大阪めんま
Fukuoka Prefecture's famous street food dish, "Yaki Ramen," is a dish where boiled ramen noodles are mixed with pork bone soup and special sauce, then grilled on a hot plate. It was created as a dish that can be enjoyed even during the hot summer months, resembling ramen. The origin of this dish is said to be the food stall "Kokin-chan," established in 1968 in Tenjin, Fukuoka City. I have tried Yaki Ramen at various food stalls and it is one of my favorite dishes, so I have always wanted to try it at the original shop. However, Kokin-chan is a very popular shop with long lines every day, making it difficult to visit casually. But then I heard about the second location of Kokin-chan, which opened in April 2016 as a pub-style restaurant. This shop is run by the second generation son who currently operates the food stall, and is also the grandson of the founder of Kokin-chan. Yaki Ramen and other popular street food dishes can be enjoyed here, and best of all, there is usually no long line like at the food stall. So, on this day, I decided to visit this second location instead. The restaurant is located about a 5-6 minute walk from Tenjin Station, on the 2nd floor of a building called Tenjin K Building. There is a coin parking lot nearby for those who drive. I visited on a weekday Tuesday around 9 pm and the restaurant was quite empty with only two other customers present. It was a stark contrast to the crowded food stall. (laughs) The menu offers a variety of popular dishes such as Yaki Ramen, Mentai Konnyaku, and Doteyaki, with a rich lineup of options. Dishes marked as recommended are also a good choice. Since I really wanted to try the Yaki Ramen, I ordered it as a single item. [Yaki Ramen] 750 yen (tax included) The dish includes bean sprouts, carrots, fish cake, pork, and on top, there is Doteyaki broth and konjac. The noodles are thin and soft, soaked in plenty of sauce. The combination of sweet and savory sauce with a rich pork bone soup-like flavor is delicious. The addition of Doteyaki broth brings a nice flavor change. Adding mustard in the middle is also recommended, as it provides a good accent. I was happy to see plenty of pork in the dish. Not because it's the original, but personally, it was the most delicious Yaki Ramen I've ever had. While you may not experience the unique atmosphere of a food stall, the convenience of not having to wait in line and being able to eat leisurely makes this restaurant exceptional. However, I still hope to visit the food stall someday. Thank you for the wonderful meal!