Orochon Ramen - 12/23/2009

123 Onizuka St
Los Angeles, CA 90012
(213) 617-1766

After watching Adam Richman complete the Orochon Challenge, one of the managers at my company, boasted that it would be a piece of cake. Well I asked him to put his money where his mouth is and that is how we found ourselves driving 40 miles through a horde of Christmas travelers all for a bowl of ramen.

Now lord knows why I would even care if this guy could eat a bowl of hot liquid death, but there is something intrinsically entertaining about watching someone inflict pain on themselves out of sheer pride. I suspect eating competitions are popular not because people appreciate the athleticism involved, but rather devouring such massive quantities of food appeals to our sense of the grotesque.

Special 2 Salt - with Cha-shu Pork Slice
While the Special 2 has a noticeably redder hue than my puny #3 salt ramen, the picture doesn't convey the sheer amount of spice lurking below the surface, I swear there must have been a dozen chopped peppers and a thick layer of chili powder sludge at the bottom. If that secret blend of 13 spices isn't enough to melt your stomach lining, the soup comes out painfully hot to boot.



13:14 - Look at that smug expression, we'll see how long that arrogance lasts once the pain sets in.


13:28 - Finished with the solid food and about a quarter of the way into the soup, starting to get red and slightly labored breathing but not too bad all things considered.


13:33 - Is this it? He has waved off the bowl and leaned back in his chair. With over 10 minutes remaining and just a couple bites left, there is still time to recover but does he have the willpower to do it?



13:36 - Yes he does it! I guess there is some truth to all those motivational posters plastered on the walls at work; our leaders do find a way. After almost giving up, my coworker came back and gulped down the last three spoonfuls of soup and peppers. While he won the challenge, he certainly doesn't look the part of a winner. Click on the picture to check out the full sized version in all its glory, note the glassy unfocused look and the slack jaw with soup dribbling down the chin.


Afterward my colleague mentioned he almost gave up but when he saw me reveling in his failure it galvanized him into finishing the challenge. It's good to know that I can motivate people through the desire to prove me wrong. Looks like I have finally found my a leadership style that suits me: pure unbridled contempt.