Orenchi Ramen

Orenchi Ramen, Santa Clara, CA

Orenchi Ramen (Tonkotsu)

Tako Wasabi (wasabi octopus)

Orenchi is one of those restaurants you just have to try. You must drop your other places to eat and stop here for ramen (if you're into ramen). This place is a crown jewel; 2-time Michelin & Zagat rated restaurant with plaques and awards. 

Due to the high volume of customers, I recommend coming in early before 11am to put your name on the list. Trust me, the lines get long and the crowd outside are just waiting to steal your place. Be prepared!!

For starters, I ordered their Tako Wasabi (Wasabi Octopus). This is a room temperature octopus with a jelly consistency. The wasabi is real from the root and is marinaded within the octopus. This makes a great pair with a Japanese beer for sure. To me, this is a must try appetizer and I think its one of the best raw-type items out there.

The original Orenchi Ramen is a huge hit and made a huge impression on me. Just the look of this dish was stunning. The colors were vibrant; almost pastel like with shades of contrast. The pork is cooked to perfection; it was tender and moist with a buttery flavor. The broth tastes delicious! not too salty or fatty tasting. The noodles are eggy, thick, tender, and has a beautiful curl to them. Everything comes together inside this ramen dish. Each ingredient compliments one another. I recommend breaking in the egg and having the golden yolk dissolve within the broth to give it a creamy texture and a bit of a aged salty taste. 

Orenchi is truly a hidden gem that is highly appreciated by top tier reviewers from all around. There are lots more to try here so I will definitely make sure to come back for more!!

Photo by: Allister de Vera

Orenchi Ramen, Santa Clara, CA

Taken by: iPhone 5s

La PanotiQ

La PanotiQ, Campbell, CA

Maple-Pecan Plait

Mini Canelé Bordeaux 

Oakland Bicycle Company Cold Brew

La PanotiQ is a French-inspired bakery that is privately ran by The Guterman family. The dessert cafe resembles local boulangeries and cafes from the streets of France.

As I walked inside Campbell's location (First Location), I noticed the delicate-made desserts behind clean & shined glass shelves. It almost looked like jewelry behind glass. Each dessert is labeled with a fancy font and a short description of what the dessert is made of. The display is neat and gives a high-end feel to them.

From the bottom-up, this cafe is clean and spotless. I didn't see any mess or crumbs anywhere. The service is wonderful and they cater to orders and answer questions. They are efficient and friendly!

The Maple-Pecan Plait is sticky and sweet. The dough is flaky with a nice golden color to it. It's pecans were sweetened and toasted like candy. The Canelé Bordeaux was almost like a mini churro size with honey color and sticky marshmallow texture. To take it all down, I ordered Oakland's Bicycle Company cold brew. This is by far, the best cold brew I've had so far; much better than Stumptown's cold brew. The brew has a maple taste to it with a caramel-type texture.

This place is my newest go-to cafe for dessert and cold brew. I definitely recommend coming here with a group of friends or even with a bf/gf and just enjoy delicious and authentic French made desserts. This cafe gives off a great intimate vibe with excellent lighting and comfortable seating! Thanks La PonotiQ!


Photo by: Allister de Vera
La PonotiQ, Campbell, CA
Taken from: iPhone 5s