Sato Ramen // Photo x Step Out Buffalo
The SATO Ramen Facts
3268 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214 / (716) 835-7286
Price: $$
Hours: Mon – Thur: 11:30 am – 10pm, Fri: 11:30am – 11pm, Sat: Noon – 11pm
SATO Ramen // Photo x Step Out Buffalo
Sato Ramen // Photo x Step Out Buffalo
Sato Ramen Menu // Photo x Step Out Buffalo
The Dish
SATO Ramen on Main Street in University Heights is the sister restaurant to SATO in the Elmwood Village. Owners Josh and Chef Satomi Smith opened SATO on Elmwood in February of 2013 as one of the only places in Western New York serving Japanese favorite, ramen, alongside other modern Japanese cuisine and sake. Since then they’ve expanded in some pretty exciting ways, filling a culinary gap Buffalo experienced for years, learning to produce their own noodles in-house and making their dream of a casual, blue collar ramen bar a reality. [sc:Centerpost-1-700-150 ]
Okonomiyaki Fries // Photo x Step Out Buffalo
Karaage Chicken // Photo x Step Out Buffalo
Sato Ramen // Photo x Step Out Buffalo
The Recommendation
Hoping to slurp a big bowl of flavorful ramen or on a quest to experience the wonderful world of Japanese food? We highly recommend a visit (or two, or three) to SATO Ramen. The food and space are fit for so many different kinds of people – students, professors, collars of all colors, families, Millennials, empty nesters… you name it, you’ll fit in. While SATO Ramen does offer table service, be prepared to scooch over and share your table. The place gets busy, and there are only so many seats in the narrow space – adding to the charm of course. Service is casual, so come as you are and enjoy the process.
Buffalo Chicken Ramen @ SATO Ramen // Photo x Step Out Buffalo
Gyu Don // Photo x Step Out Buffalo
The Menu
Considering that this is a ramen bar in a small space with a pretty small kitchen, the menu is quite large – quite delicious too. They have several small plates to share like SATO Made Kimchi, Kaki Pea, Seaweed Salad, Harumaki Spring Rolls, and Karaage Chicken, some of which can be found at their Elmwood location, some new to the ramen bar. The rest of the menu is broken up into sections featuring Ramen (homemade noodles served in scratch soup stock), Soba Noodles (noodle bowls with soba buckwheat noodles made in house using local buckwheat flour), and Donburi (rice bowls served with a side of spring rolls). You’ll also find Japanese Curry and a few desserts on the menu. They’ve got plenty of vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options as well.
While these guys know what they’re doing in terms of Japanese tradition, they aren’t afraid to venture out into the unknown and test the limits with unique interpretations. Buffalo Chicken Ramen, we’re looking at you.
Beverage options are wine by the glass or the bottle, and draft beer including a Japanese Rice Lager and a SATO signature collaboration with local brewery Community Beer Works called Yuz’ Not That IPA. You’ll also find a few Sake options and non-alcoholic bevys too, of course.
The Story
We visited on a cold/rainy night (clearly this was NOT in December 2015) and arrived to a full house. Luckily, we were welcomed by existing patrons who shimmied around to make room at the window counter where we fit perfectly, albeit snugly. This happened repeatedly during our stay. None of the diners seemed to care, which was great to see. Our service throughout the evening was casual, friendly, attentive and accommodating.
Fair warning, be prepared to wait. If I were to bet, I’d say all the shimmying in the world won’t get you a seat right away most nights. Don’t worry, it’ll be worth it.
What we ate:
Starters
- Okonomiyaki Fries, small $4.50, large $7 . . . . Okonomiyaki is a famous street dish from Osaka, so we’ve taken this and put a poutine spin on it. Hand-cut french fries with okonomiyaki sauce and Kewpie mayonnaise, bonito flakes, nori, green onions and pickled ginger.
I’ve never had anything like these before in my life. A mountain of perfectly cooked fries piled high with Japanese flavor. From the sauce to the nori to the pickled ginger, these are interesting and delicious. Eating them is like going on an Asian flavor journey.
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Karaage Chicken, $7.50. . . . Japanese-style fried free-range chicken thighs
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Gyoza Dumplings Pork or Vegetable (v), $7.50 . . . . Homemade pan-fried dumplingsThese, along with the Karaage Chicken, can also be found at the Elmwood location. Six delicious pork (that’s what we got) dumplings that hit the spot. Maybe a little pricey for a half dozen, but good nonetheless.
Kimchi Ramen / Step Out Buffalo
Entrees:
- Kimchi Ramen, $11.99 . . . . A spicy kimchi kick of our pork and chicken stock with a subtle sweet soy. Braised pork, tofu, nappa kimchi, bean sprouts, corn, cilantro, lime, and soft-boiled egg
An absolutely delicious bowl of ramen with a great ratio of toppings to broth to noodles. Both the pork and broth were flavorful with just enough kick from the kimchi, but not enough to make my head sweat. #thanksforthat
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Shio Butter Ramen, $$12.99 . . . .Refreshing and buttery pork and chicken broth with lemon, garlic, and sea salt. Served with shrimp, bean sprouts, green onions, wakame, nori seaweed, butter, and lemon
A more refined version of Ramen than we are used to. The flavors and textures are lighter than the other ramen dishes. The shrimp adds a subtle seafood flavor, complimenting the buttery nature of the broth. Definitely a less spicy, lighter ramen option.
Note: They have tons of ramen additions to add to your bowl for $1-$4 more like Chashu Pork, Kimchi, Pickled Shiitake, and Fried Tofu for example.
- Gyu Don, $10.99 . . . . Thin-sliced beef and onion simmered in a mild sweet sauce topped w/ green onions and pickled ginger
This hearty rice bowl is packed with meat flavor. Perfect for a cold night when in need of some comfort food. The contrast of refreshing pickled ginger and warm beefy rice was fantastic and the dish stood up next to the ramen just fine. Nobody puts rice bowls in a corner.
For more info on SATO Ramen, visit their website and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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