500(チンクエチェント)
I had been curious about this ramen shop that I had seen on Instagram and Tabelog for a while. So when I found myself driving around Suita, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to visit. I knew there was no parking at the shop, and there were no coin parking lots nearby, but I didn't expect it to be this difficult to find parking. After a long search, I finally found a small coin parking lot where I could park my car. It was still quite a walk to the shop, but closer than the nearest station, so I was relieved. When I arrived at the shop at 12:30, it was already full inside, with two groups waiting outside. After waiting for about 20 minutes, I finally got a seat.
I debated whether to add extra meat to my ramen, but decided to go with the regular and order a rice dish instead. I ordered the "Matsusaka Beef Ramen," which came with thinly sliced Matsusaka beef, abura-kasu, mizuna, negi, shiraga negi, itogarashi, oboro kombu, and lemon. The noodles were whole wheat flour straight noodles, and the broth was a combination of bonito and kombu dashi. I poured the hot broth over the beef and mixed it in until the beef changed color and had a shabu-shabu-like texture. I also added a hot spring egg, which added richness to the already flavorful broth. As I ate, I squeezed lemon over the ramen, which added a refreshing twist to the rich flavors.
I also ordered the "Matsusaka Beef Garlic Rice," which was served bibimbap style in a hot stone bowl. I mixed the beef, chopped negi, garlic chips, and egg yolk with the accompanying sauce, creating a delicious aroma. Mixing it well created a crispy texture on the bottom, adding another layer of flavor. Honestly, I found the garlic rice even more delicious than the ramen. Both dishes were satisfying, but getting to the shop was quite a hassle, especially in the summer. Additionally, the service at the shop was a bit disorganized, which was a bit frustrating. Overall, the taste and value were reasonable, so I believe with some improvements in the shop's operations, it could be even better.