Pop-Up Ramen Bar This Weekend At Two Oak Cliff Locations

by Steven Doyle

You may best know chef Justin Holt from his gig at Lucia in the Bishop Arts District. There the chef makes his way around the smallish five star kitchen curing meats and rolling pasta. Holt reached out to us this week to alert us to a new project that is near to his heart, and stomach: Ramen. Look for his pop-up Ramen bar this weekend at a few of his favorite Oak Cliff watering holes.

Ramen has grown in popularity across the country, but there are few places to find an excellent example of the dish in Dallas. Consider Ramen the Japanese soul food. The delicious mixture of broth, meat and hopefully hand-made noodles soothes the soul and wakens the senses. This dish has little to do with the ten cent packet you may have been a slave to in college. The skill-set necessary to make excellent Ramen is vast. Japanese Ramen chefs study for years to perfect the perfect bowl. The result is a lush soup packed with texture and flavor.  

Holt wishes to gauge the interest in Ramen and has proposed two special nights of Ramen at a few local bars in Oak Cliff this week for the ultimate Ramen Pop-Up Dinner. For those wishing to sample a bowl of the chef’s creation check in to Tradewinds Soacial Club Friday night after midnight and Ten Bells Tavern  at the same time on Saturday.  The cost is a low $5 per bowl.

Holt will include “noodles that are alkaline made from scratch, and a pork belly that is rolled and cooked sous vide. The egg is similar to an onsen egg.” The Ramen will have pork belly, egg and scallion.

Onsen eggs are poached within the shell but served outside the shell. The yolk is firm, yet creamy. The white is almost custard-like. The egg is typically served in a broth like Holt’s Ramen.

Tradewinds Social Club is located at 2843 W Davis, and Ten Bells Tavern is at 232 W 7th.