ファイヴ・スポット
Today, I visited the popular town Chinese restaurant "Hakuryu" in Yoyogi-Uehara for lunch after a long time. While their fried rice is popular, I usually order the ramen. The simple soy sauce-flavored ramen comes with char siu, seaweed, bamboo shoots, and naruto, and it is well-balanced and high in quality. I arrived at the restaurant at 11:15 am (they open at 11 am) and had to wait for about 15 minutes before being seated for the first round. When I arrived, there was no line, but by the time I entered, there were about 5 groups waiting. The restaurant has 4 four-person tables and about 3 counter seats. They seem to seat customers based on availability, so whether you are dining alone or in a group, you may get a table if it's free. There is no sharing of tables. The attentive and pleasant service provided by the young female manager is worth mentioning. Luckily, I was seated at a table and ordered the following:
- Gomoku soba (mixed ingredients soba) ¥900
- Gyoza (6 pieces) ¥450
- Beer (medium bottle) ¥600
I actually intended to have ramen that day, but changed my mind when I glanced at the menu and opted for the gomoku soba. The colorful gomoku soba was a sight to behold. As soon as it was served, I couldn't help but exclaim in delight. It was filled with various ingredients including char siu, pork belly, green onions, cabbage, carrots, spinach, boiled egg, datemaki (sweet rolled omelette), menma (bamboo shoots), kikurage mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, takenoko (bamboo shoots), naruto (fish cake), kamaboko (fish cake), totaling 14 items! The soup was a flavorful vegetable-based salt broth with a perfect hint of pepper. The noodles were medium-thin and straight, with a great texture. While the gomoku soba was incredibly satisfying, if I had to point out a downside, it would be that it was so filling that I couldn't order other dishes. Every other item on the menu is delicious as well. With ramen, I can usually add fried rice dishes, but with gomoku soba, one gyoza is enough to fill me up.