While the menu may look a lot like last year, the flavors have gotten a big upgrade at the Ramen Exchange for the 2024 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival. While we may not have a hankering for hot soup in the heat of August and September, this booth is likely going to become a go-to in the cooler months ahead.
👍 Ramen with shaved beef, shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and daikon radish, shaved spicy peppers, and a soy egg in citrus-sesame broth
Last year, this soup had a broth that was saltier than sea water and barely edible. This year, the citrus-sesame broth has the perfect amount of saltiness, especially when paired with the noodles. The beef is buttery and tender and the noodles are similar in texture to egg noodles. We especially loved the addition of the hot peppers and shiitake mushrooms. This is a great classic ramen that is both filling and comforting on a cooler afternoon at Epcot.
👍 Thai Shrimp with Rice Noodles, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Basil in Coconut-Curry Broth
If you're more in the mood for a Thai treat, this mildly spiced and coconut-infused rice noodle ramen may be just what you're looking for. While the shrimp was perfectly fine, we really enjoyed the flavor of the shiitake mushrooms mixed with the spices of the curry. Last year, the broth had a bit more sweetness to balance out how salty it is. While we miss the added sweetness, this is still a good soup and the saltiness of the broth is now balanced by the noodles.
👍 Ramen with tofu, shiitake mushrooms, pickled carrots and daikon radish, shaved spicy peppers, and Baby Bok Choy in Citrus-Sesame Broth
We are fairly certain that this is the same broth that comes in the meat version, though the addition of the beef makes it taste a bit more rich than its plant-based partner. The star of the show here are those spicy peppers. They add so much flavor and pair wonderfully with the mushrooms and vegetables. The tofu, on the other hand, is the weakest part of this dish. It is not marinated or prepared in any way. They just dump in the raw tofu and it doesn't bring much fun to the party. Thankfully, everything else more than makes up for it and we ended up really enjoying this soup.
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