Ramen Kuon @ Sakaisuji Hommachi / Ajitama Shio Ramen Today, I took a stroll around Shinsaibashi. It's been a while since I last visited this area, and it seems like many shops have changed. Unlike my hometown Shizuoka, the turnover here is quite rapid. As I walked towards Sakaisuji Hommachi Station, I remembered a shop that I had seen before but never visited. It was located in a building connected to the station underground. I didn't know there were restaurants in the basement here! Next to it, there was another shop that caught my eye, but today I decided to finally try Kuon, a place I've been wanting to go for a while. I bought a ticket from the machine outside, following the recommendation for Ajitama Shio Ramen. I waited at the entrance until I was guided to my designated seat a couple of minutes later. I handed over my ticket and after a short wait, the ramen was served. The aroma of chicken oil wafted up immediately. I took a sip of the soup, which had a base of chicken umami with hints of seafood and clam umami lingering in the background. The aftertaste of seafood umami after the chicken umami faded was really nice. The salt seasoning was well-balanced, not too sharp, and blended well with the soup. The noodles were ultra-thin, unexpectedly chewy and had a good mouthfeel. They paired well with the soup. The chashu included a low-temperature cooked piece and a braised pork belly piece, both tender and moist. A small amount of aosa seaweed was on top, adding a hint of oceanic flavor that complemented the soup. Overall, the ramen had a subtle flavor profile but was satisfying, with a well-balanced finish. I'm curious to try their soy sauce ramen next time. It was delicious, I will definitely come back.

I arrived a little early because this shop always has a line during lunchtime. It was my first time visiting, so I decided to try their most recommended dish, "Salt Ramen with Flavored Egg" (1,100 yen) located at the top left of the ticket vending machine. The bowl arrived in about 5 minutes, containing 2 pieces of young bamboo shoots, lightly pink-colored chashu pork slices, seasoned egg, shredded seaweed, chopped green onions, and a variety of ramen toppings floating on top of the clear broth. The soup had a pleasant aroma of seafood and clam broth, with just the right amount of saltiness. It also had a hint of richness from chicken oil, making each sip comforting. The straight noodles were slightly soft, perfectly soaking up the flavorful soup with every bite. I wished I had ordered a larger portion because I couldn't stop eating. The chashu pork was tender and practically melted in my mouth. The half-boiled egg added a creamy texture when mixed with the soup. I enjoyed changing the flavor by adding green onions and seaweed. The only downside was that the bamboo shoots had a slightly sour taste, which didn't quite suit my preference. Other than that, I was tempted to come back for more. The interior of the shop was designed to allow customers to enjoy their ramen quietly, so it might require some consideration for those dining with friends or family. Overall, the meal was delicious. Thank you for the treat!

I arrived at the restaurant around 1 pm on a Friday. The place was not crowded and I was seated right away. The interior was very clean and well-maintained, which was nice. I ordered the ramen with salted boiled egg and char siu for 1450 yen. It was a bit on the expensive side, but the soup was delicious, with thin noodles that paired well with it. The use of natural ingredients really made a difference in the taste.

Today's lunch was from Ramen Kuon, their Salt Ramen (¥950) which ends at 3:00 pm. I made a last-minute dash, but they kindly accommodated me. The signature Salt Ramen looked very elegant with two types of chashu, seaweed, and super thin noodles. The soup had a rich flavor with a triple blend of fish, shellfish, and chicken, but it had a refreshing aftertaste, making it easy to gulp down. The homemade thin noodles were made from a blend of three types of wheat, had a good chewiness, and were very satisfying. The noodles soaked up the soup generously, creating a flood in my mouth. The noodles were superb! Thank you for the meal.

Today, I visited a restaurant located about a 5-minute walk from Sakaisuji-Honmachi Station, which has been selected as a Michelin Bib Gourmand. I arrived at 2:00 PM and was able to enter without waiting. I had planned to order the salt ramen, but the limited edition ramen was also salt-based, so I went with the limited edition! The ramen was served in about 5 minutes. The soup was a triple soup made from chicken, seafood, and clams. The seafood flavor was particularly good, with a very gentle taste. The noodles were made using special homemade noodles made with a hand-operated noodle machine, giving them a distinct wheat flavor. These noodles were exceptional and delicious! It lived up to being a Michelin Bib Gourmand. Thank you for the meal!

I went to Ramen Kuon. I ordered the salt ramen. I watched as they carefully prepared it at the counter and waited for a while. The salt ramen arrived. The clear soup had a gentle taste that spread in my mouth. There were two types of chashu, one was light and the other was well-cooked. The noodles were very thin and had a good firmness, almost like somen noodles. Thank you for the meal.

Ordering salt ramen at Bib Gourmand-selected restaurant in Sakaisuji Hommachi, located in the basement of the Funabashi Center Building. Nearby, there is also Honmachi Seimenjo Chuka Soba Kobo, which was also selected as a Bib Gourmand restaurant. I arrived around 11 am and it seemed like they had opened a little early as there were already three customers ahead of me. I quickly bought a meal ticket from the ticket machine next to the entrance. This time, I went for the standard salt ramen. The interior of the restaurant was very clean, with glass drink servers placed between each table, which was impressive. The background music playing was stylish jazz, creating a calming atmosphere as the ramen was served. The clear soup with thin noodles almost resembling somen, topped with slices of roast pork, bamboo shoots, green onions, and melting seaweed, exuded a refined Japanese elegance. First, I took a sip of the soup... it had a sophisticated flavor with the umami of seafood taking the lead, supported by the chicken, and a subtle hint of saltiness from the sauce, making it easy to drink. However, personally, I felt it was a bit lacking in depth. The noodles were straight and extremely thin. When I chewed, I was surprised by the firmness and the refreshing aroma of wheat that lingered in my nose. The roasted pork, likely cooked at a low temperature, was elastic and satisfyingly meaty. The belly pork had a sweet richness from the fat and the broth, making it very delicious. Personally, as the seaweed dissolved into the soup, adding a hint of seaweed flavor with each sip, enhancing the sharpness of the soup's taste, I found this gimmick to be quite clever. Along with Honmachi Seimenjo, one of the two leading ramen shops in the underground shopping area of Sakaisuji Hommachi, offering a Japanese-focused dining experience, there is no way you can go wrong. If you ever find yourself in Sakaisuji Hommachi, be sure to give it a try!

This ramen shop in the basement of the Senba Center Building in Sakaisuji Honmachi was also selected as a Michelin Bib Gourmand. I visited for the first time at 11 am on a weekday, with only one customer already there when I arrived. There is a ticket machine next to the entrance, and I ordered the Special Salt Ramen (extra pork char siu and seasoned egg) for 1500 yen, along with the Wasabi Pork Rice for 500 yen. The Special Salt Ramen features a triple soup made with chicken, shellfish, and Japanese-style broth, with clear soup and straight thin noodles. The toppings include grilled char siu, roast char siu, bamboo shoots, green onions, seaweed, and seasoned egg. The soup has a refined umami flavor from seafood, complemented by the chicken and seafood aroma, making it light, rich, and easy to drink. The Wasabi Pork Rice consists of diced char siu topped with shredded wasabi?, which has a strong wasabi flavor that pairs well with the char siu and rice. Since they only had salt ramen available on this day, I am looking forward to trying their other options on my next visit.

"Flavored Egg Salt Ramen" for 1,200 yen. Served in a black tray, the dish is presented in a white bowl with two types of thinly sliced chashu, made from pork belly and pork shoulder loin. The large menma bamboo shoot is arranged in a half-circle with green onions and white leeks, creating a nice visual. The homemade noodles are meticulously prepared using a hand-operated noodle machine, resulting in straight thin noodles that resemble high-quality somen noodles. The ramen is served with a light soy sauce soup made from chicken and seafood. The salt ramen is priced at 1,000 yen with an additional 200 yen for the flavored egg, which is sourced from red eggs from Miyazaki Prefecture. The yolk is a deep orange color and has a rich flavor, contrasting with the light color of the white. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere that doesn't feel like an underground mall, although photography inside is prohibited. Overall, a good place to visit, but the Michelin appeal was a bit off-putting. Located in the B2F basement of the Senboku Center Building No. 3 in Osaka, it is convenient to visit by car parked in the underground parking lot or by train."

Lightly salted ramen with a rich broth ◎ Ramen with flavored egg 1100 yen At first, I thought it was plain noodles, but it turned out to be ramen with ultra-thin noodles. I was impressed from the first sip, the chicken and shellfish broth matched perfectly and soaked into my body smoothly. The chashu pork was also delicious, with both rare and well-cooked types included. There were many of the owner's various special touches packed into the dish. This is a great place for those who prefer refreshing ramen, and it's easy to visit even if you're alone.

The hot weather continues, so I visited the restaurant in search of a cold dish. I found the "Tororo and Iriko Cold Tsukemen" for 1,350 yen. It was labeled as "for customers who have visited 2 or more times," but since I had been there before, I confidently placed my order. After a short wait, the dish arrived. The noodles and toppings were served in a glass bowl, with a clear and refreshing soup made from Iriko broth. The Tororo was served separately. The chilled flat noodles were delicious when dipped in the cold soup, and the toppings included cold chashu, shiso leaves, okra, myoga, and lotus root. The combination was perfect for the hot summer weather. The dish was so tasty that I went back the next day to enjoy it again. Don't worry, the "Tororo and Iriko Cold Tsukemen" is the daily special, so you can visit anytime to try it.

I dropped by during the day on a regular weekday. They have been featured in the Bib Gourmand guide for 3 consecutive years. I was able to get in without waiting. I ordered the largest salt ramen with seasoned egg. The clear soup, thin straight noodles, and high-quality ingredients made for a delicious salt ramen. I would like to try the other flavors at this restaurant as well.

I usually only eat soy sauce ramen, but I decided to try a bowl of salt ramen with ultra-thin noodles that I remembered being delicious. I purchased the boiled pork salt ramen for 1,300 yen from the ticket machine. After a short wait, the bowl was served. It came with three slices of rolled pork belly chashu, two slices of rare shoulder chashu, seaweed, bamboo shoots, and white onions as toppings. The noodles were ultra-thin straight noodles, which I like. The soup was a light salt flavor. The soft texture of the rolled pork belly chashu helped balance out the richness of the broth. I am disappointed that I can't eat at ramen shops as often due to work, but I will try to visit ramen shops whenever possible.

I had some business in Honmachi and came here for lunch. The first place I wanted to go was temporarily closed, so I ended up at this place instead. Despite the scorching heat, there was a line when I arrived. There were 6 people ahead of me in line. You purchase a ticket from a vending machine before ordering here. Groups of up to 2 can sit together, but for 3 people or more, they ask you to sit apart for safety. It's clear that they want customers to focus on enjoying their ramen. I also bought an extra noodle ticket for 200 yen along with my shoyu ramen with flavored egg. They provide a water bottle station at each table, so you can drink as much water as you want. After waiting for about 5 minutes, my ramen arrived. The clear soup had two beautiful slices of meat on top. It was made with carefully selected broth from fish, shellfish, chicken, and soy sauce from Shodoshima. The soup was very delicious. The noodles were homemade and had a smooth texture. I finished the first serving quickly and immediately asked for the extra noodles. They brought it to me right away, almost as if they were timing it. The second serving also tasted delicious with a different flavor due to the slightly cooler soup temperature. I finished eating quickly and left, but there were still many people waiting in line. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Located a 2-3 minute walk from Sakaisuji-Honmachi Station, Ramen Kyuen is a highly rated ramen shop in the underground passage right outside the station gates. It's a popular spot in the office district, so it's recommended to visit before noon to avoid the long lines that form after 12 pm. Due to COVID-19 measures, talking during meals is not allowed, making it a great place to enjoy a quick bowl of ramen alone. I tried the Special Miso Ramen with extra Char siu and seasoned egg. The bowl was topped with two types of Char siu - one rare and the other well-cooked, along with a creamy half-boiled seasoned egg. The thin noodles paired perfectly with the rich miso soup, which had a generous amount of chili oil on top, providing a blend of miso richness and spicy kick. This popular ramen shop is ideal for those who enjoy thin noodles, so be sure to visit and try it out. Thanks for the meal!

I visited around 2 pm on a weekday and there was no waiting, but customers were steadily coming in. The soup was very delicious, with a gentle yet rich flavor of seafood, chicken, and clam broth. I drank it all up, it was so good. The noodles were thin and resembled somen noodles at first, but as I ate more, I found that they surprisingly went well with the soup. The chashu and menma were also delicious, and overall, I felt that the balance and quality were high.

I visited "Ramen Kuon" in Chuo Ward, Osaka. It is located on the B2F of the "Funebashi Center Building 3" directly connected to Sakaisuji-Honmachi Station on the Osaka Metro. If you are driving, you can use the parking ticket along the building or the convenient underground parking lot of the Center Building. I arrived on a rainy Saturday just before 1 pm and there were 5 people waiting outside. I selected the "Special Salt Ramen" for 1,390 yen at the ticket machine in front of the entrance. I entered the restaurant in about 10 minutes. The small interior has an L-shaped counter with 6 seats and 2 single table seats. There are no condiments on the table, but each table has a water pitcher. Photography of anything other than the food is strictly prohibited, so be careful. The soup, where the sweetness of chicken, clams, and kelp blend beautifully with minerals, along with the fragrant oil floating on top, delivers a rich umami flavor to the palate. The noodles are an extremely thin type that you wouldn't typically see in Hakata. They are made using a special hand-made noodle machine with 3 types of flour and a high water content, resulting in a texture similar to somen noodles that easily pick up the soup. The toppings include tender slices of pork belly, moist pork shoulder, a visually appealing half-flavored egg, bamboo shoots, seaweed, green onions, and a luxurious touch of orange. The careful preparation of the chashu pork is particularly impressive. Thank you for the delicious meal!

A restaurant featured in the Michelin Bib Gourmand guide. Located in the basement of the Ebisubashi Center Building 3. I was able to avoid the line by going slightly after lunchtime. They serve ramen with attention to every detail. The deep soup and thin noodles were smooth and delicious. I had the flavored egg salt ramen for 990 yen.

I unexpectedly found this restaurant while my intended one was closed, and decided to give it a try. I ordered the salt ramen with flavored egg topping. The noodles were thin and easy to eat, and the triple soup was light yet flavorful. The chashu was also delicious. Thank you for the meal.

During my lunch break, I came here for the first time in a while. It was around 2 pm on a weekday, so it was relatively empty and I was able to get in without much of a wait. I ordered the Tamago Shio Ramen for 990 yen. The noodles were thin, and I'm not sure if they've changed, but they seemed to have lost their chewy texture. The soup wasn't too salty and had a light taste. I hope they bring back the White Soup Ramen and add more variety to their menu in the future.

Located in the basement of the Funabashi Center Building 3, this ramen shop is a hidden gem. The shop is quite small, with seating for about 10 people in total. You purchase a ticket at the entrance and then take a seat. Their signature dish is the salt ramen. I usually go for soy sauce-based ramen, but decided to try the salt ramen this time. When it arrived, the salt ramen looked simple yet delicious! Let's dig in. The light and flavorful salt-based soup pairs perfectly with the thin noodles, which have a nice wheat aroma and a slightly chewy texture. While light soups can sometimes become monotonous, this salt ramen has a rich flavor profile that leaves you satisfied. Various umami flavors blend together harmoniously, creating a well-balanced and elegant taste. With each bite, the soup's umami and the noodles' aroma spread throughout your mouth. The bamboo shoots and chashu pork have just the right amount of saltiness and umami, adding a nice touch to the light salt ramen. The balance between the toppings and the broth is exquisite. I realized the importance of toppings while enjoying this dish. Whether you prefer light flavors or simply want to savor a delicious bowl of ramen, this is a must-try.