Ritesh Shah

Review of Morimoto Restaurant

I went here to try a different take on Japanese cu...

I went here to try a different take on Japanese cuisine, and may have walked in with higher than normal expectations given the name recognition.

It's located right in Center City so I would recommend to plan for parking. I parked a few blocks south and walked to the restaurant. Otherwise, they do offer valet service for $15.

The inside ambiance was very hip and trendy with low lighting, and modern aesthetics. The seating seems purposely done to be closer to the ground as is typical for traditional Japanese meals.

We sat in the upstairs room which was more secluded and allows for better conversation.

I started with the mixed baby greens as my appetizer. It was served with a yuzu vinaigrette. I thought the dressing overpowered any freshness from the greens. I found the dressing to be quite tangy, and I didn't end up finishing the dish since each bite was becoming more dressing and less greens. In hindsight, I should've asked for the vinaigrette on the side since I tend to not enjoy too much dressing on my salads to begin with.

For my entree, I ordered their ramen bowl. This was pretty good! It was made in a vegetarian broth, with lots of veggies and noodles. I had asked for hot sauce, and it was served on the side for me to add in as necessary :). I thought the dish was hearty and I liked that I could spice it up with the hot sauce at my leisure. I don't think there was anything special about this ramen bowl versus others I've had at different places, but still a decent option.

For dessert, I got the mango pudding! You can definitely taste the mango, which I liked. The presentation was in a popsicle form and I think it works nicely on how it's meant to be eaten. There is a creamy center and the outside edge is more tough - allowing you to mix the hard and soft in one bite! The fruity notes and the fresh undertones are captured well in the dish - very enjoyable!

Overall, I think this is a nice restaurant to try out, but no need to rush back anytime soon. I think you can probably find similar fare elsewhere at half the price.