Run to Mi Sushi & Noodles for remarkable ramen

I don’t have air conditioning in my house or car, yet despite this and the recent high temperatures, I couldn’t deny a strange and sudden craving for ramen this past weekend. Since I’d just gone to NCG, it made sense to simply keep driving down Lake Lansing Road to visit my favorite Japanese restaurant in the area, Mi Sushi & Noodles.

As its name suggests, Mi Sushi has excellent sushi, which would be my usual (and, in this case, more rational and refreshing) choice, but once I get noodles in my head, there’s no going back. The menu includes not only ramen but also udon and rice noodle dishes, with several variations of each. I was torn between the tonkotsu and the volcano ramen, but I ultimately decided I would be pushing it by opting for the latter.

Tonkotsu ramen gets its white, almost creamy broth by way of the long-and-slow-boiled pork bones it’s made from and the gelatin that’s released through that process. Mi Sushi’s was topped with chashu (pork belly), bean sprouts, corn, seaweed, fish cakes, bamboo shoots, green onion, a soft-boiled egg and, of course, ramen noodles.

The broth was rich and silky, and the noodles were perfectly chewy and satisfying, but the pork belly ended up stealing the show. I rarely eat pork, so this was a special occasion, and I’m glad it didn’t disappoint. The meat was tender and succulent, and I tasted soy, ginger and even five spice. I tried to space out bites of it as I ate my noodles since its flavor paired so deliciously with all of the ingredients. I also really loved the sweet corn and the soy-marinated, jammy egg, which should be served on top or alongside any savory dish, in my opinion.

My friend ordered the equally seasonally inappropriate and hearty tempura curry, and the bites I stole of that were delicious as well. I have yet to have anything from Mi Sushi that I haven’t loved, and I appreciate its super-friendly staff and sparkling-clean, nicely decorated, cozy dining room. I’m definitely going to continue to explore the menu beyond sushi, but as I’m writing this in my 80-degree office, I sure could go for the eel and cucumber roll.