era.

FOOD - 3 stars...small plates is no joke with the tiny ramen bowls a bit disheartening even when execution was good
AMBIANCE - 3 stars...still a hipster diner vibe
SERVICE - 4 stars...the owner is definitely a nice guy
TOTAL - 3 stars...sayonara, Nombe...it's been a nice run

For lunch a friend and I decided to got to the Mission and try a new joint that seemed to peak our interest. The reviews were alright however my friend visited this place before and said it was good, so why not!

The best way to put this place is that they've taken an old diner, turned it into an Asian fusion restaurant and literally kept the diner feel and decor. Black and white checkered flooring, diner style countertops and booth seating. Our server was rugged yet personable. For lunch we got a couple of plates and decided to share:

-Ramenburger for $15. Shoyu ramenburger, mizuna, tomato, sushi vinegar onions, shiokoji Japanese cucumber pickles between to ramen patties. They also added bacon to the dish and served it with seasoned fries. The mizuna gave off an arugula vibe in sight and flavor. I thought the ramen was a little stale but had some crunch to it.

-Loco Moco for $15: Burger, sunny side up eggs, rice and gravy, salad and miso soup. The salad was unnecessary for the dish but I guess they were trying to go for a clean taste. I would have preferred more gravy, but most of the flavors were there.

All in all, the place was alright. I would probably revisit this place if ever in the Mission, just not jumping out of my seat. If you're in the area, come check this place out and see if what I'm saying makes sense!

Nombe is a cute hipster Japanese fusion place in the Mission. Looks like a diner from the outside. I definitely wanted to see what the hype is about to about the Ramen Burger but $16 bucks for a tiny burger was insane. The patty was a thin one, made with beef and pork belly, grilled all the way through for simplicity's sake, but not really seared to a crust on the outside.

The sandwich was topped with lettuce, tomato, and homemade Japanese pickled cucumbers I got mine with Bleu Cheese. It was innovative and tasty not spectacular but I did enjoy it. Just not happy about the price and the size, 4 big bites and your done and wondering--duh was that it? The fries were good and the Sriracha ketchup was good!

Had the notable Bacon-Wrapped Mochi. I like bacon, and I like mochi, but this dish just didn't quite cut it for me. The mochi was deep fried before wrapped in bacon, resulting in too much fried food and consistency of mocha was gooey and kinda strange. Pass on this next time.

What stood out for me:

~kurobota pork belly, pork belly get in my belly! I don't know exactly what they did to the meat before grilling it, but damn, it's good. The outside is a little crispy, but the layers of fat and meat inside were so succulent.

~beet salad, well how can you screw up this one, but wish the portion size was bigger.

~ kara-age chicken very simple presentation of cut up pieces of chicken that are battered and fried and topped with Japanese seasoning soo juicy.

Four stars because I liked the vibe, it is a good place to go take your friends have small bites and drinks and it is just plain fun!

A 31-page drink menu, need I say more?

Nombe has an extensive alcohol menu, 80% being sake; enough to satisfy any sake addict. I like sake, but this was not my sole purpose for coming here.

Izakaya (Japanese Tapas) is one of my favorite cuisines b/c it gives me the opportunity to try a little bit of everything. The food here is really just 3 Stars b/c the dishes were really a Hit OR Miss, but the eclectic ambiance and service boosts my rating to 4 Stars.

I noticed a lot of people complained that Nombe is expensive. Izakaya dishes are tapas/drinking food. Considering this, about 3 dishes per a person should be sufficient (4 if you're hungry). With most dishes ranging from $6-15, the bill can easily rack up.

On Sunday, 7/25, we arrived on time for our 7 PM reservations and was promptly seated.

HITS:
*Wagyu Steak Tataki ($15): YUMMY! The waygu was seared and served rare; it was buttery, tender and melted in my mouth. The garlic ponzu added a salty garlicky sweetness which complemented the waygu well. The daikon added a freshness while softening the flavors from the ponzu. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=H_kJYssf4oykvhp4vZ1-wQ

*Tsukune w/ Egg ($6): DELECTABLE! The chicken meatball was very tender, moist, and flavorful w/ strong pepper notes. It was served w/ a steamed egg to be use as a dipping sauce. The runny yolk from the egg added a layer of creaminess while the egg whites softened the peppery-ness from the chicken. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=gmUqlTNglBu8w4jKH1EK9g

*Sweet Corn Korokke ($8): MmMmMm! The corn fritters were lightly fried to a golden brown. The crust was light and crisp and the inside was pillowy soft. The sweet corn kernels gave the fritters some texture. It was accompanied w/ a corn smut sauce which gave it a slightly salty shroom taste w/ a hint of sweetness. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=VMvyFHWe2a4efyMWCsWuoQ

*Pork Belly ($13): Good! The pork belly was fried and then stewed creating a crunchy exterior and a soft tender interior. The sake stewed onions added a sweetness that offset the richness of the pork. The dish was perfect EXCEPT the shoyu tamago. The egg had a burnt crust which then cause the egg to be very hard and rubbery after sitting in the stewed onions. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=GOxtpfMU6MNKuOq0A1CORg

*Chicken Wings w/ Honey Serrano Chili Sauce ($9): Good! The wings had a light crisp crust and was tender and moist. The sauce was very tangy as opposed to being sweet. The chilies added just the right amount of kick while the cilantro added an herby freshness.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=d5jymIhTznjRUwJxu0VkUw

MISSES:
*Agedashi Tofu ($6): The worst agedashi tofu I've ever had. The tofu was in HUGE unmanageable chunks and was drowning in the broth. The crust was fried to a rock hard crisp and did NOT have the gelatinous texture that Agedashi tofu should have. Dashi is suppose to be a light broth that sweet and savory. However, Nombe's dashi was more like salt based broth that was all salt and no flavor.http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=Bpc_m5NT9A42KQK7n2fktg

*Nasu Dengaku ($6): BURNT; the skin was charred to a pitch black and although the eggplant was tender, all I can taste was burnt charcoals which lingered in my mouth throughout our meal.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=hikpjwAygiURAFvKYz4_4w

*Chicken Thigh Skewers ($5): The chicken was dry and was lacking any flavor; in other words bland. The accompany ume sauce (Asian plum) was very salty and so tangy that it made me cringe.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=tVnu8HaEyVEhKEC36quJKg

*Chicken Fried Kamaboko (Special Menu - $7): Bleh; it's essentially fish cakes shaped into chicken nuggets and then fried. The fish cake was dry and very bland. The gravy sauce was very salty and goopy and reminded me of cafeteria type gravy sauce.
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=kfz03l4HudcxIt2Zup28rw

*Miso Gobo ($4): The gobo (burdock) was sliced into an oval and topped w/ a miso.The burdock was light and crisp and tasted like a cucumber The miso had a very harsh and pungent salty flavor which was very overpowering. http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/w23-rmPWoksSI9j4rMTEzg?select=jYczffbHL7l53JWnuXotDg

SERVICE:
Our waitress was very friendly, down-to-earth and helpful w/ the menu. We got our dishes in a timely fashion and was checked on accordinglyso no complaints there.

AMBIANCE/DÉCOR:
Funky and eclectic; black and white checkered floors lead to the natural stone floors, diner counters and stools, abstract metal wall decorations and sake shelf display.

In short, Nombe's food and ambiance will appeal to Hispters but will disappoint most Izakaya Traditiionalists.

Honestly, I came here because of a Travelzoo promotion. But I'm glad I did.

First off, we were 45 mins late for our reservation because of extremely bad traffic. But, I did call ahead and they accommodated our late arrival with no fuss.

The waitress/host was very friendly and attentive. Our waiter was a little slow at the beginning (they were very busy), but more than made up for it the rest of the time.

We had the Beet Salad and the Japanese Salad. The beet salad was fresh and tasty with a hint of wasabi in the dressing. But the Japanese salad was to die for. I almost ordered another one! The playful interaction between the flavors and textures was a joy in my mouth.

For the second course, I had the chicken sampler, consist of chicken skin, Tsukune, chicken liver and chicken breast w/scallion. They were all excellent and served with a sauce that enhanced and not overpower the skewers.

For the main course, I had the grilled Yellowtail Cheek. Perfectly grilled to the right crispiness on the outside and tenderness on the inside. Again the miso (?) glazed was spot on in flavor. My dining companion ordered the Hokkaido Totate (scallop), grilled and served with an heirloom tomato purée. The purée itself was was worth eating there! I had to restrain myself from licking the plate!

To finish off, I had the Green Tea Panna Cotta. The texture was firm (good difference) and it was not overly sweet. Quite enjoyable.

A very good experience. I will be back.

Came here on the recommendation of the best ramen places in the city by 7x7 sf... Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

Eats: salmon crudo, spicy tonkatsu, and the bacon ramen burger

Takes: Salmon crudo was great! The salmon was fresh, and the peppers they used didn't over power the fish.

The spicy tonkatsu ramen was disappointing. When they say small, they really mean small. That was the smallest bowl of ramen that I've seen from a restaurant. The spicy seasoning was the forefront to the point that yes, you felt the burn and coughing fit as it hit your throat. The accumulation of seasoning rather than add to the ramen, actually took away from it; not sure how the bf pushed thru, but just one spoonful and a couple of bean sprouts later, I was done.

As for the ramen burger, I'm not sure what to think about it. The ramen buns were definitely on the crispy almost burnt side. It has potential, but didn't meet my preconceived notions of a ramen burger.

Wait time: For a Saturday dinner, it was surprisingly empty. No wait time at all! The food did take awhile to come to the table, specifically the ramen burger.

Service: Our waitress was definitely very attentive, especially given that it was our first time.

Price: Overpriced for what we ordered. All of the above excluding tip was about $45.

Bottom line: This place has potential, but it isn't there yet. I'd get my ramen fix elsewhere.

Atrocious ramen (seriously). Our noodles were severely overcooked and the ambiguous broth base with kimchi not well-prepared. The pork slices (in bits n pieces) in the soup although not tough were bland and uninspiring. We had to drive to Santouka to detox a few days later.

Thankfully the izakaya items were better. Fried chicken wings lovingly made with sweet and spicy thai-based flavors and still remained crispy and non-sticky (a first). Grilled black cod had nicely crisp skins and tender flesh cooked perfectly in a whitish buttery broth. Sweet potato korokke with good taste but seemed too finely meshed and oversized with little texture contrast. The grilled chicken thigh with ume and shiso were ok.

Service was tad underwhelming but friendly. Water were not refilled automatically. Also, green tea is not complimentary. Nothing wrong with the ambience or decor.

Not your typical izakaya (somewhat fusionesque offbeat americanized) but has good japanese alcohol (shochu, chuhai, sake) selection and some interesting izakaya items with potentials to fulfill tastebuds. And who can resist canned water-melon beer?

PROS:
- Few cocktails but the one I had was great (and immediately popularized by my purchase - three more were bought within my group). Oh yeah, I got the Ginger.
- Great service. Our server was really friendly and patient with a huge drunk group taking forever (I could tell because I was DD..).
- MUST-HAVES: Ginger cocktail, Agedashi Dofu, Pork Belly.

CONS:
- Slightly pricey. The drinks & apps were really good, but overall the entrees didn't seem to stand out.

THE FOOD:

* Ginger (ginger shochu, fresh ginger, lime) - Exactly what I needed: light, refreshing, tart yet slightly sweet, and just enough ginger flavor. We saw them grinding up a fresh ginger root too. Nice.

* Little Gem Lettuce, Ume Dressing, Soft Tofu, Lotus Chips - Sounds good on paper, but the actual execution was a little plain. Not much flavor wise, mostly a huge bowl of lettuce with bits of the other stuff.

* Agedashi Dofu - Delicious! The broth was amazing, and the tofu soft yet firm (not sure how that works.. but it did) with some soggy crispy skin on top for texture. The greens added a refreshing crisp and flavor.

* Kurobuta Pork Belly, Shichimi - Ohhhhh yummy. Very soft, tender, practically falling apart, fatty, delicious.

* Yakitori Sampler (Chicken Thigh, Skin, Gizzards, Heart) - Big disappointment. After all the hype about the skin.. it was kind of flavorless, and the breading wasn't as crunchy as I'd hoped. The thigh wasn't memorable, and the gizzards & heart (heart usually being my FAVORITE organ in chicken) were way way overcooked and dry. And flavorless again.

* Kobe Bavette Teppanyaki, Yuzu kosho, Soy butter Potatoes - Beef was tender, can't mess that up. The potatoes were great, with a nice slight crisp to the skin & well flavored. However, small portion for $14 and not anything really special.

* Flounder w/ Daikon Puree - We were able to order this off of what seemed like a prix fixe menu. The flounder was good, skin had a good crisp, and the daikon puree interesting. Well done, not super unique though.

* Chicken Wings - Everyone really liked this and even ordered extra servings, but the major dominating flavor was a lemon/ tart sauce that really just took out the the enjoyment of the wings for me.

It is a nice place. I tried the Ramen Burger, Suika Watermelon Cosmo, Vegetable Kushi combination. The Ramen burger was OK. It was better than what I was expecting. It was very juicy, and it was hard to eat it without making a mess. It had a nice and unique flavor. I could taste the Ramen noodles. The meat patty was very soft and tasty. The watermelon Cosmo was good. Typical girly drink, taste so could that you can easily get drunk drinking it. The vegetable Kushi was good. I especially like the eggplant nasu with sweet miso paste.

The customer service was OK. Food arrived quickly, if they made a mistake, they quickly corrected it. The ambience was OK.

Chef Nori Sugie has left Nombe, replaced by chef Brandon Armstrong. So lunch service and the expensive beef ramen have been discontinued. Mari's tantan-men and tonkotsu ramen remain in the dinner menu, for a more reasonable $7 price.

The delicious 7 course kaiseki menu for $39.95 is also a great value, better than the ramen, which is only average. Other new additions are local beers on tap.