no chaser
On this day as well, I headed to a new spicy noodle shop I learned about from Mairebi-san's information. When I looked at the map, it was in an area I rarely visit, so I decided to go check it out. However, I noticed that there was a ramen shop called "Ramen Ryutaro" nearby that I had seen before. I thought, why not, let's eat there too. So, despite the rain, I headed to Miyawaka City. The location was in a complex on the left side just before the Tokushiro intersection on Prefectural Route 21, where there were stores like Daiso, cafes, and coin laundries. Although my initial goal was to try the new spicy noodles shop, I decided to prioritize the ramen shop I had seen before, "Ramen Ryutaro." The shop was located on the main road side of the complex, with the kitchen at the back and a counter in front. There were three 4-person wooden tables on the left side of the window, two raised seats on the right, and one 4-person table further back. It was around 1:30 PM on a Sunday. There were 4 customers in front and 2 customers behind me. Since the left table was full, I sat at the right table. The shop was run by a woman in her 40s to 50s and a male shop owner in his 50s. The atmosphere inside the shop was calm, with a lot of wood used for tables, counters, chairs, and the floor. A kind woman brought me water and said to call her when I was ready to order. I always think that every shop should have someone like her, as it instantly improves the image of the place. The menu was on the table. I had thought it was a tonkotsu shop, but they also had shoyu and miso ramen. I was intrigued by the tapioca flour dipping noodles, but since it was my first time, I ordered the tonkotsu ramen for 600 yen. It arrived in about 4 minutes. The bowl was a black ceramic bowl that widened from the bottom and had a relatively large diameter. The toppings included chashu, green onions, wood ear mushrooms, and half a soft-boiled egg. The soup was a slightly brownish yellow color with fine oil droplets floating on the surface. It had a smooth texture with a hint of richness. The wooden spoon was smaller than the usual spoon that comes with miso ramen, making it easy to use. I took a sip. The soup had a slight oily feel, but it was smooth and went down easily. The tonkotsu flavor was not overpowering, but it had a solid umami taste without any off-flavors. The base sauce complemented the soup, providing excellent balance without overpowering it. It didn't need pepper, as it was already tasty as it is. The noodles were thin straight noodles with a slightly moist surface and a slightly firm texture underneath, which gave a satisfying bite. The soup and noodles paired well, although I personally prefer slightly softer noodles with a higher water content. The noodles didn't have a strong flavor, but there was a decent amount. The chashu was small in size and slightly thin, with a soy-based flavor rather than a strong meaty taste. The soft-boiled egg had a pleasantly soft white part and a perfectly runny yolk with a sweet taste. Considering the current ramen prices, 600 yen felt reasonable, especially with the generous toppings and tasty soup. If it were closer, I would probably visit often. However, I felt that the set prices were a bit high, probably because they all came with gyoza. If they offered a set with just half a fried rice for around 850 yen, it would be perfect. Satisfied, I left the shop and wrote this review in my car. Now onto the next stop, the spicy noodle shop.