New York City: Minca Ramen

Manhatten is undeniable. I may have my issues with the subway smell, the amount of screaming children in line for museums, and the dirth of good coffee, but you cannot ignore or deny that city. There is a life and soul to New York that is unlike anything else. It's an organism; a living, breathing animal that sucks you up and makes you feel a part of something. Last weekend I went to New York with the specific intent to eat, and boy, did I accomplish it.
My friend Frances accompanied me, and we both took the opportunity to relish in every availible morsel, as well as art and the all pervading culture that swarms the streets. We started off from Penn Station to Minca Ramen Factory on the Lower East Side. At eight on a Friday night it was packed; we squeezed in communally with a hip older Japanese man and his well dressed friend, and lost ourselves among the Sapporo drinkers and steam from the kettles of broth surrounding us. Ramen is a particular kind of beast, I ordered the standard and she the spicy ramen, with an appetizer of pork dumplings. The dumplings were small and pleasing, easy to eat with a nice amount of stuffing to dough ratio. Then came the ramen. In the vein of Korean bobimbap and pasta carbonara, the combination of starch, protien, vegetable and lots of saucy bits all mixed up in one big bowl is deeply, deeply satisfying. Served with your choice of broth, slow roasted pork belly, pickled egg, scallions and nori, the ramen noodle itself turns into a filling, soul affirming meal.
Ah! Alas the bell is about to ring, so I must scurry, but more about New York and consuming everything about it later I promise. There is sweetbreads to be discussed!