Ramen Eats: Day 3 - Engimono Ramen & Dim Sum

Image taken from the restaurant google post

Ramen Eats: Day 3 - Engimono Ramen & Dim Sum

In 2018, I was an eager connoisseur of ramen throughout Washington state. I would travel around the state on weekends and eat ramen at a new restaurant. Soon, I could boast about eating at nearly 90% of the establishments around the state.

It is no longer 2018; I can no longer boast about this accomplishment. As of June 28th, 2024, I begin my journey to eat at every ramen restaurant in the state. I will track my progress in the form of this food blog and leave a review for others looking to eat the best ramen possible.

I will review the location, atmosphere, and food in these blogs for the best experience.

A new rating system developed by my wonderful wife will be included soon.

Day 3 —

For Restaurant #3, I chose to Eat at Engimono Ramen and Dim Sum in Federal Way, Washington. The address is 1426 South 324th St, Federal Way, WA 98003. I arrived around 1800 for Dinner with my wife.

Location —

Overall, parking was good. Plenty of spaces are available, and it's a short walk to the entrance. The restaurant is located near the Commons at Federal Way Mall. In addition to the mall nearby, there is also a shopping center with plenty of other businesses for a shopping trip.

Atmosphere —

Walking inside, you are greeted by no staff, an empty till, and loud music throughout the restaurant. Even around six in the afternoon, the restaurant was nowhere close to capacity, with maybe one-fourth of the tables filled.

Service Quality —

This aspect could be better. With the staff members too busy talking to each other, food is brought out at awkward times, such as ramen before appetizers, and add-ons are brought whenever. These were not even the most grievous offenses.

The restaurant's menu is digital only, with worn-out QR codes that your phone will have difficulty reading on the tables. When requesting a physical menu, the wait staff will rudely tell you to just scan the code, and if you inform them you are having difficulties scanning the code, they demand your phone like you are useless.

Broth —

This may be the only redeeming quality of the whole experience. The broth is all right and worth drinking. However, it lacks the ability to soak into the other contents of the bowl.

Noodles —

These noodles were cooked per normal al dente and added to the broth to continue cooking. Yet, the restaurant uses low-quality noodles that are bland and tasteless. No matter how long I waited, the noodles could not absorb the flavor of the broth, causing the profile to taste like noodles in hot water.

Toppings/Menu —

What to say here. There could have been a better ordering experience with the menu. Menu after menu, you have to customize every bowl of ramen with exemptions and add-ons. Sure, there is a lot of customization, yet this is not an enhancement. Instead, you are left frustrated choosing to have egg in your bowl, and you must select pork independently. When your bowl is brought out, you get your pork several minutes after the bowl arrives. Ordering through the QR code leads you to the online website for ordering, as if you are ordering to go, and you have no contact with the staff to ensure everything you order will be the way you want.

Sure, if you are a regular and understand the menu, then this is a positive experience with ease and efficiency. But, as a first-time patron, this made me frustrated and upset. Crap quality rolled pork belly that is tough and tasteless, cold ramen eggs, and a shallow bowl that leaves you wanting more.

Rating —

Overall, My experience was awful. This restaurant wants too severely to cater to a crowd that wants no dining experience. Staff are inattentive and rude, and the atmosphere is loud and obnoxious.

I give it ★★☆☆☆. I will not return to eat at this restaurant. I implore fellow ramen enthusiasts to search for their bowls elsewhere.

Ramen Eats: Day 3 - Engimono Ramen & Dim Sum