First, when I heard a hot new ramen joint at The Shoppes at Carlsbad, my uninformed mind went to some grouping of quaint stores in Carlsbad Village. As my navigation took me closer to my destination, I thought something was off as I approached a full-on shopping mall, something I’ve not experienced in years.
But alas, the navigation was spot on. I was directed to a bustling parking lot and realized this would be my first Lick the Plate feature in an old-school mall, complete with national anchor tenants like JCPenney and Macy’s, but with touches of the modern mall, with attractions like the Pickleball Club.
I did not have to enter the mall to get to Beshock as it is on the outer perimeter with an outside seating area. But for all you mallgoers, consider this fine restaurant another reason to visit The Shoppes at Carlsbad.
This new player in North County’s ramen scene got its start in downtown San Diego’s East Village on Market Street, going back to 2016. It has roots in Japan, where co-owner Ayaka Ito’s family runs a restaurant in Nagoya. Co-founded with Masaki Yamauchi, Beshock opened at The Shoppes at Carlsbad in February. The name Beshock derives from the Japanese term “bi-shoku,” which translates to gourmet food or delicacies. Bi-shoku refers to the pursuit of delicious and beautiful food.
The 1,750-square-foot space, designed by the Japanese architecture firm Nonstyle, features an industrial feel and graffiti-style art. Booths, a sake bar and an outdoor patio provide a variety of seating options.
Ramen is the star at Beshock, and their Nagoya Tonkatsu ramen is a Japanese dish characterized by its rich, creamy pork bone broth, simmered for over 10 hours to extract collagen and create a thick, velvety texture. The dish refers to the Japanese phrase “tonkotsu,” meaning pork bone. I think a solid pork broth has healing properties similar to the chicken soup from La Especial Norte or similar Mexican soup spots around San Diego.
The Nagoya Tonkatsu Ramen is one of the best bowls of ramen I’ve had anywhere. It’s house-made tonkotsu broth with shio base, gyokai (fish oil), pork chashu, green onion, menma (bamboo shoots), half egg and nori. Chashu pork is a Japanese braised pork belly and a popular ramen topping. It’s slow-braised pork belly in a sweet and salty liquid, including soy sauce, sake, mirin, and aromatics like green onion and ginger.
The pork has a melt-in-your-mouth texture and rich flavor. It’s hearty enough for me to take half of it home and eat for breakfast the next day. At $15.95 for two meals, it’s a hell of a value. I would actually say the same if I devoured it in one sitting. Other ramen options include spicy miso, creamy vegan and chicken-based varieties.
I should mention that they offer specials on occasion, and one I just noticed that looks amazing is their Beef Rib Ramen, which has beef broth, truffle soy sauce, a sizable bone-in beef rib, half an egg, garlic chips, broccolini and green onion. Oh my, does it look fabulous!
Sushi rolls are also available. I tried a Spicy Tuna Roll and for $10, it was a nice value. Rice bowls, including a Japanese Curry Bowl, Salmon Poke Bowl, pork katsu curry, Karage and more, look like solid options as well.
The Nagoya Karaage Bowl looks amazing. It features Japanese fried chicken marinated in a sweet and savory Nagoya-style sauce, served over rice with dressed spring mix and red ginger and a side of yuzu aioli. I’ve always enjoyed a solid katsu curry, and the Pork Katsu Curry Bowl at Beshock does not disappoint. It’s authentic Japanese curry over a bed of rice with house-made pork katsu cutlet and a side of fukujinzuke—translated into pickled veggies.
Appetizers abound, ranging from Nagoya-style wings to homemade Pork Gyoza, Takoyaki and Yellowtail Sashimi, Brussel Sprouts, Dirty Fries and Salmon Ceviche.
They also have an elevated Sake element, which seems to be a big draw, as the bar was full of enthusiastic partaking. They employ a certified kikizakeshi, the equivalent of a sake sommelier. Their hand-selected list for Beshock can be sampled in flights.
I’ve always had a thing for Japanese desserts as they are just so different and fun. Mochi is probably the most well-known, offering green tea, mango, strawberry and chocolate in their four-piece dessert. Another option, Matcha Monaka, is a Japanese-style ice cream sandwich with matcha ice cream between two thin crisp wafers made from mochi, topped with chocolate shell syrup.
Beshock Ramen Carlsbad is at 2525 El Camino Real 211, Carlsbad, or check them out at www.beshockramen.com.
