In December, we spilled the beans that Kawa would be bringing their expertly organized ramen and sushi to the 3rd Avenue Current market Corridor at 275 W. Wisconsin Ave.

And, though you will have to wait one more thirty day period for their sushi bar to be up and functioning, Kawa has officially opened its ramen bar at the Downtown foods corridor, the place they are serving up steaming bowls of comforting noodle soup, treats and a menu of rice bowls.

The new vendor stall is among the the major in the foods hall, and it contains two distinctively designed sides. The ramen bar, which softly opened past 7 days, demonstrates a modern day, slightly industrial aesthetic framed out in metal and tile and showcasing ramen-bar-style seating. 



Meanwhile, the sushi aspect (which is slated to open in about a month) characteristics a a lot more classic Japanese aesthetic, which will be augmented by fresh seafood scenarios and a chef’s table ideal within the vendor stall where diners will be able to practical experience omakase-design dining.

In among the two is a check-out spot wherever attendees can analyze the menus on mounted television screens and purchase any variety of dishes to delight in any place in the food items corridor.

Amid the goods you will obtain on Kawa’s menu are simple snacks, like steamed edamame seasoned with sea salt ($5) pan-fried rooster and vegetable gyoza ($8) and umami-wealthy takoyaki, the conventional Japanese road meals comprised of a ball of fluffy wheat dough filled with savory tender octopus. Kawa’s are served with mayo, katsu sauce and bonito flakes ($8).

But you have to attempt the karaage chicken (normally recognized as Japanese fried rooster), a dish ubiquitous at izakaya spots in Japan.



It’s irresistibly crispy on the exterior, remarkably tender on the interior and served with chopped cabbage (be sure to gown it with a bit of the accompanying apple cider soy) and house dipping sauce for $9.

Just about every single ramen shop in the Milwaukee area gives tonkotsu ramen, which is designed on a base of long-simmering pork-centered broth which has a wealthy, creamy regularity. It’s a scrumptious common that is served at Kawa’s East Aspect location, as nicely as at places like Hungry Sumo and Tanpopo. And it is among the most well-liked ramen models discovered across the U.S.

But Selina Zheng, proprietor of Kawa, states she explicitly desires to introduce Milwaukee to one thing unique at the 3rd Avenue Current market Hall.


“I extremely much want Milwaukeeans to have far more meals solutions,” she claims. “And I want them to experience other typical ramens, other than tonkotsu.”

So Kawa 3rd Road is highlighting two exclusive types of ramen broth, the two produced with rooster, and both of those served with a topping of housemade chashu hen, which is cooked through sous vide (to continue to keep the hen tender) and then completed on the grill to give it it signature grilled taste.

The initially sort of broth is tori paiton, a cousin of tonkotsu which is created with hen. Tori paiton is designed with the two chicken bones and complete chicken, which are cooked at a significant temperature for at the very least 6 to 8 several hours. All through the cooking approach, the cartilage releases collagen, the marrow in the bones releases gelatin and the excess fat from the skin, wings and meat is broken down and released into the broth. That effects in a visibly cloudy broth with a creamy, loaded texture that is somewhat related to tonkotsu, but with an extreme chicken taste.

The tori paiton broth is employed in Kawa’s Paiton Chicken Ramen, which is topped with scallions, housemade soy egg, chicken chashu and home fermented bamboo shoots ($16).



The hen ramen reveals a rich, creamy texture and a deep rooster taste which is reminiscent of the best, most flavorful hen soup your mother under no circumstances produced

You’ll also locate a somewhat augmented version of the creamy white paiton broth in their Hell Hearth Ramen, which is topped with scallions, soy egg, rooster chashu, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, chili threads and residence chili oil ($17).



This version is just as wealthy and creamy as the hen paiton, but it presents a a little bit extra layered flavor profile and loads of warmth from the housemade chili oil (which is built with ten distinctive styles of chillies).

The 2nd type of broth is chintan, a chicken-based broth which is made with total hen that’s cooked at a decrease temperature. It is visibly crystal clear, with a light-weight texture and a extra nuanced taste. And certainly, you may well have encountered chintan broth just before. It’s at times just called “clear hen broth.” It is also employed to make shoyu ramen (the chintan broth is flavored with a soya tare). 

In the situation of Kawa’s Yuzu Rooster Ramen, you will locate chintan broth flavored with yuzu (a aromatic, tart citrus fruit developed broadly in Japan, China and Korea) topped with scallions, housemade soy egg, rooster chashu, property fermented bamboo shoots and wood ear mushrooms ($16). 



Since Kawa needs to ensure consistency in flavor from bowl to bowl, the yuzu’s citrus flavor is imparted by means of the use of an aroma oil (fat infused with yuzu) which is additional to each and every bowl in advance of serving. The oil not only offers an aromatic element for the bowl of ramen, but also a dependable way to measure the amount of money of yuzu taste in every bowl.


The refined yuzu taste is stunning, clean and nuanced. In actuality, if there is a ramen I’d like to take in through the summer months months it is this just one.

If you cannot wait for sushi, you could be able to sate your craving with a single of Kawa’s new poke bowls, which start off with shiny, expertly well prepared sushi rice and beautifully seasoned sushi-quality salmon or tuna. Which is rounded out with seaweed salad, avocado, eco-friendly beans, spicy mayo and eel sauce ($18-$19). Friends can substitute household salad for sushi rice if ideal.

Of class, if you’d like your rice bowl to include cooked things, you will find a selection of options that fulfill your desires. Opt for from grilled chicken or salmon teriyaki with sesame, seaweed salad and pickled radishes ($15-$16) Gyu Don with tender sliced beef, onions, sesame, soy dashi, egg and pickled radishes ($18) or an Unagi Bowl with grilled eel, sesame, pickled radishes and eel sauce ($18).

Oh! That delectable karaage chicken is also accessible in rice bowl kind, served with cabbage salad, apple cider soy and home sauce ($16).

Kawa joins a escalating slate of tenants at the new Downtown meals corridor, which includes Dairyland (burgers, chicken sandwiches, frozen custard), Mid-Way Bakery (bakery, desserts, soups, salads, sandwiches), Amano Pan (breads, pizza), Hot Dish Pantry (pierogi, warm dish), Strega (appetizers, pastas, desserts) MaKE Waves (smoothies, juices, acai bowls), Greenhouse (salad, sandwiches) and Middle East Side.

Of class, there are nevertheless numerous suppliers on the way, including the Strange Town Bottle Shop (all-natural wines, vegan grab and go goods), Dawg City (very hot canine, sausages), Anytime Arepas (Venezuelan arepas, desserts), Supernova Coffee & Doughnuts (doughnuts, coffee), Paper Aircraft Pizza (pizza) and Kompali Tacos & Tortas.

3rd Street Sector Corridor is open up Monday by way of Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
