Alkaline

My wife and I finally tried this place after hearing about it from a chef we’re friends with. Everything was fantastic! The service was top notch. The crispy octopus & shrimp were outstanding. And, we both had the spicy red miso ramen with chicken and coconut milk. Already looking forward to going back!

Alkaline has been on my list of places to check out forever. Last summer, I had a sandwich by the chef at an event at O’Connor, but I had never tried the ramen.
Two Questions:
1) WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG???
2) WHY CAN’T NORFOLK BE CLOSER TO YORKTOWN?
We went on a Saturday night, and the wait wasn’t bad. We started with the lettuce wraps, which were PHENOMENAL. And unlike most restaurants, there was PLENTY of filling for the amount of lettuce. We actually ran out of lettuce, and ate the pork remnants with a fork.
My husband ordered the special of the night. I don’t remember exactly what it was. It was beef, oxtail… supposed to be spicy. It wasn’t spicy at all though, which was disappointing. However, it had a rice flavor and was delicious.
I ordered the spicy red curry. It had curry/​coconut broth, pulled pork, and the ramen of course. It comes with a poached egg, but runny yolks make me gag, so I omitted that. I did add the house pickles though.
My only big complaint was their beverage selection. I don’t drink beer, I only drink sissy white wine. So, I ordered tea. Which came in a can, and was unsweetened. I know this makes me sound terrible, but I NEED diet coke with my dinners. Other than the lack of caffeinated, poisonous beverage options, I really enjoyed our dinner here.

Good ramen. Need to improve atmosphere. Don’t bring kids.
We’ve visited Alkaline several times now. Although the ramen is delicious, the music is definitely too loud if you sit anywhere in the vicinity of the speakers. We had to ask them to turn the volume down the last time we were there because we couldn’t carry on a conversation.
Additionally, the «music» that they play sometimes contains explicit language, so beware if you bring kids. I certainly never will. I don’t know what sort of atmosphere they’re going for, but I’ve never cared for clubbing, so I certainly wouldn’t want to eat in a similar acoustic environment.
Finally, the service was definitely lacking during our last visit. Our server never did bring us a drinks menu, though she said she would. Service was slow and it took them a while to clear our table and ask if we were ready for or check once we were done. They didn’t even ask if we would be interested in dessert. Very disappointed in our last visit.

Alkaline was a great place. Really enjoyed the atmosphere (although it was freezing inside!). I tried the Kimchee ramen and thought it was pretty good. My dining partner had the red curry ramen and he really enjoyed it. But the best part? The smoked lamb appetizer! OMG. I would definitely come back for that! It was not quite big enough for a meal but was plenty big for two people to share as an appetizer. I’m craving it now just thinking about it. Reasonably priced ramen. Each were $ 11-​$ 12. Parking was available in the lot right next to the building.

Hands down my husband’s favorite! I always get the spicy coconut curry with shiitake mushrooms. Love love love!

Food was amazing. Service was friendly. Atmosphere was great. It’s in side a butcher shop, look for the two big knives on the building. Wife had the Tonkotsu Ramen and I had the spicy beef noodles. Both were so good! We also shared the Dinuguan Nachos… AMAZING! Make the trip and try this place.

I have not had real Ramen since living in Japan and after eating here I was not dissapointed. Amazing food. I am not entirely sure how they came up with their street food ideas but we had the tater tots which were amazing with fish flakes and awesome sauce. The chicken wings were huge and had the best sauce I’ve ever had on wings. I’m not usually a wing fan (too messy) but these were too good to pass up. I had the Shoyu Ramen which was a soy sauce based Ramen and it was really savory salty broth which liked. My friend tried the red curry Ramen which I got to taste, but if I had to do it again (which I will soon) I would get the red curry Ramen because it was creamy, spicy, and amazing. We also had the miso butter cake which was good but not nearly as awesome as the ramen or the street food, so probably pass if you’re full or on a budget. They have beer and wine, small but good selection. The restaurant is located in a butcher shop called Pallidium or something on the building and on the door on the side there’s a chalkboard sign that says Alkaline to tell you that you have reached the right place. There’s a small parking lot but it fills up quickly so you might have to find street parking. Definitely recommend.

Little confused finding the place at night. Has a meat market sign facing the parking lot. But once inside, we were seated quickly, brought water and menu’s. Attendant mention what was not available from the menu and return in short time to take our order. Ramen came with an opaque broth, regardless the ramen was AWESOME!

Unreal to find ramen this authentic in the heart of Ghent. For a moment I thought I was in Japan! Handmade noodles, all the broths, sauces and garnishes made in traditional fashion, not the factory versions.
When I visited with family while I was on Whole30, they were happy to accommodate and made me a bowl with their house bone broth and kimchi, pork, poached egg, it was delicious. THANK you Alkaline!
The street food is one of our favorites! A revolving selection based on what is available. When I am not here, I am dreaming about coming here. Thanks!!!

The Ramen was excellent! Though I wish I’d thought to order some more pork for mine.
They had tots for an appetizer, and these were «okay» for me they had some kind of flakes on them I wasn’t too fond of.
It’s a rather hip place, and the music can be a little loud depending on where you sit. Otherwise, definitely a good place to get some Ramen.

Alkaline first arrived in Ghent as a pop-​up operation inside the Pendulum Meat Market in September of 2014, with designs to search for and land a permanant location, This led to my original decision to hold off on a review until they become established at that location.
Since it hasn’t happened yet, I decided to write a preliminary review for now, to be followed up by an update after they do so. It is my understanding that they are currently in negotiations with a couple of prospective locations.
This is not your typical ramen shop. Their chef, Kevin Ordonez, takes great pride in adding his own creative innovative style to his dishes. In his own words: «We are very, very nontradional here.» (Distinction Magazine, May 16, 2015).
His nontraditional approach is especially reflected in the preparation of his eggs for his ramen dishes. «The preparation of our eggs is more of a modern approach and not a traditional Japanese method.», he informed me. «We use an immersion circulator to cook the eggs in a water bath at a very specific temperature for a long period of time. Often this technique is known as sous vide. We call our eggs ‘soft poached.’ in an effort to connect with the guests in the least complicated way.»
There are those who object to this approach. My feelings are mixed. Part of me feels that creativity should be encouraged, and that flavor should prevail over tradition. If tradition was always followed, the ice cream cone may have never been invented.
Another part of me believes that some classics should not be reinvented. They are classics for a reason, so let tradition prevail. Being nontraditional in the kitchen, just for the sake of being nontraditional, is an agenda that doesn’t always work, in spite of its glowing and loving support from a number of hipster food critics.
This leads me to the following point. After eating ramen in a number of places for the past two years, I have now developed a preference for the soft boiled eggs as served in the more traditional ramen shops over the poached eggs as prepared here.
Soft boiled eggs exhibit a greater texture and visual definiton, with a creamy, runny, and translucent yolk that oozes into the broth. In contrast, the poached eggs here often reduce the whites to a liquified mass under the broth and render the yolks invisible from being already absorbed into the broth. Tradition prevails for me here.
Some of the dishes I have sampled are described below, starting with one of their most recent special additons.
SESAME CRUSTED SALMON TATAKI: With a Soy Yuzu Kosho Sauce. I will let the photo do the talking on this one. It was a divine feast of flavors, pleasing to my eyes and palate. My Rating: 5 Stars
SPICY RED CURRY RAMEN: Curry/​Coconut Broth, Chicken Thigh, Soft Poached Egg, Crispy Rice Noodles.
In spite of my issues with the poached eggs, I enjoy this ramen dish and have ordered it several times. Its flavors are rich and complex, and I especially enjoy the combination of the curry/​coconut broth with the chicken thigh, as well as its spicy kick.
On the downside, it was subpar the last time I had it. The noodles were overcooked and did not hold up well under the broth. I will chalk this up to an off night. My Rating: 4 Stars.
CRISPY BABY OCTOPUS & SHRIMP: With Fried Garlic and Chiles. Kevin Ordonez gave me a nice tip about this dish, which was to add some of the fried garlic and chiles to the Spicy Red Curry Ramen for additional flavor. I tried this, and it worked beautifully. Indeed, this is a nice pairing.
The baby octopus and shrimp in this dish come breaded. I think I would enjoy it more if it was prepared differently, perhaps with a stir-​fried method. This would give the octopus and shrimp more visual definition without having to chip away the breading. My Rating: 4 Stars.
DINUGUAN NACHOS: Filipino Pork Blood Stew, Pickled Chiles, Cilantro. Oh Yeah! This is the type of extreme and daring food I like to try. The pork blood stew exhibited a deep and robust flavor that gave me a bit of a rush. If I could tweak it a bit, I might use regular chiles instead of pickled ones for a little more heat. My Rating: 4.5 Stars.
TATER TOT OKONOMIYAKI: With Bacon, Kewpie, Scallions, Katsuobushi. I have a very low opinion of tater tots in general, but here is where Ordonez has worked his culinary magic once again. The combination of ingredients adds sparkle and pizazz to what is usually a mundane dish, proving that sometimes you really can put lipstick on a pig. My Rating: 4 Stars.
Due to high demand, they now source their noodles instead of making their own noodles in house. Obviously, they are enjoying a brisk business.
The service and hospitality I have received here have always been friendly and accommodating. Sometimes the style and volume of the music does not agree with me, which is a reflection of my age.
In closing, I am looking forward to each of my future visits and eagerly awaiting the opening of their permanent location.

Tried their Tonkotsu ramen and it wasn’t too bad. Not as thick/​flavorful as the real deal ramen bowls from Japan but I suppose that also means they’re not as deadly haha.
The eggs are just plain soft boiled so don’t expect any marinated soft boiled egg here. Noodles aren’t all that special also but if you’re really looking to get your ramen fix in VA, this should do.
Tried their Shoyu before, did not like it. So yes, Tonkotsu is the winner!
Also get their chicken wings! Pretty flavorful with a little bit of spicy kick!
For dessert, don’t miss out on their miso butter cake. Pretty good, too. Perfect with the pecans!

Came here last night with my husband and two of our friends who are regulars here. Alkaline is a Pop up place at Pendulum, small menu but enough options for both vegetarians and meat eaters! I had the red curry/​coconut ramen (super spicy) you can handle the spice but it can overtake the rest of the goodies in there. I was going to give 3.5 stars if I can I just felt like there wasn’t really other stuff in the bowl. The base price is $ 12 for literally ramen noodles, a small fish cake I didn’t eat and one poached egg which I didn’t want. The protein you want can be added. The ramen is a big portion definitely different than ramen I’ve had in California. I thought the service was fine, took longer than usual but this is also not a restaurant it’s a quick you sit, you eat you get out kind of place. I probably will not be searching for ramen in the area this is it if you have the craving.

I’m going to have to cut to the chase here. If you’re going to read one review, and one suggestion for Alkaline, please do yourself a flavor favor and let it be this: TONKOTSU RAMEN.
Let me repeat. TONKOTSU RAMEN.
Yes, it is that crucial. Forget everything else on the menu, if you don’t order the tonkotsu ramen that is oh so flavorful (and comes with the soft boiled egg, and pork…) you will be missing out. SADLY, I only know this so feeling so well because I ordered the kimchi ramen, but had some of my bf’s tonkatsu broth. One sip, I was in LOVE. Perfect, balanced broth with great pork flavor. The kimchi ramen was bland in comparison…
I did have the pork belly addition ($ 3) in my ramen bowl. They give you two large pieces that seem to be chargrilled perhaps (there were nice grill marks on the pork). It was DELICIOUS. Not too fatty, like most ramen places.
So moral of the story, alkaline is awesome.
+Cute place with wooden interior that reminds me of someone’s living room.
+MUSIC PLAYLIST is on point! Deep house tracks made me wanna groove.
+The tater tot appetizer, and kimchi ramen you can skip.
+HOWEVER, get the Tonokotsu ramen with pork belly, and you will be so happy.

It has been about 6 years since I was regularly traveling to Japan for work. When I was there, I lived on soba and ramen. Tonkatsu, specifically, was always a staple.
When I saw Tonkotsu on the menu at Alkaline, I was hopeful. My wife ordered it and I had some of hers. I was not disappointed. It was so well done. The noodles were cooked perfectly. The broth was so rich and really accentuated the pulled pork. The poached egg was one of those «of course this should be here» elements.
I ordered the red curry. It started as a battle between the chili and the coconut, but the chili definitely won out. It even made me tear up a little, which is a good thing.
Our appetizers, the street corn and the Korean style short ribs were an excellent way to kick off the meal.
Service was friendly and attentive.
Overall, I can’t wait to go back and I can’t recommend it highly enough.

Great food! I also like the atmosphere at the Pendulum. I’m now interested in seeing the place during the day.
Staff is very friendly and attentive. I had the Kimchi and my bf had the spicy red curry. We were not disappointed. In addition, we had the cab sav, tater tots, and miso cake. I’d say we enjoyed our time.

I am such a fan of pop up shops. Places like Alkaline really get it right. They concentrate on the food and work to get amazing new items on the menu every week. Everything on the menu seems well thought out and the flavors are creative and delicious.
I’ve had Alkaline bookmarked for a while and was finally able to get down here with some girlfriends on a Saturday night. They’re in the Pendulum Meat Shop, with a private lot that makes parking a little more convenient. It does fill up fairly quickly, but you can usually find a spot. We were greeted by a waiter/​host who led us to a table. They have a large communal table in the middle of the store as well as a couple of other smaller tables everywhere.
I got a melon cream soda and the baby octopus and shrimp to start off. The cream soda came in a can with a glass of ice and was delicious. I love melon flavored soda and food though.
The baby octopus was perfect. I will never pass up an opportunity to eat octopus and this definitely did not disappoint. It was fried well with the BEST seasoning I’ve ever tasted. It had a little bit of kick to it too. My friend also got some fried radishes, and I can say I’ve never liked radishes more than I have now. The aioli sauce it came with paired great with the radish. Again, they were fried with the best seasoning.
I ordered the soyu ramen for my entrée. It was good, like really good. I’m so glad there is a place in the hampton road areas with good ramen. They timed the soft boiled egg PERFECTLY. (Yes, I know I’ve used the word perfect way too many times in this review). I ate it towards the end and it was still slightly runny. YUM. The soy broth was good and the ramen was cooked well. My friend added pork belly to hers and she got BIG pieces. I was pretty full afterwards, even though the bowl looked a a little small. If I had room for dessert, I would have gotten all the desserts.
Our waitress was sweet and attentive. I will gladly make the 35 minute trip here anytime I can. The food is amazing, and the staff is pleasant and attentive. I’m not sure what else you could ask for.

Came here on the recommendation of my cousin, and love to support pop-​up businesses because it is an interesting concept that satisfies consumer’s demands on a different approach. Had a hunger rating of 8 coming into this place, so no crumb was safe on my journey to peace and comfort.
It is currently operating out of Pendulum which seems to be a butcher shop during the day, and the hours of operation are limited. Met up with some friends who were actually stationed in Japan, Yokosuka to be exact, and I was going to judge the ramen heavily on their experience and liking. But I enjoyed it thoroughly nonetheless, and started off my order with prawns that were off the menu.
Prawns had some fried grits with a cornbread sauce based underneath the dish with fried brussellsprouts (sp?) generously proportioned throughout the dish. This dish was bomb! With their asian/​american fusion approach to some of these dishes, they really hit the mark and bring out the flavor of the ingredients without making you think, what is going on here. We also got soy garlic wings, which were fried to perfection and pretty good for soy garlic wings, but the kicker was that we waited for awhile and the person in back burnt one of the wings, so because of that the server brought us Okonomiyaki tater tots on the house! They were drizzled with spicy mayo and bonito flakes, and was good as heck!
Now for the ramen. I got the shoyu ramen with pork belly. It was very satisfying. The broth was not salty, how I’ve had most shoyu ramen, and this was the first time I actually liked shoyu ramen. What stuck out to me was the way the pulled pork and pork belly were prepared and put into this dish. Normally I just get meat in ramen, but maybe because it wasn’t oily or how it was/wasn’t seasoned, the pork was very distinct in this ramen. Like it didn’t feel like i was eating pork soup, but rather soup with a complimentary side of pork, it stuck out in the dish and had me feeling some type of way.
Had some dessert too, but at this point I was satisfied to the gills. Overall this place was a high 4 star for me, and I will be back!

Alkaline is a pop up so it doesn’t have a permanent home yet. In the evenings it operates out of Pendulum, the popular butcher shop in Ghent (behind the Naro). Alkaline specializes in ramen and it is one of the few in the area to offer that item. In that sense they are the same as the nearby Kappo Nara but Alkaline is a bit more fusion-​based as it puts its own twist on traditional dishes.
For example, Alkaline offers tater tots. But its not just tots, they are an interesting Asian take on them — regular tater tots topped with bacon, kewpie, scallions and bonito flakes. The appetizer, known as Tater Tot Okonomiyaki, is a fun dish bursting with flavor.
Alkaline also offers wings in different flavors. Lorie ordered soy garlic wings, which she deemed okay, so not all experiments are totally successful. That’s okay, the entire pop up is a concept so some ideas will work while others won’t.
The ramen dishes are what gives Alkaline a distinct advantage over more traditional ramen spots. Their bowls have plenty of flavor and hit the spot any time of year. I ordered their shoyu, which was a soy broth containing pulled pork, a soft poached egg and pork belly. It was fantastic — hot, heavy, tasty and filing. The yolk from the egg added to the flavor and I enjoyed it thoroughly. Lorie had the spicy red curry. Served with a curry-​coconut broth, it contained chicken thigh, a soft poached egg, crispy rice, herbs and pork belly. That one had some kick but you could still taste all its flavor despite the heat.
The spot Alkaline operates in, Pendulum, is tight. There are few tables and a good chance you may have to share a table with another party (or parties). That idea is pretty cool as we met and conversed with a polite sailor dining alone.
The service is good — two servers split and they helped each other and the customers. One server was also kind enough to explain to me Alkaline’s brief but interesting history, along with their future plans.
I enjoyed my dining experience at Alkaline and would love to dine there again. I hope they find a permanent spot that has a bit more room but with the ramen they’re serving I wouldn’t mind standing. As long as they keep up the quality of the food and the service then everything else will take care of itself. JV

It was difficult finding the location as I didn’t realize it was a pop-​up shop working out of Pendulum. My friend and I had to share a table with some folks which I’m totally cool with. Ambiance was laid back and had hip music playing in the background.
Tried the tots and wings for apps. The wings were huge! My friend and I thought they could’ve been fried a little longer. Outside was dark & crispy. A mess to eat. Tots were yummy! I lovvvve the dancing bonito flakes.
I ordered the Spicy Red Curry w/​added pork belly. This soup hit the spot!!! This is all one needs. Egg was perfect and a lot of flavors that seemed to compliment each other.
Beer of choice for me… O’Conners Punkelweiss! Perfect during the cool crisp evenings with the spicy soup!
I’ll be back!