Ramen Takagi in Oviedo is a top choice for soup lovers this January, celebrating National Soup Month with delicious ramen.
Oviedo: I met Yoko Takagi not long after she and her husband, Gabriel Leal, opened Ramen Takagi in 2021. Her journey is pretty amazing. A Japanese woman raised in Venezuela, she went back to Japan to master ramen before bringing it to America. Since then, she’s improved her Japanese and English, and her ramen? Well, it’s something special.
Many folks say she’s really nailed it. Last year, she won the Ramen Rumble, a popular competition in Orlando that started with some friendly banter on Facebook. Now, the coveted Broth Belt proudly hangs in her Oviedo restaurant.
On January 27, Ramen Rumble 7 will take place, and it’s grown from a small event to a big deal at Morimoto Asia, raising funds for Give Kids the World. It’s exciting to see where it goes next.
Takagi’s tonkotsu ramen is a must-try. It’s got rich pork broth, tender pork chashu, mushrooms, pickled ginger, marinated egg, and scallions. Perfect for this chilly Florida weather! January is National Soup Month, and Ramen Takagi is definitely feeling the love.
With the colder months, their ramen is in high demand. Plus, they’re opening a second location at the new City Food Hall in Ivanhoe Village, which is great news for fans in Orange County.
“We have a lot of regulars who are excited about it,” Takagi says. They’re planning to stay open later, until 10 p.m. during the week and even later on weekends.
They’ve been thinking about expanding for a while, and when this opportunity popped up, they jumped on it. They’ll prep in Oviedo since space will be tight at the food hall, but Takagi sees a lot of potential for growth.
“We’ll add more appetizers for sharing since there’s a bar,” she explains. They might start with a smaller menu and expand from there.
Since opening, their menu has grown. They started with just four types of ramen, but now they have regulars who want to try new things. “It’s rewarding when people say our ramen reminds them of their travels,” Takagi shares.
People in the city really crave her ramen. Sean “Sonny” Nguyen, a local ramen expert, loves the wonton ramen there. Ramen Rumble creator Jason Chin also praises Takagi, especially her spicy miso ramen.
Even Yuhi Fuginaga, who won a previous Ramen Rumble, often heads to Takagi to satisfy his cravings. “Orlando takes its ramen seriously,” Chin says, highlighting the community’s support for local talent.
This year’s Ramen Rumble features competitors like Wa Ramen and others. It’s a fun event for food lovers since ramen offers endless creative possibilities.
Takagi learned from her first Rumble experience and came back stronger. “We figured people love beef, so we made roast beef with beef broth, and it was a hit,” she recalls.
Winning brought in new customers, too. “We were busy, and people came from all over the city,” she says. If you haven’t tried Ramen Takagi yet, it’s definitely worth the trip, and soon it’ll be even closer for some!
Find me on Facebook, X, or Instagram (@amydroo) or check out the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. For more fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
If you go: Ramen Takagi: 3635 Aloma Ave. in Oviedo, 321-972-8602; ramentakagi.com
Ramen Rumble: Tickets and info, morimotoasia.com/events/ramen-rumble
