t.y.s
This time, I visited the pop-up creative ramen shop "Men-dokoro Zukan" that I had been interested in for a while for lunch. It is located in Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku. It's about a 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station Hachiko Exit. It's about a 2-minute walk from the "A0" exit. Normally, it operates as a bar called "209 Stand", but for lunch on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays, it operates as a pop-up ramen shop. They may have special evening hours, so be sure to check their official Twitter! On this day, the lunch hours were from 10:00 to 14:00, with a limited 30 servings from 10:00 to 12:00 for "Corn Cold Ramen for 1,500 yen" and "Special for 1,900 yen". Additionally, from 12:00 to 14:00, they offered "Noodle with Pork Broth and Various Ingredients for 1,300 yen" and "Special for 1,700 yen". Furthermore, they were also open for dinner with "Local Chicken and Brand Pork Noodles for 2,000 yen". I arrived at the location at 9:55 and there was already a line of 20 people from the front of the shop on the 2nd floor down to the street. As announced, they opened exactly at 10:00 and the line flowed into the shop. Inside the shop, there was upbeat pop music playing as background music. The interior had a chic and calm atmosphere with a brick-style woody counter and 7 seats at the counter. The other tables were not in use. There were also self-serve cold water, hand towels, and paper aprons at the back of the shop. There were 5 waiting chairs inside and 4 chairs outside the entrance. After waiting for about 40 minutes, I was seated and placed my order verbally. I ordered the "Corn Cold Ramen (Special) for 1,900 yen". The kitchen was managed by the owner alone, with a smooth and efficient workflow. The bowl that arrived had a visually colorful appearance. The soup was made from Amakusa Daiohmaru chicken and kelp broth with a creamy corn puree aroma that delicately tickled the nostrils. The noodles, when lifted, had a firm texture with whole wheat blend and just the right amount of chewiness from being cooled in cold water. The soup was rich and the wheat flavor of the noodles was prominent. The toppings included rare pork shoulder loin, Oku-Kuji egg with herb flavor, red turnip, sprouts, corn, chervil, and green onions. The tender and juicy brand pork chashu was exceptional, with a decent thickness that released a savory umami when bitten into. The red turnip had a crisp and fresh texture. The flavored egg had a perfectly runny yolk with a rich flavor. I finished every last drop of the soup and every last bite of the noodles. It was a unique and delicious taste that I had never experienced before. It was a solid vision of deliciousness that you wouldn't expect from a pop-up shop. I will definitely revisit to try a different menu next time! Thank you for the meal m(_ _)m