For this edition of the Good Eats blog, Chancellor Martin and I didn’t have to go far to find great food! Nami Ramen is a fun spot just across the street from the Danforth campus on Skinker Boulevard that has Japanese food including salads, ramen, rice plates and fried rice.
The Chancellor and I tried a variety of appetizers and they were all amazing. We had takoyaki ($9), gyoza ($10), agedashi tofu ($10.50) and spam musubi ($5). The agedashi tofu — which is cubes of crispy, deep-fried tofu in a tsuyu broth — is my favorite. Chancellor Martin tried takoyaki, a popular Japanese street food made of balls of fried batter filled with octopus, for the first time while we were there, and the good news is, he liked it!
As entrees, Chancellor Martin and I both got the chicken katsu rice plate ($13.50). It comes with a crispy breaded chicken cutlet on white rice and a side of a mixed greens salad and pickled veggies. The chicken was tender and had a nice crunch from the breading, and the included Nami sauce gave everything a yummy flavor. This was one of our favorites!
The atmosphere is casual and there was a mix of students and others there the night we went. The walls are decorated with art in a unique style by WashU alum Edo Rosenblith, and there are interesting fixtures like a tangle of lightbulbs hanging from red strings throughout. There’s seating on cushioned benches, tables with stools by the window, and some outdoor seating.
The food was all very good, and the location right near our Danforth campus makes it a convenient choice for lunch or dinner. There’s a lot of options to order, so there should be something for everyone!
If you’re on campus or in the area for the upcoming WashU Commencement ceremonies and looking for a spot to eat or something to pick up, Nami Ramen is a great choice! They’re located at 278 Skinker Blvd. and are open 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. every day except Tuesday.
Nami Ramen
278 Skinker Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63130