haruoya
Located along National Route 9, just a short walk from JR and Kyoto Tango Railway Fukuchiyama Station South Exit, this restaurant is next to the business hotel Tsukasa. There are parking spaces for over ten cars in front of the restaurant and around 15 more on the cliff above to ensure parking is not an issue. The entrance to the restaurant has a ramp, making it wheelchair accessible. Upon entering, there is a ticket machine on the left where you purchase your meal ticket before proceeding. The counter seats are lined up in front, with about five booth table seats resembling a family restaurant on the opposite side. The default ramen (730 yen tax included) is a must-try here. I informed the staff that I was dining alone and was seated at the available counter seats. I opted for normal settings for noodle firmness, flavor intensity, and oil level. In less than 10 minutes, the ramen arrived. It had been over a decade since I last had Yokohama-style ramen, and the rich tonkotsu shoyu broth with toppings like seaweed, spinach, quail egg, and chashu brought back familiar memories. The appearance was exactly what you would expect from a standard Yokohama-style ramen, reminiscent of Machida Shoten's franchise. The broth had a strong and memorable flavor, characteristic of Yokohama-style ramen. The noodles were thick and short, slightly firmer even when ordered normal, likely due to their thickness. The chashu was tender and flavorful. I decided to try some condiments for flavor variation, such as diced onions, grated garlic, doubanjiang, and grated ginger provided on the table. Adding diced onions significantly enhanced the flavor for me. While I planned to try garlic and doubanjiang, I found the diced onions satisfying enough. Towards the end, I tried some garlic and doubanjiang with the soup using a spoon, but I personally preferred the enhanced flavor from the diced onions. It had been over a decade since I last had Yokohama-style ramen. Given the popularity of Tonkichi and Tenichi in the area, this restaurant may also become a hit. The customizable options for flavor are likely to appeal to many customers. If I have the chance, I will try a lighter flavor next time.

