As you walk north of Showacho Station on the right hand side of the road, you will come across this rustic little ramen joint. The decor is clean, but cluttered. However, in the world of ramen, it is a positively light and airy restaurant, as most ramen joints resemble damp cupboards - a bit more wabi than sabi, so to coin a phrase.
We were served by a lovely, earnest young chap, who recommended the Tonkotsu Chaashuu men (Tonkotsu describes the broth, Chaashuu is roasted pork, and men - well, that's noodles). We asked for garlic and a mixture of the sliced loin and the chunks of belly pork. The sides included gyoza sauce, chili oil, pepper, sesame seeds, fermented long onions with garlic chips and dried chilis, kimchi flavoured beanshoots, and pickled ginger.
The broth was rich, cloudy in the Tonkotsu style, but not oily. Toppings included garlic, long onion tops, sesame, black fungus strips, two types of pork, and sesame seeds. The meat was fantastic! Tender, rich, moist and crumbly. Not too sweet either - it was as we say 'chodo' - just right.
Unfortunately, when I slurped down the noodles, I realised that these were cheap packet noodles. The texture was barely passable. For such a superb broth, great meat, the noodles were a real disappointment.
I left feeling as full as a goog, but I really wish they'd used better noodles.
Broth - 4/5
Toppings - 4.5/5
Noodles - 2/5
Atmosphere - 3/5
Service - 3.5/5
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