たひ ち
I regret not realizing until now, after three years of being transferred, that there is a restaurant in Hakodate that Hokkaido residents who have expanded their range of activities now must absolutely visit. When feeling tired during the busy season, the best remedy for the exhausted body is not Red Bull or Monster, but ramen. Even when tired or sleepy, just hearing the word "ramen" wakes me up and unconsciously leads me to the restaurant. This is the ideal behavior of a ramen enthusiast, and by leaving a solid review after eating, we can share the charm of the restaurant. That is the mission of a food blogger. Now, let's get to the main point. This restaurant is located along the national highway running north and south along the coast. When you see a sign that says "Shinuchi" and feel the sea breeze while driving with the window slightly open, you may forget about the oncoming cars and almost make a right turn out of excitement. I can't die without eating ramen. Regaining my composure, I park in the gravel parking lot. As I peek inside, I see several people waiting behind the counter seats. I purchase my meal ticket and order the classic tsukemen, with the usual extra-large portion, and something called "nikumeshi." At that moment, a few people sitting on the bench are guided to their seats, reducing the wait time to zero. After about 5 minutes, I am guided to a table. The boys next to me seem to be already eating, but I want to maximize my excitement, so I avoid looking at the ramen until I sit down. I consider it a kind of spoiler. A few minutes later, the noodles arrive. I initially thought the soup would come later, but there were clear instructions on the table on how to eat, suggesting to first try the noodles as they are. Following the instructions, I take a bite of the noodles as they are. Despite some resistance, the aroma spreads well, and the thick noodles with a good chew can be felt throughout the mouth. As soon as I take a bite, the soup arrives. I had a hunch, but reviews on food websites are not reliable in this region. I am convinced that this place is undoubtedly a top ramen shop. The slightly sweet soup with yuzu and the finish that rivals top tsukemen shops in Tokyo and Chiba is truly impressive. The option to add black pepper for flavor variation is also appealing. The side dish of "nikumeshi" features fragrant, tender chashu, green onions, and wasabi as accents. The taste is so good that I can't help but think this dish alone could make the restaurant prosper. Both dishes are devoured in no time. The soup wari (diluted soup) is also excellent. Whether you call it "soup wari" or "wari soup," I may never know the correct term, but being able to switch roles and have the soup become the main focus at the end is satisfying. Unlike ramen, the bowl for tsukemen becomes completely flat, which is a pleasant feeling. Without a doubt, this restaurant is among the top ramen shops. It is leading the ramen scene in Hakodate and may turn Hakodate into a fierce battleground for ramen in the future. I can't help but imagine such a bright future based on the taste. I will definitely visit again. And I will continue to write lengthy reviews, with 80% of the content being irrelevant.