Smile Politely

Vegetarian ramen with jammy egg yolk and more at Oozu Ramen

Not to be confused with Ozu Ramen which inhabited the spot previously, Oozu Ramen is run by an entirely new team. I was excited to see vegetarian options on the new menu and even more excited to try them out.

Inside the vestibule, a statue of a large red bowl is prominently on display in the corner. A pair of chopsticks hold ramen noodles above the bowl. On the far wall is a trendy display with a sign reading ‘Oozu Ramen Bar.†Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

The restaurant’s aesthetic is quite enjoyable, modern but not minimalistic. An animatronic bowl of ramen greeted me upon entering the small vestibule, along with a neon-esque sign and a wall covering made of faux plants. Very hip, it looked like a box hedge had taken over the top half of the wall.

Alternating red and black noren are situated above a low dining bar. Smaller tables with two chairs each sit in the foreground. The room looks open and bright. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

The interior had a very cohesive feel including yatai-inspired decorative elements around the register area and kitchen window. There was a good amount of counter seating around the kitchen area and window, a quality I appreciate when considering options for a quiet lunch on campus.

Point of sale/hostess stand decorated to resemble a wooden food stand. A statue of a large red bowl of ramen is positioned next to it. Large windows on the other side let in light. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Our order consisted of edamame, pork buns, shrimp tempura, spicy chicken ramen, vegetable ramen with seasoned egg add-on. We finished out the meal with strawberry and vanilla mochi ice cream.

 On a square white plate, five pieces of tempura shrimp are arranged on a red and white checkered paper. A small container of brown sauce sits next to them. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

The tempura shrimp ($7.95) were the first to come out, nicely plated on red checkered paper and a light garnish of seaweed flake. The batter was light and crispy, and the appetizer was enjoyed by my friends.

A square white plate holds a wooden steamer basket. On the plate in front of the basket is a steamed bun with an ‘Oozu’ branding. In the basket is a second bun, slightly opened, Lettuce, carrots, pork, and sauce can be seen inside. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Additionally, the presentation for the pork buns (2 for $6.95) was nothing short of adorable.. Each steamed bun had an Oozu branding on the side, and the pair were served in a small steamer basket. My dining companion said the flavors were well balanced, and they would absolutely order the buns again.

Spicy chicken ramen. Thick slices in a bowl with corn, seaweed, a seasoned egg and brown broth. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

For his entree, he went with the spicy chicken ramen ($13.50) and loved it. While not usually a soup person, he finished his bowl in record time, remarking that the spice level was pleasant and not too intense.

A white rectangular bowl sits on a white square plate. The bowl is filled with green edamame pods. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

I enjoyed the lightly-salted edamame ($4.95) as my starter. It’s a menu classic for a reason, relatively easy to prepare and a flavor profile that’s perfectly middle of the road. However, I hadn’t lost sight of what I was there for though: the vegetable ramen, which came out shortly after.

vegetable ramen. Broccoli, bamboo, seaweed, seasoned egg and tomato can all be seen in a pale broth. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

In my vegetarian ramen with a seasoned egg yolk ($13.95), the wakame seaweed and seasoned egg stood out as the stars of the dish for me. The egg was nicely marinated and flavorful with a perfectly jammy yolk. In contrast, the broth and the noodles were a little underwhelming. The flavor of the broth seemed watered-down and lacking in that comforting umami associated with ramen. Especially with ingredients like broccoli and bamboo, I would have liked a bit more depth to the broth to balance the dish overall.

Two pieces of mochi ice cream sit on a white square plate. Each piece has a swirl of whipped cream topped with colorful sprinkles. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

We opted for mochi ice cream for dessert, one strawberry and one vanilla (2 for $4.95). They were your standard commercial mochi ice creams, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. The whipped cream and rainbow sprinkle topping was a fun addition to the presentation. 

A strawberry soda bottle sits on a table between two mugs of water. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

My dining companion really enjoyed their meal and will likely go back again soon. I may go back to try the spicy creamy vegan ramen; maybe I’ll find the balance I hoped for in that bowl. On this trip though, we were served much more style than substance.

Here is a look at the menu at Oozu Ramen.

Image of Oozu’s menu showing items and prices. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer. (

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.
Image of Oozu’s menu showing items and prices. Photo by Caitlin Aylmer. (

Photo by Caitlin Aylmer.

Oozu Ramen
601 S Sixth St
Champaign
11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., daily

Top image by Caitlin Aylmer.

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