Category: Slice of Life

Koko Ramen in Waco, Texas

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Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 35mm, f/4.5, 1/160 sec, ISO400
 “Tonkotsu Ramen” Waco, 2019

こんにちは！How’s it going?

Today after I picked up Koa from his band camp in Waco, we decided to get some lunch before heading back home. He was tired of burgers, pizza, and Mexican food (I guess those were on the menu during camp all week) so we checked the local listings on Yelp for ramen. I didn’t think there would be much, but the first result was a food truck named “Koko Ramen” so we decided to give it a try. I wasn’t sure if it would be open on a Saturday afternoon but we were in luck and Koko Ramen was serving food.

The food truck is situated in a small parking lot and shares a nice outdoor eating/drinking area with a bar. We didn’t go check it out, but it seems like a nice arrangement. I can imagine grabbing a few beers and then slurping down noodles… sound like a fun evening!

Koa ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen and I ordered the Miso Ramen and we were both pleased with the flavor and amount of food. I guess we weren’t expecting too much from the food truck, but it really delivered! They don’t skimp on the toppings, with a whole ajitama egg, menma, pickled veggies, etc. The noodles were also satisfying in their texture and amount.

The ramen was served in a disposable cardboard bowl, which was interesting, and the soup spoon was also a strange cardboard/paper disposable type. I’ve never seen disposable noodle spoons before, but I guess it makes sense since food trucks don’t have the means to wash dishes.

We also ordered the pulled-pork egg rolls, which were pretty much what you’d expect. So if you’re in the mood for a taste of barbecue, why not try some? Speaking of barbecue, the pork in the ramen was a special barbecue style. According to the website, their proteins are smoked at a local bbq house. Sounds like a win-win arrangement. You can read more in the Texas Monthly article about Koko Ramen.

By the way, one of Koa’s nicknames is “Koko” so that made the experience extra special. 😊🍜

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 35mm, f/5.6, 1/280 sec, ISO400
 “Koko Ramen” Waco, 2019

While I prefer the ramen at other traditional restaurants, as a food truck, Koko Ramen rates pretty highly in my book. Give it a try if you’re in Waco!

I hope you had a nice day!

またね～

Photo info: FUJIFILM X-T10, 35mm, f/4.5, 1/140 sec, ISO400
 “Double Egg” Waco, 2019

Minimalist Backseat

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Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/3.2, 1/30 sec, ISO6400
 “Minimal Backseat” Austin, 2019

Today a convertible Jaguar was parked next to me and I just had to take a photo of the back seat in the car. The front seats were completely backed into the rear seats so that there is literally zero legroom. Not even a centimeter! If I recall correctly, one reason why these rear seats exist is so that the car is classified differently (2+2) for some kind of regulatory or insurance reason. But I hadn’t seen this in practice in a while. I think some modern sports cars have like the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ have the tiny back seats as well.

When I was growing up, my mom had a Toyota Supra and the back seats were so cramped that I remember it was better to site sideways, and if the entire back row was a chaise longue. Only it wasn’t comfortable at all. Still, it worked in a pinch and since our family is relatively small, it wasn’t an impossible situation.

Anyways, I was happy to see the back seat of the Jag today. It brought back so many memories, even the memory of my sore lower back as I sat sideways in the back of that old Supra!

またね～

Time to Ride

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Photo info: motorola moto g(6), 3.95mm, f/1.8, 1/30 sec, ISO311
 “BMW 650 GS” Cedar Park, 2019

Today is the last day of Spring, but it sure seems like Summer is in full swing already! The temperatures are hovering in the mid-90s, but I really wanted to go for a ride so I donned my helmet and riding gear and went for a spin around town. Boy oh boy was it toasty! But of course, riding a motorcycle is so much fun that I didn’t mind it too much. But when I got back home I quickly took off my helmet and jacket so I wouldn’t make them all sweaty.

I haven’t ridden my motorcycle in a while (the desire comes in cycles) so the registration has expired… I guess I should get that taken care of, right? Oh well, in the meantime I’ll just be riding dirty. 😁

I hope you had a good day!

またね～

Cioppino

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Photo info: FUJIFILM X100T, 23mm, f/2.8, 1/125 sec, ISO2000
 “Cioppino” Cedar Park, 2019

Mariko had some friends over for dinner, which means delicious food is guaranteed to be served! Unfortunately, I had to work well into the evening so I couldn’t partake, but the next day I had leftover cioppino. It was so yummy! I ate way too much, but I couldn’t help myself. The mussels, clams, prawns, and other seafood delights were perfect with Mariko’s homemade bread… this really is the good life. 😆

By the way, did you know that cioppino is an Italian-American creation that originated in San Francisco? This was news to me. Thank you, Wikipedia!