I trekked down to the capital (but not 'the Capitol') last night and met Sachini for a bowl of ramen. I went ready to hate the place-- a tiny, crammed, eatery with interminable waits whose reservations fill up at a pace faster than I accumulate debt. Sachini and I only managed to get reservations by eating at 5:30pm on a Wednesday afternoon. But the hype, I am almost sorry to say, was worth it. Even if Toki Underground was really above ground. Even if there was so signage except for the Chinese character for 'awake' on the door. Even if the wait staff shouts "cookie!" every time someone orders cookies for dessert. In spite of all that, I couldn't help but like the place, the delicious noodles, and the friendly bartender that served us (Sachini: Do you think he can come with us on every meal?"). The restaurant is a self-described as a Taiwanese-styled Japanese-ramen place. A description that is both obnoxious and spot-on. And perhaps only obnoxious because people don't know that such places exist in Taiwan.
[Sorry, I just went off on a long mental tangent about Taiwanese food culture that I won't bore you with. Except to tell you that I'm very hungry now. And I've lost my train of thought.] ... Point is: beautiful walk, nice neighborhoods (Moi: This is only the 2nd liquor store I've seen in 1.3 miles!"), gentrification that reminded me of the South End, and excellent ramen-- sometimes I think I like B'more. Then DC goes and twists my heart a little.
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