Butao Ramen's Reviews - OpenRice Mobile

Butao Ramen 豚王
English Address : G/F, Wo On Building, 8-13 On Lane Street, Lan Kwai Fong Central
Chinese Address : 中環蘭桂坊和安里8-13號和安樓地下
Map : Display Map
Phone No. : 2530 0600 (Add to Contacts)
Categories : Japanese | Ramen
Spending : $41-$100
Overall Score : 3.7
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Other Information

Signature Dishes: Red King、Butao King、Black King、Green King
Opening Hours: 星期一至六:11:00-21:00，賣完300碗即止；
星期日休息
Payment Method: Cash
Alcoholic Drinks: 沒有
10% Service Charge: 沒有

Gourmet Reviews

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So far the best ramen in Hong Kong!
2012-09-09
for food's sake (12 Review(s))

First thing, come at 1430 - 1700 on a weekday to avoid the queue tongue

Had a 豚王with half boiled egg. ($75 + $15)
Ramen was nice, probably because I chose 'hard' instead of 'normal'.
Soup was bursting with flavours but not too oily, though I did not finish the soup because I was too full at the end! tongue

The 3 slices of pork are nicely distributed with fats, though they didn't really melted in my mouth.
Half-boiled egg was good but I'd still prefer the ones at 八千代.
Service was good, will definitely be back! smile

Table Wait Time: 0 Minutes
Spending per Head: HKD90
Overall Rating : Taste4 Environment3 Service4 Hygiene4 Value for Money4

Worth a try
2012-07-27
Vespiquen (3 Review(s))

My friend and I have planned to try the ramen here for a long time, but we were put off by the long queues every time. Anyway, we decided to take the plunge and joined the queue on one Friday evening.
Yeah, it was packed and we waited for 30 minutes to be seated.
We each ordered a bowl of "Pork King" ramen ($75). This was authentic Japanese ramen, pretty similar to my previous experience in Japan. The pork was surprisingly tender and savoury, while the soup base seemed to be free of MSG. My friend also ordered an egg, which looked appetising and I regretted not ordering one myself. However, both of us found that just one bowl was not very filling.

This place is definitely worth a try, but whether it's worth $75 or the 30-minute wait is arguable. I would return again if the waiting time was more reasonable.

Recommended Dish(es): 豚王
Date of Visit: 2012-07-20
Table Wait Time: 30 Minutes
Spending per Head: HKD98
Overall Rating : Taste5 Environment2 Service4 Hygiene4 Value for Money2

overrated or just an accident ?
2012-05-25
freeier (1 Review(s))

For background, I am a Ramen craze Singaporean living in HK.. since 20 years ago when I lived in japan.. we used to drive from 1~2 hours each way just to eat particularly famous/good ramen.

The recent craze for Ramen in Singapore and HK is a god send and I do try to visit most of the well 'rated' stores in both countries.

In summary, it was not as great as the queues claimed...
Ordered the standard Butao (we generally only go for the basic the first time at any ramen stores)..

The soup was pretty good, not too oily and well balanced taste.
Unfortunately the noodle was not well cooked. Usually for yellow noodle there is a starch taste (in hokkien we call it 'gni') that has to be gotten rid of. Maybe because the soup base is not really strong, you can taste the starch taste in the noodle.

Half boil egg was cold at the core.. might be intentional..
The char-siew meat was too soft and just crumpled into little bits as you eat the noodle..

Verdict, I am probably fine with eating it again but I won't wait 30mins for it.. When the weather is better and I happened to walk by ya..
otherwise, the hideki ramen (next street) or ippudo (heard there is one nearby) likely offer nicer experience overall than this one.

Date of Visit: 2012-05-24
Table Wait Time: 30 Minutes
Spending per Head: HKD100
Overall Rating : Taste3 Environment2 Service4 Hygiene3 Value for Money3

豚王 Butao Ramen: Where the ramen frenzy is started
2012-05-01
knowmoreChris (2 Review(s))

Back in mid year 2010, a ramen frenzy has since started in Hong Kong, this is all began with one ramen (拉麵) restaurant they even began hype before their grand opening with the help of local TV show and gourmet columnist – Butao Ramen 豚王.
Apart from the ramen, Butao is most famous for its long queues, limited servings of ramen and it’s street side sitting; these all together create the success formula for them and thus sparking the frenzy of ramen in the Hong Kong dining scene.
Butao ramen is known for only serving limited number of ramen per day, and when the ramen stockpile reaches zero, the shop closes. Therefore creating the long queues almost 2 hours before it opens daily, with the people in anticipation for a hot bowl of authentic ramen prepared by Japanese ramen chef, and to be eaten at street side – the feeling of a typical ramen stall in Japan.
Comparing with the ramen from other restaurants that opened after Butao, Butao’s ramen is truly delicious. This is the only ramen restaurant making me to visiting them again and again. lol

Butao’s menu features only four flavors of ramen: Butao (豚王), Red King (赤王), Dark King (黑王) and Green King (翠王), plus rumored “secret flavors” namely the Genki King (元気王) and Prawn King (海老王), since they’re not on the menu. As of today I have tried Butao (豚王)(again and again), Black King (黑王) and Prawn King (海老王). To make an order, you get to “customize” your ramen with their “signature” ordering slip, you can customize the strength of the ramen (that is how long should the ramen be cooked), intensity and spiciness of the soup base, soft-boiled egg, side dishes etc..

No matter which variant of the ramen you choose, the ramen’s soup base is intensely rich and thick – the result of hours of stewing of pork bones. Ones may consider the soup is too oily, but however I see this is the true nature of authentic Japanese ramen, if it isn’t be this, just light and clear, this is already a Hong Kong localized noodle but not a Ramen, I would rather then suggest you have instant noodles instead. huffy

Normally I would eat with extra portion of ramen and drink all the soup: it’s the politeness in respect to the ramen chef and also to show the chef how much you liked.
The ramen scene in Hong Kong is blooming, though the days before Butao there has already ramen restaurants like Domen or Ramen Santouka, but was not trending yet and they’re just hiding around the city. Now everywhere is just about new ramen restaurant opening – each representing different variant of Japanese ramen. I guess this is how lucky Hong Konger is, I hope the ramen trend can last as long as it can!

Recommended Dish(es): 豚王,黑王,海老王
Table Wait Time: 55 Minutes
Spending per Head: HKD100 (Lunch)
Overall Rating : Taste5 Environment3 Service5 Hygiene4 Value for Money4

One of the best RAMEN in HK
2012-04-18
Feifeicheng (5 Review(s))

Finally I had this chance to try豚王 as I had this class at 7pm near LKF.
There was no queue at around 6pm, I was seated immediately at the corner.
There was this order form on the table which we ordered in the same way as 一籣ramen in Tokyo.

I ordered the 豚王,it served with the thin noodles which I like, the soup is in milky colour, very rich in favour, come with spring onion n黑木耳, the Char Siu is thinly sliced and very soft.
I really like the free side dish - the spicy bean sprouts.

Started to get a bit hot when started having the noodles, probably can’t visit again in the hot summer. This is one of the best ramen you can find in Hong Kong.

Recommended Dish(es): 豚王
Date of Visit: 2012-04-17
Table Wait Time: 0 Minutes
Spending per Head: HKD85 (Other)
Overall Rating : Taste4 Environment2 Service3 Hygiene3 Value for Money3

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