I plan to take a limited express train from Ikeda Station. Although I have gotten off a few times, there isn't much to see around the station other than the "Wine Castle." Feeling hungry, I decided to walk slowly for about 10 minutes to a ramen shop called "Bankai." The shop had a faded red curtain and an aluminum sliding door that creaked as I opened it. Inside, the lights were off and no one was there. I called out, and the owner hurried out from the back. After I asked if they were open, they turned on the lights and TV for me. The shop had two sunken tables, two regular tables, and a counter with no chairs. I ordered the miso ramen for 700 yen. The owner started cooking right away. On the table, there were black pepper, chili powder, chopsticks, toothpicks, tissues, and alcohol disinfectant tissues. They also had acrylic dividers for COVID-19 prevention. After about 7 minutes, the ramen was served with a glass of cold water and a frozen PET bottle. The toppings included seaweed, chashu pork, bamboo shoots, and green onions. The noodles were soft and seemed like something an elderly person would enjoy, and the soup had a mild broth with a hint of saltiness. It was not outstanding, but I couldn't help but finish the bowl. I wondered about trying other menu items next time, especially the fried rice. Overall, I would definitely come back for more.

I went to Bankurai-san! This place is on a quiet back street with old snack bars lined up. It's late for lunch, but the curtains are out. I'll go in. There is one owner and one customer. Soy sauce ramen for 700 yen with stir-fried bean sprouts. The noodles are thin and the soup is a bit oily, a classic soy sauce ramen. It has plenty of menma. It's a very ordinary ramen, but it gives a sense of security. Thank you for the meal.

Today, the wind is strong since morning. I went to Mankurou in Ikeda to have something warm to eat. It was 11:30 am, the opening time, so there were no customers before or after me. The restaurant was small and had a typical ramen shop vibe. There was a raised seating area, 2 tables with 8 chairs, and a counter with 4 seats. I had a little chat with the staff and ordered the Ramen-Chahan set for 1,000 yen. The ramen had chashu, green onions, menma, bean sprouts, and seaweed. The noodles were medium-thick curly noodles. The soup was amber-colored and had a slight scent, maybe chicken-based with a hint of garlic. It was a bit on the strong side but had an old-fashioned richness and lingering deliciousness. The chahan had diced chashu, egg, and finely chopped onions. It was slightly dark in color and also had a strong flavor. Somehow, even though everything was strong, it transformed into umami as I ate. I prefer it over the nearby famous ramen shops. I will come back next time to try the Ankake Ramen. Thank you for the meal.

It was a huge portion. Ramen set. The fried rice was also good, and the salt ramen was delicious. I want to go there again. ^_^