I have been steadily working towards my 30m move, with the goal of changing my sleeping place starting this Saturday, focusing on organizing, tidying up, and moving simultaneously. I made decent progress, but on this Saturday morning, I had other errands to run before lunchtime. I decided to visit a local ramen shop, which I hadn't visited in two months due to the extreme heat in July and August. I ordered my usual spicy miso ramen with less oil and a small rice. The noodles were slightly firm, and the spicy miso flavor hit just right with less oil. Despite the lingering summer heat in September, I finally felt ready to enjoy this dish, which marked the beginning of autumn for me. I enjoyed my meal in a casual t-shirt and shorts, as always, and finished the bowl with satisfaction. It was a lunch that made me realize how much I had missed this taste.

The night before, I had a heavy drinking session with my colleagues. The next morning, although I wasn't feeling too bad, my stomach was not quite awake enough for a regular breakfast at home. When I heard the lunch bell, my craving for spicy miso ramen kicked in. So, I drove for about 4 minutes and arrived at Hyakuban. I quickly ordered a "spicy miso ramen (with less oil) & small rice" at the counter. There were only two other customers at the time. It took about 10 minutes for my set to be served since the chef was cooking for one customer at a time. I immediately took a sip of the spicy miso soup, which had its usual sharpness that seemed to invigorate my stomach and body. The medium-thick Nishiyama noodles were just right, allowing me to slurp them down easily. It felt like my body was craving for miso soup the morning after drinking. Lastly, I enjoyed the original bowl by placing the chashu, green onions, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, wood ear mushrooms, and other toppings on the small rice, then pouring the remaining soup over it. After finishing this, I finally felt truly refreshed and ready to tackle the preparations for the next day's event in the afternoon.

Recently, a certain shop relocated and opened in the neighborhood, and my colleague and I were planning to go there for lunch that day. However, due to work-related reasons, my colleague's lunch break was delayed by 30 minutes, so we had to cancel our plan. Instead, I decided to go to Hyakuban Karame for some spicy ramen. I ordered it with less oil as usual and also got a small bowl of rice to aim for "that." There were a few customers ahead of me, but the noodles were cooked perfectly and the miso sauce with a strong flavor was delicious, especially with less oil. I tried to leave some of the toppings to enjoy the original bowl better. I topped the small bowl of rice with bean sprouts, green onions, wood ear mushrooms, menma, and a generous amount of char siu, poured the soup over it twice, and it was ready. Why did it taste even better than usual that day? I savored it with the remaining soup in the bowl, and I felt like it was the best one I had ever had. Please wait a little longer for the review of the other shop.

"I haven't had the spicy miso ramen 100 times this year yet. Alright!" With this thought in mind, I entered the restaurant 30 minutes earlier than usual for lunch. There was only one group sitting in the private booth, so I secured my usual spot at the counter and ordered the "lunch set (spicy miso, light oil)." After about 6 minutes, the set arrived. I started by finishing most of the ramen as usual. The reliable spicy miso flavor was just right for me, and the slightly firm noodles were comforting. I slurped away happily. Then, I had the green onion and salted pork rice bowl, which I hadn't had in a while. I was quite hungry that day, so I ordered the 140g portion with confidence. The tender pork and salted sauce paired well, and the green onions added a nice touch, making it delicious. Alternating between the soup and rice bowl with a spoon was also enjoyable. In the end, I left about 1/3 of the soup, but I was still comfortably full. Despite being quite busy that day, I didn't feel sleepy in the afternoon.

The cold northwesterly wind continues to blow fiercely as the end of the year approaches. To warm up with something spicy, I headed to Hyakuban. It had been about a month since my last visit. I secured a seat at the counter and, of course, ordered the spicy miso ramen (with less oil). Instead of the lunch set, I opted for a small rice bowl with the original toppings. It was spicy and warming. The slight hint of garlic added to the effect. I gradually added the toppings onto the rice as I finished the noodles and soup. By the time I had eaten most of the noodles, the original rice bowl was beautifully complete. Mixing the soup around and digging in, the trio of toppings, soup, and white rice resonated in my mouth. Just like with ramen, this dish is best enjoyed when hungry and paired with white rice. I restrained myself from finishing all the soup, but even so, I had enough capsaicin to keep my body temperature and spirits high. I worked hard in the afternoon with most of my tasks being outdoors!

The fifth round of the nationwide vaccination campaign is underway, and I can't help but wonder if there will be a sixth round. In my town, where medical resources are limited, we have set up vaccination sites to administer shots in large numbers. On this particular day, I went for an early lunch at a local ramen shop. I ordered a spicy miso ramen with extra bean sprouts and less oil. The restaurant was empty when I arrived at 11:30. After a short wait, my bowl of ramen arrived. I took a sip of the broth, then dug into the noodles. The reduced oil allowed the spicy miso flavor to stand out, even as I slurped up the noodles. The bean sprouts added a satisfying crunch, and with the extra portion, I didn't even need rice to feel full. After enjoying my meal, I spent the afternoon working hard.

I finished my lunch shift until 12:30 and headed to Hyakuban. There was one customer already finished eating at the counter. I sat down, sanitized my hands, and ordered the lunch set with spicy miso (less oil). I usually make my own original bowl with small rice, but this time I decided to enjoy the salt sauce. The ramen and chashu bowl were as good as always, but I noticed that the rice in the chashu bowl seemed to be a bit more than before, around 140g. I started by eating the noodles and bean sprouts, then put the chashu from the ramen on top of the bowl and enjoyed it with the spicy miso soup. The salt sauce, chashu, and green onions didn't overpower each other, and the spicy miso soup didn't clash with them either. I left about half of the soup, but overall it was delicious. I wish I could order a chashu bowl with a little less rice next time. Honestly, working in the afternoon was quite tough.

For about a year now, I have been watching YouTube videos more than TV shows. I watch various videos, but my favorite is "Hige-chan", who often showcases his big eating style, especially with noodles. When Hige-chan visits ramen shops like Yamagoya or Rario, he often makes his own rice bowl using a small portion of rice, which he calls "Original Rice". So, from now on, I will also refer to it as such. One Saturday, after a bit of heavy drinking the night before, I decided to go to Hyakuban, which had just opened. It was 11:15 am, and I was the only customer, so I got the best seat at the counter. Since it was Saturday, there was no lunch set, so I ordered a spicy miso ramen (light oil) and a small portion of rice. The ramen had the perfect level of spiciness that lifted my spirits a bit. The noodles were cooked just right, slightly firm, which was great. For the Original Rice, I had it with chashu, green onions, bean sprouts, and bamboo shoots, topped with a bit of soup. Eating this rice with the soup was quite delicious. Hige-chan usually spreads grated garlic and chili paste on the rice before adding the toppings, but I skipped the garlic as it can be overpowering. However, there might be a better way to do it. After getting energized by the spicy ramen, I worked on a holiday afternoon.

In the previous post, I visited in late June, and this time I visited in late August. Even though I visited twice in between, I decided not to post because I ate the same thing. When I arrived, there were three customers at the counter, so I quickly grabbed the last seat and ordered the lunch set (spicy miso, light oil). After a short wait, I was served the Negi Shio Chashu Don, followed by the ramen. The ramen had a nice sharp taste, with slightly firm medium curly noodles and a flavorful spicy miso soup. The Negi Shio Chashu Don had a slightly reduced amount of sauce, which actually enhanced its deliciousness when paired with the ramen. I was quite hungry, so I devoured the meal (leaving some soup behind). It was a busy day with a major event, and I had to go up and down the venue's 1st and 2nd floors.

Due to various circumstances, I suddenly became very busy. Oh well, it can't be helped. Let's do our best for the time being. On this day, I started my lunch shift at 11:30 am. I went to Hyakuban thinking it wouldn't be too crowded since it was still before noon, and to my surprise, it was about 70% full. However, I was able to secure a spot at the counter. I ordered my usual lunch set with spicy miso ramen (less oil). Since there were three groups of customers who hadn't received their food yet, it took less than 15 minutes for my order to arrive. First, the ramen arrived, and after I started eating, the Negi Shio Chashu Donburi also arrived. The spicy miso ramen with less oil had a strong flavor of miso, which I enjoyed. Despite feeling a bit sweaty on this humid day, I slurped it down. The Negi Shio Chashu Donburi on this day was slightly salty, but the combination of tender rolled chashu, green onions, and rice was still delicious. When the saltiness is mild, it pairs well with the ramen soup. I left about half of the soup, but overall, it was delicious. Oh, and the Negi Shio Chashu Donburi that was previously only available as part of the weekday lunch set is now offered as a standalone menu item for 380 yen. It's nice to have the option to enjoy it on weekends when I really crave it. Perhaps the owner has put more effort into it recently.

I didn't drink heavily the day before, but for some reason, I had a craving for spicy miso ramen. I had prepared lunch at home, but when the lunchtime bell rang at work, I made a quick decision and headed to the restaurant. I sat at the counter while two other customers were finishing up their meals and then ordered the lunch set with spicy miso ramen (less oil). The default level of spiciness was quite good, a bit challenging to swallow, but the kick was addictive. I started by eating about two-thirds of the ramen before moving on to the chashu rice bowl. The chashu rice bowl, based on the salt ramen sauce, was a perfect combination with the white rice and chashu, and the finely chopped green onions complemented the overall flavor without overpowering it. I left about half of the soup, but I finished all the noodles and toppings as much as possible. This set, with delicious chashu, helped me recharge for the afternoon ahead.

The night before, I had a pretty heavy drinking session at a certain store. The next morning, I was feeling a bit worse for wear. When this happens, I believe the best thing to do is to consume a hearty soup with noodles to get the blood flowing in your body. After having Gyozas at the store the night before, despite taking a morning bath and brushing my teeth, the air inside my mask was still filled with garlic, so I decided to top it off with a spicy miso ramen. That's why I went to Hyakuban this day. I visit at least once a month. I have tried their lunch set several times, but this time I ordered the spicy miso ramen (with less oil) to really soak up the soup, along with a small bowl of rice. I added a little bit of garlic to the usual spicy miso ramen and slurped it all up. In the end, I placed the rice on top of the chashu and ate it, making sure to replenish the soup. I made sure to use the white rice to the fullest and finished all of the soup. It was a day where I enjoyed the medicinal taste of the spicy miso soup that seeped into my body, and it was really delicious!

One major project that exhausts physical strength is causing strain on my back due to various reasons. On Wednesdays, afternoons, I visit Hyakuban for an early meal. Since there were no other customers, it was just as I planned. Of course, it was a weekday, so I ordered the lunch set (spicy miso with less oil). The set arrived in about 5 minutes, and I took a photo before starting to eat. After slurping down a certain amount of ramen, I moved on to the negi shio chashu don. I repeated this process earnestly. Although I didn't finish all the soup, I still completed my power charge and returned to the workplace for a little while before heading back to the major project venue! On days like this, a bowl like this gives me strength.

I felt like having miso ramen with plenty of bean sprouts for the first time in a while, so I went to Hyakuban for lunch on a weekday. As soon as I sat at the end of the counter, I ordered "Spicy Miso Ramen with extra bean sprouts and less oil." I was the only customer in the restaurant at first, but two groups of five people arrived while I waited for my ramen. My bowl of ramen arrived in about 5 minutes, and I thought, "Huh? This doesn't look much different from the usual spicy miso..." I remember that the soup used to have a lot of bean sprouts sticking out, so I felt a bit disappointed. The pleasure of picking out the noodles from a mountain of bean sprouts was reduced by half. However, the taste was the same as always, with a strong spicy kick that helped wake up my body after a night of light drinking. I really wanted to eat a lot of bean sprouts though.

I had a chashu rice bowl at another restaurant earlier, and since then I had been craving for this negi shio chashu rice bowl here. So, that's why I visited this place on this day. Recently, a new ramen shop opened in my neighborhood (which I haven't visited yet), and I heard that it has caused a decrease in customers at this place. But at least on this day, there was a decent crowd here. There are times when I really crave for this place. On this weekday, I ordered the limited lunch set with spicy miso (less oil). It took about 10 minutes to be served as there were customers ahead of me. The ramen had the usual taste of miso sauce with less oil. And the negi shio chashu rice bowl had tender chashu, long green onions, and a salt sauce on top of the white rice, creating a harmonious blend of flavors. The tenderness of the rolled chashu, even in the crumbled parts, paired perfectly with the salt sauce. Honestly, I prefer this chashu rice bowl here over the one I had at the other restaurant earlier.

Originally, this day should have been a holiday to celebrate Mountain Day. However, due to the Tokyo situation last year and this year, it has become a regular work day. On such a day, I felt like having a Negi Shio Chashu Don for lunch. The restaurant offered a lunch set, so I felt relieved. I ordered the spicy miso ramen with less oil. The ramen arrived in about 6 minutes since there was only one other customer. The spicy miso ramen with less oil had a nice kick to it. It was not too spicy, and the miso flavor blended well. The noodles were cooked just right, and I slurped them up as usual. Once most of the noodles were gone, I enjoyed the Negi Shio Chashu Don. The tender chashu with the delicious salt sauce was a perfect match. The lunch set was priced at 1,000 yen, or 1,100 yen for the spicy miso flavor, which I felt was quite a good deal for a limited quantity offer on weekdays. I look forward to enjoying it more once the weather cools down a bit.

Despite it being a Saturday, I worked all day for a major project that the country was focused on. During lunch, I went to a local ramen shop again. I ordered the soy sauce flavor for the first time. I had never tried soy sauce flavor at Boryu or Hyakuban before, the last time was at the Boryu Mikage store. The soy sauce broth was a bit strong and straight, and when I tasted the soup, honestly, I thought "it's too salty." It's similar to Boryu, but I don't think it should be this salty. The soup was not something I could finish drinking. Ordering rice was the right choice.

The new coronavirus countermeasures business is in full swing, and on this day of business implementation, I asked for ramen for lunch. I noticed a sign at the counter saying "Lunch set now available". It is offered on weekdays only in limited quantities, and the set with Negi Shio Chashu Don is 1,000 yen (spicy miso is an additional 100 yen). I ordered the spicy miso flavor right away. I will skip the details about the ramen, but the Negi Shio Chashu Don was excellently made. The chashu, which is already tender, is topped with roughly chopped green onions and a salt-based sauce that is exquisitely delicious! I wish they would offer this Negi Shio Chashu Don as a regular menu item, as I would love to have it as a set with a small bowl of ramen. It fits my taste buds so well. I would like to see the Negi Shio Chashu Don become a regular menu item, but I would feel sorry if it meant they had to stop putting it in the ramen... (^^;

The other day, when I visited the restaurant, a younger coworker from another workplace ordered ramen with less oil, and when I asked later if they could do that, they seemed surprised (they always seem like that). So, on this day, I tried ordering my usual spicy miso ramen with less oil (and a side of small rice). When the dish arrived, there was indeed less oil floating on top. The flavor of the miso sauce came through more directly, which I preferred. The combination of the soup and rice was also good. However, it doesn't seem like the menu mentions that adjustments can be made, and I wonder how that always flustered coworker found out about it.

On this day, as the year 2020 draws to a close, I visited a local ramen shop called "Hyakuban" for lunch. I took the only available seat at the counter, while three out of the four raised tatami seating areas were empty (lol). My usual choice of spicy miso ramen with a side of small rice arrived in about 5 minutes. The noodles were a bit softer than usual today, but still within an acceptable range. I enjoyed the moderately spicy miso broth as I slurped up the noodles. It's a bit disappointing that the chashu slices keep getting thinner... I wish they would give two slices if they're going to be that thin. Nonetheless, I piled them on top of the rice and created my own chashu rice bowl, which gave me the energy to tackle the rest of the day. I will definitely continue to visit this local ramen shop, the only one in the area, for lunch occasionally in the year 2021.