Ramen Dayo Review
If you’re not familiar with Ramen Dayo, they are a fantastic local business producing some of the most delicious ramen you will find in the city, in one of the cutest locations. This funky Ramen spot came to life via owner Paul, who upon returning to Scotland after living in Japan for 12 years spotted a real gap in the Glasgow food scene for a good ramen joint. And so he set about perfecting and adapting some of his favourite Japanese dishes for the good people of Glasgow (thanks Paul, you are a good man!) and in 2016 Ramen Dayo was born
Are you ready for a bold claim? Ramen Dayo is one of the coolest looking restaurants in the city.
Located up a wee dodgy narrow staircase on Ashton Lane, walking through the front door is like being teleported into a funky food shack slap bang in the middle of Japan. Think corrugated iron walls and wooden benches, cute Japanese toys, retro posters and hanging lanterns. It’s small, fun and really committed to everything Japanese.
The menu as you would expect is bursting with different ramen and delicious toppings to add. There is also a cracking selection of sides ranging from traditional edamame, to crispy crunch gyoza, to smokey benito fries. It’s an easy to understand menu, although if like me you don’t know a massive amount about Japanese flavours and ingredients expect to feel a little overwhelmed by it – don’t worry tho that is where the brilliant helpful staff come in, and if all else fails I just google stuff.
I have tries a fair about of the dishes from Ramen Dayo now, over the course of lockdown and restrictions I have tried everything on the menu now I think, but the one I keep going back to is the Chashu-Don, it’s deliciousness for me lays in it utter simplicity - This dish is a bed of rice topped with the most flavoursome ends of the pork belly, which is slow cooked for 5 hours. This is garnished with pickled daikon radish, spring onions, kizami nori, sesame seeds & homemade sauce. The pork literally melts in your mouth and the little crispy end bits are the absolute business.
I also love the Tonkotsu Ramen, which is mega flavourful, the broth is rich and full, the pork is juicy and the mayu burnt garlic oil gives me life!
Special mention has to go to the chicken karaage which for me is some of the best in the city - the chicken is moist and the coating is crispy as a MOFO!!
And you best be believing that I do not order from Dayo without an order of their Beef Bulgogi Gyoza which is utterly jam packed with lush tender beef….God I could eat these every day, three times a day.
I was going to say Ramen Dayo isn’t cheap...but that isn’t fair because Ramen generally isn't cheap. Sure you can find £5 bowls of ramen but in my experience they just don’t have the depth of flavour that a good ramen will carry….christ some of them basically taste like a knorr stock cube in water.
By the time I knock together a bowl with extra toppings it’s not unusual my ramen will hit £16 - £18, but I am generally happy to pay this because I can see and taste the work and quality of ingredients that goes into each bowl. So it’s not cheap but in my opinion it is worth it.
If like me you are a ramen fan, Ramen Dayo is an absolute must visit….The location is CoolAF, the staff are so nice, the food is packed full of flavour and the price is reasonable – what’s not to love about it.
Get your ass down to see the guys on Ashton Lane they are fantastic!
