Ramen Genki, Artarmon NSW
I used to work and live in Artarmon, so I know this area pretty well. Artarmon is a small suburb tucked in between Chatswood and St Leonards. There isn’t much going on in this suburb, but a small community of Koreans and Japanese who’s been living there has turned the little walkway under the train tunnel into a mini Japan. And yes, that’s where you should be heading to.
In Japan, it is not uncommon to find salarymen having meals in the tiny shops tucked away under the railway lines. This walkway in Artarmon probably the closest you can experience a little Japanese culture. There is a sushi restaurant (Sushi Ya is another reputable restaurant), a ramen noodle shop, a japanese bookshop, two japanese grocery shops, and a Japanese pottery workshop.
At Genki, there is a massive life-size ramen menu board to welcome you outside the shop. I stood there and looked at the menu for a good 5 minutes, being indecisive and not sure what to order from a huge list of ramen choices. I eventually settled with the Genki lunch set, that comes with either Shio (salt) or Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, with a side of Gyoza dumplings. (I chosen the Shoyu ramen)
Then we found a table and sat down, helped ourselves with some water from the dispenser machine provided. We are so used to buying soft drink along with our meal these days which is a bad habit. Water is free, and much healthier than the sugary drink, I seriously think the water dispenser machine is the best thing a restaurant could have.
The restaurant is simple but clean. I spent some time reading the signatures on the wall, signed by famous Japanese baseballers, IBM employees and some I couldn’t work it out. Not long after, my side dish of Gyoza has arrived. The skin is crispy, and the filling inside is so juicy. There is also some cabbage salad and seaweed on the side. A nice starter, but 3 gyozas just ain’t enough for me. 
Then my Shoyu ramen came in a big soup bowl. There is a half boiled-egg, bamboo shoot, a piece of nori (seaweed), sweetcorn, and the best thing – 2 slices of yakibuta (pork ham). The noodle is nice and springy, not stodgy. The piece of pork ham was so tender and just fell apart with one bite. The most important part of a good ramen is the soup. The shoyu ramen soup has a nice flavour of pork bones, and not too salty. There wasn’t much soup left by the time I finished the ramen.
Ramen is a great comfort food, and Genki has definitely delivered that. Genki’s ramen might not be the best I’ve had tasted, but they are large servings, great value and having the whole idea of sitting in a mini Japan, having a nice bowl of ramen, the whole experience has already won me over and definitely a place I will keep coming back.
They are famous for their Katsu Curry, must try next time.
Rahmen Genki 6 Wilkes Ave Artarmon NSW 2064 Phone (02) 9410 3777
A Table For Two (ATFT) is Billy Law's food blog that features best eats in Sydney and around the world with drool-worthy food photography to salivate your appetite. I also throw in a smidgen of my food and travel photography for good measure. Billy Law also happened to be a contestant on MasterChef Australia 2011. 
Mate! How long did it take you to wait for the waitress to stand there in the first pic? Awesome! You took her at work with the signboard in the background!
With my camera… no one is safe! Mwhahahaaha!!!
Stalker!!!!
ahhhhh….that place we went there last night.
The gyoza was very good indeed, the best one actually I had in Sydney and the bowl of soup (I don’t remember which one was it) was hot, spicy and very tasty. The noodle wasn’t soaky at all and my fried told me the reason being is that the chef tries himself the noodle while it’s cooking.
That’s why the noodle has such a great texture, al dante as the Italian would say in Japan…
Don’t forget to mention the traditional Japanese service we received from beautiful young waitresses with respect given to every customers and smile on their faces. They are rare commodities these days in most places.
Nice review and great photos. May I know what camera did you use to take them?
Indeed a very nice review, with gorgeous photos. Going to try this place out tonight, have only heard good things about it. Little Japan under the railway station, here I come!
Thanks Billy for a great review with excellent photos. Looking forward to enjoying ramen there!
It’s actually quite hard finding a place with REALLY good gyoza, believe me I’ve tried quite a few places, so when I tried the one’s there I was pleasantly surprised. Of course the ramen is excellent too. I had the tonkotsu (pork broth) but am looking fwd to going back and trying the others and the katsu curry