Today's destination is a ramen shop in Takatsuki City that has been selected as one of the top 100 restaurants on Tabelog. This shop specializes in Niigata's Tsubame Sanjo-style dried fish ramen. Tsubame Sanjo ramen is becoming popular not only in Niigata's Koshu Hanten, but also in Tokyo's Chinatown Ramen Konoki, among others. The name of the shop, "Yamakai", is reminiscent of the sake from Minamiuonuma City in Niigata, where I have visited a sake brewery before, making it a Niigata-like establishment. The shop opens at 11:30 AM. Although I had planned to arrive before opening on this Saturday, I ended up going to the special openings of Manshuin in Kyoto and the main hall of Daikakuji Temple, so I arrived at 12:40 PM. There was already a line of more than 10 people outside, and more people were joining behind me. It's incredibly popular. A staff member came out and took orders while we were waiting in line. I ordered the Ajitama Niboshi Ramen. After waiting for about 30 minutes, I was seated at the counter. The stylish interior of the shop played only Stevie Wonder songs as background music. Personally, my favorite Stevie Wonder song is "All I Do", but it's not well-known, so it wasn't played. By the way, from the name of the shop to the ramen, wouldn't it be nice to have Kohsuke Atari songs as BGM for a Niigata-themed establishment? Leaving aside these digressions, the ramen was served shortly after I was seated. The rich Tsubame Sanjo-style broth, with its floating back fat, was carefully brewed to extract the umami of dried fish without any bitterness or sharpness. Combined with the richness of the back fat, it resulted in an exquisite soup. The homemade thick, hand-kneaded noodles had a chewy texture that was even better than those of the authentic Koshu Hanten. The thick slices of pork belly char siu were also appetizing. The ajitama was warm and slightly runny inside, hitting the spot perfectly. It was a ramen that lived up to its popularity. Thank you for the meal.

Today, I had work in Takatsuki City in the afternoon, so for lunch... I went to "Menya Hakkaisan", a ramen shop that I had been curious about for a while. I had the "Niboshi Ramen" with a side of rice. This shop has been selected as one of the "Best Ramen" on Tabelog in 2014, and has been listed as one of the "Top 100 Ramen Shops" for 6 consecutive years from 2017 to 2022. The shop specializes in thick soy sauce ramen with back fat, following the Echigo Sanjo style from Niigata. They also offer the famous sake "Hakkaisan" from Hakkaisan Brewing Company in Niigata on their menu. The menu only has one option - the "Niboshi Ramen", with choices of regular, with seasoned egg, or extra large. They use no artificial seasonings, and their homemade noodles are made with whole wheat flour, giving them a chewy texture that pairs well with the soup. The flavor of the dried sardines and the sweetness of the back fat create a perfect balance. No wonder they are selected as one of the top ramen shops every year!

The noodles were about 5mm thick with a hand-cut, curly shape. A noodle shape I had never seen before. It was similar to udon. However, I quickly realized that this was the secret to the noodles easily blending with the ramen soup. It was 12:30 on a weekday afternoon. There were about 6 customers waiting. There were several chairs outside with a roof, so it wasn't unbearable in the heat. The wait time was about 15 minutes. There was only one option: boiled fish soba, but you could choose between regular or large noodles, and decide whether to add more boiled fish. The rich soup with boiled fish and back fat was surprisingly tasty and all of it could be finished. The chashu was large and thick. The shinachiku was also big and thick. I left feeling satisfied!! I'm glad I went!! ( ´•ω•｀)

I ordered the dried sardine ramen with seasoned egg. The interior of the restaurant is stylish with two-seat tables lined up. It might feel a bit lonely dining alone. The ramen was delicious, with a light dried sardine flavor. The pork slices, bamboo shoots, and chopped onions were all tasty.

Order: Shio Ramen with boiled egg Located near JR Takatsuki Station, this is a ramen shop specializing in shio ramen. It has been highly praised for its delicious taste, so I had been wanting to visit for a while. The location is convenient, but the shop is only open for lunchtime on days other than Sundays, making it difficult to visit. However, I finally made my first visit this time. When I arrived right after the opening, there was already a long line! I almost gave up, but since I had come all the way to Takatsuki, I decided to wait in line... I ended up waiting for about an hour. Luckily, it wasn't too hot that day. The ramen came with homemade thick curly noodles. The texture was firm rather than chewy, which was not bad. The soup had a shio flavor, but it wasn't overpowering, and I could strongly taste the sweetness of soy sauce, making it delicious. I couldn't help but drink it all up, so be careful! It was delicious~ I would love to go again if it weren't for the long line... I might try shifting my timing next time if there's a chance.

In Takatsuki, I always go to Nakamura Shoten, but today I went for the first time. It's located behind Act Mall on the north side, and there was a wait for 3 people at 1 pm. I ordered the ramen with egg and a small bowl of rice. It was Enjojo ramen, a type of ramen I had never tried before. The restaurant had a nice scent of boiled fish broth and Yosui Inoue's music was playing. The soup was made with boiled fish broth and didn't have a strong animal taste. The seasoning was soy sauce-based. The soup had plenty of pork fat on top. The flavor of the boiled fish broth was strong, with a moderately strong acidity. Despite the amount of pork fat, it wasn't heavy and was deliciously light. The noodles were thick, curly noodles that were chewy and cut into short pieces, making them easy to eat. The toppings included one slice of pork, two pieces of bamboo shoots, green onions, onions, and a chili pepper. The pork was thick pork belly with a nice seasoning. The onions sank to the bottom of the bowl and towards the end, it tasted like onion soup, which was delicious. The bamboo shoots tasted like eating real bamboo shoots, and the seasoned egg was also nicely seasoned and tasty. Overall, the generous portions of noodles, soup, and green onions were much appreciated. It was extremely delicious. The restaurant was clean, and the service was good. No wonder it's so popular. Thank you for the meal~

Ajitama Shoyu Ramen for 1100 yen. Open from Monday to Saturday from 11:30 to 14:30. Located about 5 minutes from Takatsuki Station for those coming by JR. There were 5 people waiting outside and 2 inside when I arrived at 13:57 on a weekday. The restaurant only has a counter. I finally got a seat at 14:16. The ramen arrived at 14:22, with a rich soup sealed with back fat and flavored oil, thick noodles, chashu, green onions, and seasoned egg. The soup had a strong umami flavor and aroma of dried fish. It was not too salty and easy to drink. The noodles were thick, hand-kneaded curly noodles, slightly shorter in length. They were chewy but easy to bite through. The chashu was thick and had a good meaty flavor. There were plenty of green onions to balance out the richness of the dried fish flavor. Black pepper added a nice touch. At the bottom of the soup, there were chopped onions and sliced bird's eye chili, adding variety to the taste as you finish the noodles. The generous portion of noodles and soup was quite rare and satisfying. Towards the end, the soup had a slightly bitter taste, possibly from the additional dried fish used, which was also delicious.

Recently, I've been cheating on this ramen shop with other ramen shops and curry rice, so it's been a while since I visited. I arrived around 11:20 am. It was hot, so I was thinking of giving up if there was a long wait, but there were only 3 customers ahead of me. Since I knew I would be able to get in on the first round, I decided to wait. In front of the shop, there was a tarp and a fan set up for the line to block the direct sunlight. It was still hot though. As more customers arrived, there were more than 10 people waiting by the time they opened. The smell of dried fish filled the air as I entered the shop. This time, I ordered the flavored egg. I wanted to add extra rice, but I wasn't that hungry, so I reluctantly gave up on it. When I looked at the menu, I noticed that the regular dried fish ramen had gone up to 1,000 yen! It used to be 1,000 yen for a small rice set, so the price has increased. I was surprised at the first sight. The bamboo shoots were quite thick. They were thick, so they had a good texture. It was not the yuzu bamboo shoots I had before, but regular bamboo shoots. Maybe part of the price increase is due to these bamboo shoots. As always, I enjoyed my meal and when I left the shop, there were already 15 people waiting. It's tough in the heat.

Here, Menya Hakkaisan Sun‼️ is a recent popular Tsubame Sanjo style ramen shop‼️ They use a fish soup base like anchovy with back fat‼️ and thick noodles‼️ This is a famous shop, so I wanted to visit it once‼️ They serve hand-made udon-like chewy noodles with amazing chashu‼️ Perfect. The soup had a bit of a fishy taste, but many people seem to like it✨ The female staff's service was excellent, making it a great restaurant.

I don't know how many times I've passed by this ramen shop with always a line. This day was a weekday and I took the day off, so I lined up early. There was a fan outside, so as long as you were in the shade, waiting was not a problem. The soup has a strong flavor of dried fish with a good balance of sweetness from the lard and soy sauce. The accents of onion and shredded chili pepper add a refreshing touch. The handmade slightly thick curly noodles mix well with the soup. The char siu has a salty and charred surface with a strong flavor. It's not too greasy, making it a perfect side dish. This ramen has a delicious blend of various elements.

I arrived at the restaurant on Tuesday before 1 pm. I was able to get in without waiting, but a few people lined up afterwards! It seems that there might be a bit of a wait depending on the timing even on weekdays! The taste was a sharp soy sauce base with a hint of dried fish. The noodles were thick and curly, similar to Jiro-style! I prefer them a bit more firm.

I visited during lunchtime on a weekday, so I was able to enter without waiting in line. From the outside, I couldn't tell, but the interior of the restaurant is stylish with a spacious counter and wide tables and chairs with a wooden finish. The soup had a clear and refreshing flavor of dried bonito without any bitterness. The curly thick noodles had a satisfying chewiness and mixed well with the broth. The texture and aroma of the green onions added a nice touch, and the two types of chashu had a good bite to them. It was a delicious ramen that I could feel the care put into every aspect.

For lunch in Takatsuki, I went to try ramen in a competitive area. The second place was Menya Hakkaisan. Their ramen is popular in Echizen Sanjo, Niigata, even though it's in Osaka. It was lunchtime on a weekday, and there was a line in front of the shop. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I finally got in. I ordered ramen with simmered egg. The finished dish had a rich brown soup with plenty of fat. It came with a large slice of pork, simmered egg, bamboo shoots, and green onions. The thick curly noodles were also included. First, I tried the soup. It was thick with a slight sourness and a strong flavor of dried fish. This might be a hit or miss for some people. The thick noodles had a chewy texture, which might divide opinions. The simmered egg was slightly salty, and overall, the flavors were bold. This unique ramen in Osaka seemed to continue to be popular.

#Menya Hakkaisan#Mitarashi Ine Dry Noodles They only serve this during the daytime, so it's quite exclusive. It's been a while since I last had it, and both the soup and noodles have changed quite a bit. The dried fish flavor is now quite light, but the umami is stronger. The lard is also different, lighter this time. The thick whole wheat noodles have a milder taste compared to before. Previously, the strong soup and noodles would harmonize without clashing, but this time, the softer versions create a gentle bowl. Perhaps it's a summer version? Thank you for the meal! ( ･ᴗ･ ) #Ramen #OsakaRamen #ramen #RamenLovers #RamenClub #RamenInstagrammer #RamenLife #NoodleGram #KansaiRamenEnthusiasts #OsakaLunch #OsakaGourmet #noodle #yummy #foodie #JapaneseFood #TakatsukiCityLunch #TakatsukiCityGourmet #TakatsukiCityRamen #TakatsukiLunch #TakatsukiGourmet #TakatsukiRamen #Hakkaisan

I've been stood up three times before, but finally!! Just a 3-minute walk from JR Takatsuki Station, the menu offers only dried fish ramen. The soup is a gentle fish broth made from dried fish base and fish powder, even if you're not a fan of dried fish, you can still enjoy it. The noodles are homemade, thick, flat, hand-kneaded noodles, absolutely delicious. If you're going to eat dried fish ramen, I highly recommend Hakkaisan! Thank you for the delicious meal!

Busy day starting from the morning with hospital, insurance, document submission, and visiting someone in the hospital. Before the visit, I made a quick stop to check if the time was okay. Lunch is at 2:00 PM and luckily there was no line. I ordered the "Ajitama Iri Niboshi Soba with white rice in the middle" at the counter. The preparation seemed time-consuming with boiling the niboshi and cooking the noodles. Finally, it arrived. The soup had a strong flavor of niboshi with a hint of sweetness that gradually spread. The noodles had a chewy texture and a rich wheat flavor. It was so delicious that I wanted to shout "Wow" but I restrained myself as the place was quiet. As recommended, I left half of the rice and enjoyed the soup's strong and delicious aftertaste. After finishing, I went to visit the person in the hospital. Thank you for the meal. Today's lunch: Ajitama Iri Niboshi Soba with white rice in the middle - 1250 yen. Parking fee - 600 yen (expensive!).

#Yakaisan #TakatsukiCity #Noodle soup with seasoned egg 1100 yen. I came here before but they were temporarily closed, so I came back for revenge. #OsakaFood #OsakaLunch #TakatsukiFood #TakatsukiLunch #OsakaRamen #Noodle soup with dried sardines #Tsubame Sanjo style #Pork backfat #Seasoned egg #Thick curly noodles #Burdock root. The sardine-flavored soup with pork backfat and thick noodles go well together. The green onions are crunchy and the chashu is delicious. I got in without waiting around 1:30 pm, but there was a line afterwards. Truly a famous shop. #Noodlestagram #RamenPatrol #VisitingTop100Shops #WestTop100Ramen #RevengeRamen #TsubameSanjoStyleRamen #ShoppingWhileHavingLunch #FirstVisit #KeepingTrackOfWhatIEat

If you want to eat ramen with pork back fat and dried sardines in Niigata, this is the place to go. It's a ramen from the Tsubame-Sanjo region, with a unique thick noodle that you don't slurp but rather chew. The soup is packed with flavor, giving a strong kick to your taste buds. There is no bitterness or fishy taste from the dried sardines, just a high-quality soup with a lingering finish. If you order a large portion, not only the noodles but also the toppings and soup will be doubled.

There have been many times when I had to give up due to the limited lunch hours and long lines forming even before opening on Saturdays. (Closed on Sundays...) This day, despite being a weekday, I finally got seated after a 30-minute wait. It was a long journey (*^_^*) The bench-style counter gives off a dining bar atmosphere. With the kitchen in full view, I absentmindedly watched the cooking and soon enough, my order arrived. - Ajitama Niboshi Soba The homemade noodles are quite unique. They have a chewy texture like udon and are short with a bumpy surface. It seems like these noodles were chosen to compete evenly with the soup full of niboshi flavor. Thank you for the meal.

Ajitama Nuki Shoyu Ramen Address: 1-14-9 Akutagawa-cho, Takatsuki-shi, Osaka Phone: 072-684-1778 Business Hours: 11:30-14:30 (Last Order) *May close early if noodles or soup run out Closed: Sundays, Public Holidays (Irregular closures)

Menya Hakkaisan is a popular restaurant located in front of JR Takatsuki Station, known for its long lines. They specialize in Niigata-style niboshi (dried baby sardines) ramen, featuring a rich niboshi-based broth and homemade thick noodles. The soup, simmered slowly with niboshi, is packed with intense umami flavors. The wavy thick noodles offer a chewy texture that is enjoyable to eat. During my visit after a year, I noticed that they had added burdock root as a new topping. However, on the day I visited, the soup quality seemed to be unsatisfactory, resulting in an abrupt temporary closure at 11:45 AM. This popular spot often has sudden closures without prior notice on social media, so be cautious when planning your visit. Menya Hakkaisan is located at 1-14-9 Akutagawa-cho, Takatsuki City, Osaka Prefecture. Phone: 072-684-1778. Opening hours: 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM (or until sold out). Closed on Sundays and holidays. Just a 3-minute walk from JR Takatsuki Station and a 10-minute walk from Hankyu Takatsuki-shi Station. Recognized as one of the Ramen Hyakumeiten West for 6 consecutive years. #ramen #foodie #noodlestagram #ramenstagram #ramenlover #osakagourmet #takatsukiramen #takatsukigourmet #menyahakkaisan #hakkaisan #ramenaddict #ramenenthusiast #ramen #ramennoodles #noodlelover #ramendiet #ramenpatrol #osakaramen #Niigatastyle #niboshiramen #hyakumeiten #ramenadventures #noodlesoup #japanesefood #asianfood #foodporn #foodphotography.