Downtown Westfield is looking to be New Jersey’s next Ramen hot spot. Sum Ramen is a family business that offers noodles and bowls made with in-house broth and more. But owners Sum Yeung and her husband Kwan have another member of the team: Their seventeen-year-old son, Matthew.
In fact, Matthew is Sum Ramen’s chef de cuisine and plays a large role in the menu’s development. His secret to flavorful ramen? All dishes start with house-made broth, cooked on a simmer for over eight hours. Patrons love both the Tonkotsu Ramen and the signature Sum Ramen. The former features a rich, creamy pork broth coupled with crispy, flame-torched pork bell. Wood ear mushrooms and fermented bamboo shoots round out the dish for additional texture and flavor.
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Bringing the Heat
The dishes at Sum Ramen are packed with more than just flavor, they also pack a punch. Their dishes are much spicier than the norm due to their house-made spicy paste. They incorporate this paste into their pork belly, cabbage, wood ear mushrooms, crispy onions, nori, leeks, and shredded red peppers.
Sum’s favorite dish is the Black Garlic Ramen. “The black garlic oil is a unique, almost indescribable flavor and fragrance that makes the flavor profile of this ramen different from all the others,” she says. “When I first tried it in Japan, I knew that this would have to be brought to America.”
As far as appetizers, popular picks include the Gyoza and Pork Bao Buns. The team recommends trying the Gyoza fried, which adds cornstarch slurry while cooking for an extra crunch. The Pork Bao Buns combine thinly-sliced pork, cucumber, cabbage, and sauce on a steamed milk bun.
Aside from Ramen, the restaurant also serves a Katsu Curry Hot Stone Bowl. “It’s the combination of perfectly fried chicken, curry, and rice, which comes together in a hot stone bowl,” Sum says. “The interesting thing is that the dish changes as you eat; because the heat from the bowl creates a thin layer of crispy rice as an added treat!”
About Sum Ramen
The vibe at the Westfield location of Sum Ramen feels warm and familiar. Natural sunlight comes in through the front windows, while vintage books and anime figurines adorn the shelves. “Our customers are people who come from different backgrounds and are willing to experience unique flavors of ramen,” Sum explains.
After emigrating from Hong Kong, Sum and her husband lived in North Jersey. Prior to Sum Ramen, they opened a Chinese takeout restaurant in Denville. They also own and operate Sakura, a Japanese sushi restaurant in Millburn that is nearly twenty years old.
As for Matthew, Sum Ramen is just the start of his culinary journey. “My dream would be to open my own restaurant or cafe eventually. But my future could always change as I experience college.”
Visit Sum Ramen at 9 Elm Street in Westfield. (They also have a second location in Millburn.) Look for them online to learn more.
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All Photos: © Lia Tsin
