33. AJISEN RAMEN

PHONE: 671.649.8896

LOCATION: Guam Premier Outlet, Chalan San Antonio Road, Tamuning

HOURS: 11am - 10pm, Daily

ONLINE: www.ajisenramenguam.com 

FOOD: I have acquired a routine meal at Ajisen and it begins with Tokyo Bites for appetizer, Tantan Ramen for my main meal, and Green Tea Ice Cream & Jell-o for dessert. The Tokyo Bites are tempura mushroom slices with the tempura dipping sauce; being a fan of mushrooms I always enjoy it. The Tantan Ramen has ground beef and bok choy and is quite spicy, perfect to clear your sinuses. The best part at Ajisen is always the Green Tea Ice cream & Jell-o. At first, I was not sure if they would go together, but after trying it I was hooked.

PRICE: Prices were reasonable with the Tantan Ramen costing $9.95.

PLACE: Service was good and it helps that the restaurant is located in a shopping center. But it can get quite crowded and for a moment there I felt cramped.

My overall personal rating: *B+*     ~ CAPEESH

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GREEN TEA ICE CREAM & JELL-O

Ajisen Ramen offers similar dishes to the ever-popular Fuji Ichiban in Tumon. With a menu filled with several types of ramen, chahan, and other favorite sides, Ajisen is luring in locals and tourists alike. Housed right on the corner of Guam Premier Outlet in Tamuning, patrons can spend a day shopping and then get their lunch or dinner fix at Ajisen. It has a Japanese fast-food vibe with the bustling in and out traffic. While you can opt to sit and unwind for a meal here, it's more of the quick stop due to its location and speedy service. I had the Salmon Chahan for $8.95 - very tasty, generous serving, but could have done with less green onions. Finished up the meal with a refreshing blend of Green Tea Ice Cream and Jell-o. First time to give it a try and was pleasantly satisfied. Not too sweet, but enough to appease the sweet tooth craving. Would I come back? Tasty, fast and convenient when you want a Japanese fix. I give Ajisen Ramen a [B] rating.     ~ LAUDI_DAUDI

32. GRAND TAJ CURRY & GRILL

PHONE: 671.488.2432 or 671.777.7668

LOCATION: Grand Plaza Hotel, 2^nd Floor, San Vitores Road, Tumon (Across Police Station)

HOURS: 11:30am-2pm, 5:30pm-10pm Daily

ONLINE: www.grandtajguam.com

I love Indian food, and I love that we now have a choice. The owner/chef made a mid-meal table visit to get our feedback, always a good reason to spread the word for a new eatery.  The crowd was very diverse with locals, tourists and military throughout, which was nice to see. The wait between the appetizers and entrees wasn't much of a wait, and the waitress was great about making recommendations. We tried the Vegetable Samosas, a triangle pastry of potatoes, green peas and spices with mint chutney for $6.95. It wasn’t bad, but I preferred the freshness of the Cheese Naan as a starter for $4.95. I decided on the Lamb Saagwala for my main dish, a tasty blend of boneless lamb cooked in spinach puree and spices. The entrees were reasonable running between $14 to $17 with enough to share. The location makes it somewhat of gem. It’s located on the second floor of a low-key hotel with windows wrapped around giving a nice view of the Tumon vibrancy. Would I come back? The Indian music and spices had me, and I’m excited to try all the choices offered at the weekday lunch buffet. I give Grand Taj Curry & Grill a [B+] rating.     ~ LAUDI_DAUDI 

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CHICKEN TIKKA MASALA

FOOD: When we found out there was another Indian restaurant on island, we had to check it out ASAP. For appetizers, we had the Vegetable Samosas and Naan Bread. The Vegetable Samosas were okay, but a little plain. The Naan Bread tasted like it was a bit burnt. For my main course, I ordered my all-time favorite, Chicken Tikka Masala. I was not disappointed. It was as good as always, and I will definitely order it again.

PRICE: Prices were fair. The Chicken Tikka Masala was about $15.00.

PLACE: The restaurant is a big open space, but table are spread out enough for sufficient privacy. Service was good, but I did end up canceling a hot tea because it took a while. I am looking forward to trying their lunch buffet during the week.

My overall personal rating: *B+*     ~ CAPEESH