よっしーJP
There used to be a shop called "oh! range" in Shiraishi-ku. It was located between Shiraishi Station and Minamisato 7-chome, I think. Now, it seems that the shop has moved to Higashinaoho as a ramen shop called "Tou" and then opened as "Spice Ramen, Soup Curry, Tou (Orange)". I'm not sure about the details, but the famous owner seems to have remained the same since the Shiraishi-ku days. I vaguely remember that the soup curry had a very unique taste, but I have mostly forgotten. I visited the popular restaurant for the first time in a while and even though I went after lunchtime around 1:00 PM, it was still full with a wait of 3 groups, and they ran out of soup just before my turn. I was lucky to be the last customer. Wow, it's a popular place. The spicy ramen seems to be quite popular, but I, of course, had the soup curry. The "Thick Chicken" was priced at 1,100 yen with a spiciness level of 7 out of 7 (extra 100 yen for Piquin). I ordered the Japanese-style soup. There was a "cast iron trivet" on the table. A trivet? Why a trivet? I was puzzled by the question marks in my head. I understood when I saw what was brought to the next table. It's a type that boils in a clay pot... I see. I get it! The dish that came out after quite a wait was... beautifully arranged with a variety of vegetables that were visually stunning. The "soup" was a Japanese-style soup. It was very oily and had a strong bonito dashi flavor. In one word, it tasted like "takoyaki" (laughs). It reminded me of when I had the Japanese-style soup at Bagu Bagu before. When I looked at the date, it was a story from 15 years ago already. Even after 15 years, the strong impression of the bonito dashi remained unforgettable. The bonito flavor overwrote everything, and I wonder if I made a wrong choice in selecting the soup... The level 7 "super spicy" with Piquin was as expected, very spicy. The picture came out blurry, but wait, how many Piquins are in there? It was piled high with Piquin. I appreciate the generosity, but the spiciness was so intense that it stuck in my throat... (I feel like my tolerance for spiciness has weakened a lot since I almost died of a stroke...). The "Chicken" was not a whole leg but cut meat. It had a strong flavor with a firm texture. The vegetables were: Okra - hot and likable. Green pepper - simple taste and aroma. Sweet potato - like fried sweet potato, slightly firm but subtly sweet. Carrot - slightly firm but simple deliciousness. Cabbage - slightly raw. Boiled potatoes with skin - fragrant and sweet. Pumpkin - two large pieces! And very sweet. Egg - boiled like a sunny-side-up. Chopped long green onion - reminiscent of ramen. Overall, it was very voluminous and full of hospitality. The "Rice" was colored beautifully with turmeric. It had a strong flavor and paired well with the strong soup. The slightly firm cooking was good. It was interesting that gyoza was served. I dipped the gyoza in the soup and enjoyed it. As the meal progressed towards the end, the deliciousness gradually increased. Yes, there is a timing when various ingredients, dashi, and umami blend together. The balance is coming together, and it becomes super delicious. It's like a different dish from the beginning. This is the magic of spice and soup curry. There was fish powder, and I tried a little. The bonito flavor intensified quite a bit, but since the soup already has a strong bonito dashi flavor, there might be more flavor variation in other soups. Next time, I definitely want to try the Western-style bouillon soup.