Shoronpo - Haven for Ramen Lovers
Shoronpo was, for a long time, the favorite of many a ramen lover. Unfortunately, it closed around the time of the pandemic. However, little did we expect that Keita Tanaka would reopen it in a different location a few years later, together with a couple of friends.
Shoronpo, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The space is small but cool and cozy, and you can have a peek into the open kitchen to see what’s cooking. It is particularly fascinating to see the large pots with broth; it’s hard not to drool!
Soup dumplings at Shoronpo, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
Shoronpo has two main focuses on its menu: ramen and shoronpo soup dumplings. In the ramen department, they are famous for their tantanmen ramen—a thick, cloudy dish with minced meat that is slightly spiced. On the other hand, the steamed shoronpo soup dumplings come in many different varieties as appetizers, and I highly recommend trying different ones, such as the truffle or the spicy gekikara. There are also various gyoza options and other familiar Japanese comfort food choices such as karaage.
Tantanmen ramen at Shoronpo, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The ramen options aren’t abundant (they have five different ones), but you don’t need more than that here, really. There are two vegetarian options and one vegan option (cold tantanmen). If ramen isn’t your thing, you can opt for a rice dish or two: the Karaage Don (rice with chicken karaage) or the Yaya Don (white rice with minced sweet pork belly). In the drinks department, you can expect different local wines (and a French one!), beer (because what is ramen without a beer?), and a few sakes.
Shoronpo, Barcelona. Photo © Barcelona Food Experience.
The turnaround here is quite fast, but considering that the place is very small, I highly recommend booking your table in advance. Even on a regular Tuesday, you see numerous people being turned away at the door because it is fully booked. Shoronpo is one of a kind, and if ramen is your thing, you can’t miss this one!
Shoronpo, Carrer del Dr. Rizal, 20, Barcelona (Gracia).
