Contemporary Japanese Deli – Home to the $8.80 Shoyu Ramen
Located in Da Costa Arcade, Contemporary Japanese Deli might not appear too flashy at first, but once you step inside and give their food a chance, it’ll change your initial impressions.
The deli is run by father and son duo, Sid and Aki. When you walk into their deli, you get a sense that they are genuine about their food and culture, delivering Japanese street food at reasonable prices.
The dining area is so-so, nothing special, and you’ll find random pictures of Pikachu and scenery on the wall. However, you’ll be too focused on the quality of the food to care too much about the interior.
During lunch hours, be prepared to wait for around 10-15 minutes for a table. If you don’t have the time or patience to wait around, grab a takeaway option instead. The crowd at Contemporary Japanese Deli generally consists of office workers, construction workers, and casual diners.
The menu features a range of ramen, sushi, curries, bento boxes, noodles, and rice bowls. Prices range from $8 to $16, with most meal options being priced just below or above $10.
Verdict on the ramen
In order to gauge how authentic their ramen is, I ordered a classic shoyu (soy) ramen. It came with two slices of chashu (stewed pork), half a hard-boiled egg, naruto (fish cake), and bamboo shoots.
The broth had a clean soy taste, and was not overly oily. As for the noodles, they are freshly handmade and had a nice firm chew and bite to them, excellent for slurping. The slices of chashu were ever-so slightly tough, but had heaps of flavour. The typical condiments in a bowl of ramen, egg, naruto, and bamboo shoots, were done well. In regards to the serving size, it’s very fair. It’s not the hugest bowl of ramen, but is enough to make you feel satisfied and full.
Overall, it is a surprisingly good bowl of ramen, especially when you consider the price. It sets the template of what a bowl of ramen should taste and look like.
Price: $
Location: Shop 22/68 Grenfell St, Adelaide SA 5000
Opening hours: Mon-Fri, 10:30am-4pm
