Bamen Ramen has been around since October 2019, originally planning to take over the Maggie’s Buns location. Instead, Bamen Ramen decided to set up as a Forest Grove food truck. The owner, Jason Jewett, attended a Japanese ramen academy where he learned to craft the many dishes sold at his food truck.
A lot of prep goes behind making sure there are meals for customers to enjoy, said employee Joser Pascual. “A lot of it is done in the food truck—produce, meats, stock,” Pascual said. “The only thing that isn’t housemade is the noodles, but [Jewett] wants to get to a point to be able to make them.”
Bamen Ramen’s bright-blue food truck was custom made specifically to fit their needs and offers a friendly atmosphere. When first entering, I noticed the warmth of a fire and the soft lighting of paper lamps, perfect for a winter afternoon or evening. Bamen Ramen is sheltered from the rain and wind using a tent but still remains cute and comfy with picnic tables on a small patio.
The current vision for Bamen Ramen is to stay at the current location but to eventually expand and “blow up,” as Pascual said. He noted that Jewett wishes for their ramen to become known as a household name.
When trying the vegan ramen, I noticed that it was packed with flavor, unlike some other ramen places I’ve been too. It was hot, delicious, and Pacific students are even able to get a 10% off discount. Pascual stated that he really likes all of the bowls, but the cherry on top is adding the spice blend.
Bamen Ramen’s bowls range from $12-13 with sides like gyoza, peppers, and edamame ranging from $3-5. It’s a fairly affordable menu that has large portions and only takes a few minutes to make. They even have a vegan option for vegetarians.
Open from 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 4:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Mondays, Bamen Ramen is a great hole-in-the-wall to grab some lunch or dinner.
Leave a Reply