CHEF KEVIN PHANVILAY PICTURED WITH CHAMPIONSHIP BELT
Chef Kevin Phanvilay, the owner and operator of Sticky Rice Lao Street Food (Website), won Ramen Rumble 8: Battle of the Champions, held at Morimoto Asia in Disney Springs on Monday, February 2. The annual event, produced by Good Salt Restaurant Group in partnership with Morimoto Asia, assembled previous champions to compete in an all-out ramen showdown.
Phanvilay’s winning bowl was a Curry Truffle Ramen, built on a chicken-and-pork broth and finished with 16-hour braised pork belly, duck, and a mini-egg. The dish leaned into richness and aroma, with curry and truffle cheering on the broth while the long-braised pork belly provided the kind of texture that makes people close their eyes mid-slurp. The jammy egg was the star component in the rockstar bowl, though, and really tied it all together like a sexy little belt.
Organizers have framed this installment as the last “Ramen Rumble” in its current form, while leaving the door open to future “rumbles” focused on other dishes. Whispers from organizers and chefs included calls for everything from spring rolls to dumplings, but nothing was set in stone at the time of tonight’s event.
Like prior editions, the event doubled as a fundraiser. This year’s announced charity partner was Give Kids the World Village (Website), a Central Florida nonprofit resort that provides cost-free vacations for children with critical illnesses and their families.
Other competing chefs included representatives from Seito Sushi, Kai Asian Street Fare, Morimoto Asia, The Osprey, Ramen Takagi, and Red Panda Noodle.
