This is a block away from the ramen vendors:

That video was amazing and I am afraid I can find no fault in those arguments. I still say it is nice to live in metropolises where you are privy to such events actually taking place though, as much as they are ruined by hipsterdom and general peopled annoyance.

Hipsters aren't nearly as annoying as double-wide assault strollers.
And honestly, is Führer so precious that he can't take public transportation?

That was one of the funnier Der Untergang mods I've seen in awhile. How was the festival?

because of ramen, the festival drew in, I'd say, 3-4x more people than it usually does. The usual vendors probably got a little more business but I kind of doubt they were as successful as the ramen booths. The other food booths probably did much better because of the long and sometimes unsuccessful wait. The usual JPop crowd is pretty light in attendance and you can easily move around, and the only real long line is the usual takoyaki line.

Wow, that's amazing. Or maybe not in Foodie City USA. The weekly Off The Grid food truck shindig in the Upper Haight is like a major event each Thursday, although the biggest attraction there is the Filipino grill truck. Thanks for the reportage ... I didn't realize the urban ramen craze had hit SF so hard.

Hilarious video, thanks for posting! But what I don't understand is that there were ramen vendors last year too, and even a bigger J-Pop star appearance (Kyary Pamyu Pamyu) then who they brought in this year. Were these Ramen vendors more special than the pop-ups last year? I live in Japantown, and I could not believe how crowded it was!

Wow! Amazing to see the crowds . Did anyone actually try the food/ramen? I'm generally put off by festival foods, as I always find it a bit of a disappointment--expensive and usually deep fat fried. I usually don't have the patience to wait in lines like that! I'd much rather eat at a nice ramen house in peace. Just wondering if it was really worth those lines!

P.S. If you have a fav ramen house, please name it!

I sure didn't wait in those crazy lines.... I'd have hard time imagining that the ramen is as good as it ought to be with the mass production that was happening on Post Street!

My two favorite J'town noodle places, at least at the moment: Waruku (previous location of the very much missed Bushi Tei, on Post near where Super7 used to be) and Sozu Noodle House (lower level of the mall, across from Juban).

On a totally separate note, I've got to say how nice it is to see our near-defunct BASK pages finally getting some traffic again!

I didn't know anything was going on in Japantown until I tried passing through on my way home last weekend. Big mistake.

I second Waraku, their takoyaki is pretty off the chain also. Favorite ramen spot is Santouka in San Jose though.

Has anyone been to Kaiju Eats on Geary in SF? Curious to know your impressions if you have.

Thank you for the recommendations David, Rob, and Dean. Those eateries look yummy on Yelp too, so I will definitely give them a try. Perhaps we might convene another BASK meet and greet soon? Any toys to trade? Or other stuff to trade? (I have a lot of practically new Calphalon pots and kitchen things I'm weeding out--still unpacking from the remodel ) It would be great to have a reunion of new and old folks!

This is a block from my house and I always chuckle when I walk by.

Same here although I'm more like six blocks away, but the name intrigued me. Received a DM that said it's not really a traditional ramen place. Hisago on the other side of Geary has good ramen (and Ultraman posters on the walls.) Great spot for a not-too-pricey lunch.

Ironically, I have a friend from Mountain View, who just suggested meeting at Suzu for a bowl of noodles, so I'll have a chance to try it next week. I also want to try Dojo in San Mateo. Some one also mentioned Yamadaya in SF. Any opinions there? We really ought to have a BASK reunion, preferably at a good foodie place.

I would be up for a meet and greet!

Oh Goodie!!!
Ok, people, how about sometime towards the end of September? I'm due to take shipment on a box of toys from JYA, and I might have dupes for tradeables. If you are interested, can you please list a date range?

OK, I'll start:

BASK Toy and Foodie Reunion - suggested dates

1) Mr. Humphreys: 9/20, 9/21, 9/27, 9/28, 10/4, 10/5 (Saturdays preferred)

BASK Toy and Foodie Reunion - suggested dates

1) Mr. Humphreys: 9/20, 9/21, 9/27, 9/28, 10/4, 10/5 (Saturdays preferred
2) dtoes: im good with saturdays/sundays during those same dates^

1) Mr. Humphreys: 9/20, 9/21, 9/27, 9/28, 10/4, 10/5 (Saturdays preferred
2) dtoes: im good with saturdays/sundays during those same dates^
3) gatchabert: same


I'm guessing it will be in Japantown Peace Plaza.

Hey Bert! Can you please edit the title to include BASK meet sign up? Thank you!