大阪めんま
Tonkichi, a popular ramen restaurant in Fukuchiyama City, Kyoto Prefecture. Established in 1987, this shop is known for its rich and creamy tonkotsu ramen. Based on various reviews, the ramen here reminds people of the popular chain restaurant "Tenkaippin," which I love. However, Fukuchiyama is quite far from Osaka, and the shop is only open for lunch on weekdays, with long lines and items often selling out, making it a challenging place to visit. I decided to take a day off and head to Fukuchiyama for lunch on my way to Maizuru. The shop is located about a 3-minute walk from Fukuchiyama Station, with parking available on the south side of the building. I arrived at the shop at 11:05 on a Friday, with 7 people already waiting in front of the shop. The seating was not organized in a traditional line, so I ended up sitting randomly, not knowing who was in front of me. The shop opened at 11:22, with about 20 people in line. Customers were seated in order, and when ordering, the staff confirmed the order of arrival. The ramen menu is simple, with tonkotsu, mix, and shoyu ramen options. I decided to try the tonkotsu ramen first. The tonkotsu ramen had a creamy and rich broth with no unpleasant smell, similar to Tenkaippin but even richer. The noodles were thin and extremely soft, almost mushy, a unique characteristic of this shop. The chashu had a chewy and tender texture, well-seasoned. The menma had a firm and crunchy texture, and the generous amount of green onions paired well with the rich soup. Initially, I thought the ramen was easy to eat, but as I progressed, the noodles soaked up a lot of soup, and the strong flavor made it a bit heavy and thirst-inducing towards the end. Many customers were seen enjoying rice with their ramen, and I can understand why. Finally visiting this shop that I had been curious about was satisfying, and it reaffirmed my love for Tenkaippin! Thank you for the meal!