A recent trip to Montpelier to visit Barr Hill to have some cocktails with friends ended up with our taking the back way through Barre, VT to get home, and hoping to pick up some dinner while in town. When we first moved here, Barre was a bit of a food desert, but over the years it’s sprouted more than a few decent eateries like Cornerstone Pub and Kitchen. But this time, I figured it was finally a chance to check out a rarity in the region: a ramen joint, Si Aku Ramen.
Located right on Barre’s Main Street next to the cinema, Si Aku Ramen opened up back in 2018 as a combined ramen and Asian grocery store, but walking in, you can see that the “grocery” side of the business has faded (I would guess this happened during the Pandemic). But they maintain a takeout counter, a modest dining area, and a good selection of Japanese, Thai, Filipino, and other assorted Asian cuisine specials. But, true to their name, you can pretty much always count on the menu having at least classic pork belly tonkatsu ramen, phở, and a few other basic Asian soup dishes, and the occasional dumplings.
Since the place nominally is a ramen shop (having ramen right in the title), we both decided to get the tonkatsu ramen. Starting with the most important ingredient (ramen is really more about the broth than the noodles), this was a good, thick, and flavorful tonkatsu broth with a lot of body too it, without being too greasy. The noodles themselves were well-above your average “ramen” noodles, with a particularly good tooth to them. Some fresh carrot and sprouts were a good touch, and the soft-boiled egg decent (but the yolk a bit firmer than I like in a ramen). The pork? I always like this really delicately simmered, and the version here was a bit firmer than that, but still decent.
Overall, however, a good, solid, and enjoyable bowl of ramen. And it’s one of the more unique and enjoyable places I’ve found in Barre, with a friendly staff. It is definitely worth checking out if you’re in the greater Barre/Montpelier area.
