What do you mean you cook it yourself? New DIY ramen shop opens in Modesto
I would say a long-awaited ramen shop in Vintage Faire Mall has finally opened, but the wait wasn’t very long. It just felt like it.
In late October, I wrote about a Korean-inspired, self-serve ramen shop that would open in the suite next to Lids and Zales on the second level of the mall. As you may know, when you anticipate something, time seems to move slowly.
But then it happened. Not even a month after the story published, K-Ramyun had a soft opening Nov. 22.
It was previously reported (and depicted on Vintage Faire Mall’s site map) that K-Ramyun was associated with Seoul Street. When I spoke to co-owner Jane Lee, she said she and her mom, Iris Lee, initially were going to partner with the Southern California company but decided to create their own small business in Modesto instead.
While Jane Lee lives in Los Angeles, Iris Lee has lived and worked in Modesto for five years. Jane Lee said she purchases the instant ramen packets for the shop in Los Angeles, where there is a wider variety of markets, and makes the drive up weekly to deliver them.
Cooking your own meal at K-Ramyun made easy
It couldn’t be more simple to cook ramen at the DIY shop. The hardest part is choosing from the dozens of instant ramen packets lined on a wall.
There are even vegan and high-protein options, and the shop eventually may carry gluten-free noodles, Jane Lee said. Other items for sale are ice cream, kimbap, chips and drinks.
The price for ramen starts at $7.95, and free toppings include green onion, cilantro, lime and jalapeños. For $1 each, you can add mozzarella cheese, Spam, sausage, enoki mushrooms, rice cakes or fish cakes. You can also top your ramen with dumplings or shrimp for $3.
After you make your choices, you are given a tray, a paper bowl and directions on how to use the machine that adds water to the noodles and boils them. The directions are: Press one button (depending on the base of your noodles) and press start.
Then, you eat.
K-Ramyun is open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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