*Today's Menu: Zaru Chuka (Cold Chinese Noodles) - ¥660 This seems to be a summer limited menu at Mendou Hattori. It's light, refreshing, and easy to eat. It's like a cold noodle dish with a dipping sauce like Hiyashi Chuka. The portion size is decent and the price is reasonable, so ordering it would not be a waste.

I entered a sketchy-looking restaurant and tried their menu which consisted of tsukemen, "Takotsubo Ramen", and "Bean Sprout Ramen". I chose the tsukemen in a large portion. I also added the "Chicken Kamameshi". The amount of noodles served was more than I expected. I asked, "How many grams is this?" and was told, "About 400g before boiling, and about double after boiling." The noodles were firm and cut easily. The dipping sauce seemed to have a sour taste, with hints of seafood, pork bones, and chicken. There were plenty of finely chopped onions and large diced pieces of chashu. The onions may have been added to balance out the sourness with their sweetness. The Chicken Kamameshi had thinly sliced chicken and finely chopped burdock root. The taste was quite ordinary. I wonder why they decided to include this on the ramen shop's menu. Perhaps to use up leftover ingredients. Despite the sketchy appearance, the owner was a likable person.

I visited on a business trip from Nagoya. I used it for drinking, but the chashu was delicious. Also, the gyoza was good. There seems to be quite spicy ramen as well, but this time I had tsukemen. Even the regular size had a decent volume, and the seafood-based soup was delicious. The owner is also a fun person, so I will visit again.

Men-Do Hattori (Osaka, Kouri-en) Rich Tsukemen (Large portion) with Iggy & The Fool Ramen #49 of 2022 Today, I went on a ramen tour in Neyagawa, Kouri-en. I had heard about this place before but never had the chance to visit until now. It's just a 3-minute walk from the station, and arriving before 2 pm allowed me to enter without waiting in line. I quickly ordered the recommended No.1 dish, the "Rich Tsukemen" from the shop manager. You can increase the noodle portion for free from regular to large, so I went for the large portion. In just 14 minutes, my order arrived. The noodles were medium-thick and straight, specially made by Miyane Foods, and default to being served hot. They were cooked to a soft texture, with a slight chewiness and a fluffy wheat flavor. Although the hot serving prevented the soup from cooling down quickly, I personally prefer cold noodles. The dipping sauce was surprisingly light in viscosity, with a subtle bonito and other flavors. It was a double soup made from pork bones and chicken bones, with a strong acidity from the soy sauce base that may be divisive. The saltiness was also quite pronounced. The dipping sauce contained chunks of chashu, menma, and plenty of onions, giving it a unique character. Despite ordering a large portion, I managed to finish it. I wonder if the cherry on top of the noodles was just a decorative touch or had some significance. Overall, it was a unique tsukemen experience.

It's been a while since my last visit. The owner's customer service is as friendly and polite as ever. *Today's Menu* - Special large portion of tsukemen ¥940 - Change tsukemen dipping sauce to spicy soup ¥110. The default is served hot. It feels like eating regular ramen because of the hot dipping sauce. The spiciness kicks in later.

Ordered the "Octopus Pot Ramen" which is said to be 10 times spicier than usual for 1,270 yen. I thought it was miso-based at first, but the description said it has a double soup base of pork and chicken. The spiciness is quite intense, surpassing the heat of red peppers. It had a sour taste, maybe from Death Sauce. It felt like I encountered real spiciness after a long time, even surpassing the level 10 spiciness at Coco Ichibanya. The noodles were curly noodles with a side of tender chashu, seasoned menma, and for some reason, Anpanman's naruto kamaboko. I enjoyed it while sweating. My companion ordered the soy sauce ramen, which had a strong flavor of dried fish and was also very delicious.

I tried the signature menu item, the super spicy ramen, instead of the usual tsukemen. Served in a octopus-shaped bowl with Anpanman fish cake, it was very cute. The spiciness level ranges from "Boya" to "Burnt", "Half Burnt", "Fully Burnt", and "Inferno". The "Inferno" level is said to be 10 times spicier than "Fully Burnt". For me, even the "Burnt" level was extremely spicy and I couldn't finish the soup. The price for "Fully Burnt" was ¥830 as of May 18, 2021. The price for "Inferno" ranges from ¥940 to ¥1050 to ¥1270.

The super spicy "Takobana Ramen" caused a big sensation, priced at 935 yen for a 3x spiciness level. I heard there was a spicy noodle place near Keihan Kowarien Station, so I decided to check it out. They had quite a variety of noodles to choose from. Apparently, it turns into an izakaya after 10 PM. They advised against ordering the 10x spiciness level (must be really hot, right?). I ordered the normal level of spiciness. When it arrived, it came in what looked like a pickled plum jar? No, it was actually a octopus pot, along with a separate plate of chashu pork. When I opened the lid, there were menma, green onions, and a cute Anpanman character (lol). As for the taste of the "big sensation," well, it was surprisingly delicious! I didn't really feel the spiciness, but the unique bowl made the ramen taste even better. The chashu pork was tender and went really well with a chu-hi drink. It was a bit tricky to drink the soup from the bowl, but I managed to finish it all. The Anpanman character was too cute to eat, but if you're looking for something a little different to try, it's perfect.

Today, I had less work so I decided to have lunch at a local restaurant. I visited a place called "Fukuhara Fudo 13" near the Kouri-en station in the back of a Life supermarket. The exterior of the restaurant had a unique look, and it seemed to transform into a casual dining place at night. The restaurant had a small L-shaped counter, and it seemed to be run by a couple. The owner was wearing a T-shirt with their face on it and the words "Tazune Hito" written on it. I ordered the "Rich Seafood Tsukemen - Medium Size" which was served promptly. The noodles came with a cherry on top, which seemed like a quirky touch. The dipping sauce included green onions, bamboo shoots, onions, and diced chashu pork. The chashu pork was tender and flavorful. The noodles were thick and slightly soft, and the dipping sauce, despite being described as rich, was actually light and easy to eat. Overall, it was a satisfying dining experience and I was glad to have discovered a new restaurant.

On this day, I went to Kouri-en with my partner in the evening. It was my first time visiting this place since it moved, and it was my second visit overall. When we arrived a little after 8:00 pm, there was only one group of customers, but it quickly filled up and seemed to be quite popular. This time, I decided to try something that was not available during my previous visit. After a short wait, the ramen in the picture was served. The soup was a reddish spicy color, with just enough to cover the noodles, topped with shredded chashu, green onions, and a soft-boiled egg in the center. The soup seemed to be pork bone-based, with a hint of sourness before the spiciness kicked in. The unique spicy flavor was surprisingly addictive. The minced meat was actually shredded chashu, giving a tuna-like texture that paired well with the noodles. The abundant green onions added a crunchy texture, and the flavorful soft-boiled egg had a rich taste. Contrary to my expectations, there was no tofu in the ramen (it seems to be a paid topping). Overall, it was a delicious bowl of ramen with a distinctive spiciness that was different from the usual spicy ramen.

Saturday 14:00 No waiting. I went in search of the spicy ramen recommended by an acquaintance. "Yabakara! Octopus Pot Ramen Great Blaze" for ¥850. You need to sign a pledge before eating. The couple who run the place served me in about five minutes. The ramen had a nice kick to it, but wasn't as extreme as the current spicy trend. The elderly owner provided surprisingly delicious ramen. I was unsure about the portion size in the octopus pot, as it said "finish in 30 minutes," but it was just a regular bowl of ramen. I felt it was lacking, so I added a "Mini Tenshinhan" for ¥300. It was easy to finish in under 10 minutes. It may not be enough for spice enthusiasts, but those who enjoy mildly spicy ramen will find it delicious!

I wanted to eat ramen late at night, so I drove to Men-do Hattori in Neyagawa, Osaka, which I found on the internet as having delicious dried fish broth ramen. It was past midnight, but there were already customers inside. I ordered the tsukemen in large size. The noodles were a standard large portion of 400g. Although I didn't order anything specific, it came out as a hot serving without my request. This was disappointing. I think I could have ordered it separately, but since I didn't say anything, I didn't expect it to be a hot serving, so I was a bit surprised. To be honest, tastes vary greatly. Although it had the flavor of dried fish, the smell of cigarettes and alcohol in the store bothered me, so I couldn't enjoy it. It was a bit disappointing that smoking was allowed inside the store. The noodles seemed to have been pre-cooked and reheated, so they lacked firmness, and I felt that the hot serving was not suitable. The real shock came when I tried the chashu rice bowl from the menu. The chashu rice bowl, simmered until it was mushy, was unexpected. It tasted like chashu, but there were very few solid pieces, which was completely different from what I had imagined. The taste was not to my liking, but I felt it was more about making an impact. This restaurant seems more suitable for customers who want to enjoy alcohol and yakitori, rather than just focusing on ramen. The wonderful customer service from the owner made up for everything. Their friendly attitude and smile even late at night were very comforting.

Late at night. After a drinking party. I felt a little hungry. I had been curious about this restaurant for a while. It's a ramen shop known for its tsukemen. A few years ago, it was located near Keihan Mitsuji Station along the national highway, but it has since relocated. What caught my attention was the sign that said "How to eat for free." I knew it was impossible, but fueled by alcohol and hunger, I decided to visit. I sat at the counter and ordered the tsukemen. Looking at the menu, the regular, medium, and large servings were all priced at 750 yen. I was just a little hungry, but I ended up ordering the large serving. The thick straight noodles were indeed a large portion. The dipping sauce had a rich fish flavor, with the aroma of fish powder stimulating my appetite. The chewy texture of the noodles was enjoyable. The dipping sauce also contained roughly chopped vegetables, adding another layer of texture. It was delicious. Despite ordering the large serving on a whim, it was too much for me. Nevertheless, I managed to finish it without any problems. It was a tasty meal. Thank you.

In the area around Kouri Park in Osaka, there are many restaurants competing with each other, with even famous nationwide chain stores having a presence. Among them, there is a small individual shop that specializes in "tsukemen" (dipping noodles)! They offer a system where you can choose the amount of noodles, making it budget-friendly and satisfying even for big eaters. The broth is rich and fish-based, and you eat the thick noodles similar to udon by dipping them in the broth. The portion size is quite substantial, so I think women would be fine with a regular size. Of course, I managed to finish the extra-large size with 3 servings! Haha.

I have been hooked on dried fish ramen since trying the "Amazing Dried Fish Ramen Nagi" in Nishishinjuku 7-chome. I searched on Tabelog for a good dried fish ramen shop near my home in Takatsuki and found "Men Michi Hattori." It's located near Karasumaen Station. Since there is no parking, I parked at a nearby coin parking lot. When I was about to enter the shop, I saw a flyer at the entrance that said, "Customer Appreciation Days - Tsukemen Warmth normally priced at 750 yen is only 100 yen today and tomorrow!" What a lucky coincidence! The shop is small with only counter seats in an L-shape, seating about 10 people. The staff, consisting of the master and his wife, were running the place. I was torn between ordering the tsukemen for 100 yen or the soy sauce ramen for 700 yen. I ended up choosing the soy sauce ramen. I also ordered the mini chashu bowl for 200 yen. My wife and daughter ordered the tsukemen. The soup was a dark brown color with a layer of fat floating on top, giving it a beautiful appearance. When I tasted it, the flavor of dried fish - umami, saltiness, bitterness - hit me strongly. It was great. The umami and flavor of chicken and pork bones came through later, but they were slightly weaker. The dried fish flavor was dominant. The fat kept the soup piping hot and added to its richness. The soy sauce base was a bit mild in terms of saltiness. It seemed like a good way to end a meal. The noodles were thin and straight, cooked al dente with a great texture when bitten into. The noodles were glossy and had an excellent smoothness. They also had a nice aroma that paired well with the soup. However, the portion was not very generous. The toppings included two slices of chashu, nori, chopped green onions, menma, and naruto, making it very colorful. The chashu was incredibly tender and perfectly seasoned. It was delicious. The mini chashu bowl was more like a oyakodon with small pieces of chashu mixed in the sauce and topped with a half-cooked egg. The chashu had its own flavor, and when mixed with the sauce, it tasted a bit salty. The egg was runny and creamy. The menu also featured a dish called "Men Michi Ramen," which was actually the master's creation, but he named it "Men Michi" because it was too much trouble to make, as he explained with a laugh. There were also humorous signs inside and outside the shop, showcasing the master's unique personality. It was an interesting and delicious experience. I would love to visit again when I'm in the area. Thank you for the meal!

*Rich and hearty dipping noodles, large portion for ¥825. A unique and distinctive dipping noodles with a seafood-based dipping sauce that contains plenty of onions.