On this day, I had some errands in the Tsurugawa area and first visited Ryuseiken, then went to Ramen Raibun for a second round. It's about a 20-minute drive by car. Established in 1990, the owner, Setsuko Utsunomiya, rode the ramen boom of the 1990s and was featured in the media as a "female owner," which was still rare at the time. I remember seeing her on the TV show "Ramen Election" on TV Champion. Around 2000, I had a reason to go in this direction, but the old location didn't have parking, so I gave up. It seems like they have moved to a new location since then. It's on the left side as you enter Tsurugawa Street from Kamakura Street, near Sugawara Shrine. The area in front of the store also looks cleaner. There is a parking lot (Hara Kei monthly parking lot for 4 cars: spaces 1, 8, 9, 10, and if the pharmacy across the street is closed, spaces 11-13 can also be used) diagonally to the left of the store, which is convenient. I parked around 1 pm and entered the store without waiting in line. There is a lantern with "Raibun" written in beautiful calligraphy. The store has a folk art atmosphere with various plants and beckoning cats placed around. There is an alcohol spray next to the entrance, and a note about wearing masks. There is a counter seat in the kitchen space. The proprietress gives clear instructions like "Have you disinfected your hands with alcohol?" and "Please sit over there." The store is decorated with handicrafts made by the owner (available for purchase), creating a charming atmosphere. It feels a bit like an izakaya. The proprietress and a young woman are running the store. The menu is handwritten and includes ramen, meatball ramen, chashu noodles, wonton noodles, fried chicken wings noodles, corn ramen, discounted ramen for students, seaweed ramen, kids' ramen, rice sets, various toppings, beer, and takeout options. Flavors include soy sauce and salt. After ordering verbally, I paid at the counter. I ordered the Wonton Noodles in soy sauce for 1,100 yen (tax included). As expected from a long-established store, more customers started coming in. I waited for about 4 minutes before my noodles were served. The soup had a color similar to miso ramen, with two slices of chashu, one wonton, menma, and green onions. When I slurped the soup, I tasted a rich and complex flavor with various dashi elements blending together. It was delicious! The soup is made from a base of pork bones and chicken bones, combined with 28 ingredients such as kombu, bonito flakes, dried shiitake mushrooms, and vegetables. There is green onion oil floating on the surface, adding more flavor to the rich yet mellow taste. The soy sauce flavor is quite subtle. The color of the soy sauce and salt soup is similar, making it almost seem like a salt-based soup, but the soy sauce flavor is restrained. Even though layered soups like this are more common now, it was very rare to combine animal-based broth with fish dashi like kombu and bonito flakes over 30 years ago. This soup doesn't feel outdated at all; it still holds up well and, most importantly, tastes delicious. The noodles are medium-thin curly noodles with a high water content, made with egg as a binder. They were cooked to a relatively firm texture. The large slices of roast chashu were thick and had a soft, meaty texture. The small wontons were filled with a well-seasoned filling and had a chewy skin. The menma was dark in color, had a firm texture, and a strong flavor. The soup at Raibun is truly unique with its rich, mellow, and layered flavors. I visited two ramen shops in a row, but the food was so delicious that I could easily finish it. Thank you for the meal.

This is Ramen Raibun in Muroran. It is a famous ramen shop that appeared on TV in the past and is known for its delicious ramen. The shop has limited opening hours from 11:00 to 14:30, so it was difficult to visit, but I finally managed to go. They offer a set with the landlady's simmered dish and homemade kimchi pickles for an additional 200 yen, limited to 10 servings. I ordered the Wonton Noodle Soy Sauce Ramen, which costs 1,100 yen for three wontons. If you want five wontons, it costs 1,200 yen. The soup is mild and tastes like soy sauce ramen, but it has a refreshing taste similar to salt ramen. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Odakyu Odawara Line "Tamagawa Gakuen-mae" is a 20-minute walk from the north exit. I enjoy walking, so the walk itself was not a problem, but there were many slopes, steep inclines, and it was scorching hot, so I felt twice as tired as usual. I visited on Saturday around 12:00 PM. There was no line outside. I bookmarked this restaurant for a long time as it is a well-established famous shop. The famous female owner is often seen in the media. Finally, I was able to visit due to the location. I entered the shop and sat at the counter seat I was shown to. There were no other customers. The kitchen was run by the female owner and her son (?). Each seat had a water pot and tissues were available on the counter. I ordered the "Niku-tama Ramen - Shoyu (1000 yen)" verbally and waited. It took about 5 minutes until the ramen was served. I took a sip of the soup right away. It had a rich flavor with a slightly dried seafood taste. In the midst of the recent ramen boom, this type of layered soup was something I had never encountered before. Behind the dried seafood, there was a presence of animal ingredients, giving it a unique flavor. The noodles were thin and straight. They were cooked al dente with a satisfying chewy texture. The toppings included chashu (2 thick slices of flavorful pork), seasoned egg (well-flavored), menma (also well-flavored), and green onions. Towards the end, I added some table pepper for a flavor change. It enhanced the soup's edge, creating a nice balance. I finished the ramen completely. I paid in cash and left the restaurant. On the way back, I considered taking the bus to Machida, but the wait was nearly 20 minutes, so I decided to walk. I felt twice as tired as on the way there. Thank you for the meal.

【Order】Niku-tama Ramen (Shoyu) 1000 yen (extra chashu and seasoned egg)【Review】I was planning to go to a nearby Jiro-style ramen shop, but when I arrived in Machida, which I don't usually visit, I found that their parking lot was full and there was a long line, so I had to give up. Without doing any research, I found a ramen shop with a parking lot and decided to try it out. Based on the reviews on Tabelog, some trusted followers mentioned that the shoyu ramen was delicious, so I ordered the shoyu-based Niku-tama Ramen. When I tasted the soup, I was truly impressed by its deliciousness. Although the element of surprise due to lack of research cannot be denied, the soup was undeniably exquisite. It had a rich and mild flavor that reminded me of a certain famous ramen chain. It was light enough to drink easily, and before I knew it, I had finished the entire bowl, which rarely happens. I rarely finish the soup, so I truly believe that this ramen was really delicious. The staff were also friendly, and the atmosphere was cozy. Parking: Available for 4 cars Credit cards: Not accepted Electronic money: Not accepted Date of visit: Sunday, 14:40 Weather: Rain Wait/line: None

Visited around 13:30 on a weekday. The parking lot was a bit hard to find (it's on the left side of the road, opposite the entrance of the store) but managed to park there and entered the shop. Inside, there was only one customer ahead of me, so no waiting in line. The friendly proprietress and her son welcomed me and guided me to sit in the middle of the counter. I ordered the Wonton Noodle Soup (1100 yen) through verbal communication and it arrived in about 5 minutes. The noodles were thin and slightly curly, cooked al dente with a nice chewy texture. Personally, I really liked it. The soup seemed to have a mix of ingredients, with a strong fish-based flavor along with chicken, pork bone, kelp, vegetables, and more. It was clear and gentle, yet rich and quite delicious. The saltiness was on the mild side. The toppings included chashu, 3 wontons, bamboo shoots, green onions, onions, and only pepper on the table. Overall, I could understand why this place is so popular. The soup had a comforting and nostalgic taste, but it wasn't just about nostalgia; it had a complex flavor like modern ramen. They even mentioned that if the taste was too light, I could ask for adjustments. I finished the bowl quickly this time, but next time I might ask for a stronger flavor. The wontons had a nice gingery taste, but I felt like it wasn't necessary with this soup, so I might try the regular ramen or chashu ramen next time. They also have salt ramen, so I'm interested in trying that too. In short, I quite liked it. Just a note, the location is a bit secluded, so it's not easy to reach without a car. The parking lot can be tricky to find (I actually missed it once), so I'll include a photo of the entrance for reference.

I had never heard of Muroran ramen before, but I wonder if I could encounter it if I visit the local area. According to reviews, it seems to be a well-known shop that has even appeared on TV. I ordered the wonton noodle soup and a limited rice set. The rice set comes with rice, simmered dish, and pickles. It seems to be the responsibility of the owner. While waiting for the ramen to be ready, you can enjoy the set. It may feel a bit lonely with just rice and pickles, but it's a good deal. The soup is cloudy with a large slice of pork chashu, and the wonton has a strong flavor soaked into it. The color is dark and rich. The bamboo shoots seem to be the responsibility of the son(?). It's my first time trying Muroran ramen, and I'd like to try different flavors as well.

Two weeks ago, I saw the female owner of "Ramen Rai" on TV for the first time in a long time. I used to frequent the old store in the 90s. Back then, she wasn't yet known as the "mother of ramen" in the media. When the new store opened on the other side of the street, I brought my mother there. I remember the retired owner of the Yotsuya shop saying, "As long as Rai's Setsu-chan, who is the same age as me, is doing well, I can't retire." Every time I think of that, I had been thinking of visiting Rai someday. Then, I heard that another legend of the same age came from Yokohama to Rai on a Sunday. With Rai's topic coming up so suddenly in succession, I couldn't avoid it. The entrance to the restaurant has stairs, so I couldn't bring my mother in a wheelchair, but I went alone to try it out. I ordered the Salt Wonton Noodles (with 3 wontons) for 1100 yen. The unique flavor that I remembered was clear with the salt flavor. The soup was still rich and matched well with the noodles. I was concerned about the balance of the saltiness, but it was much better than the top salt ramen shops in the Machida area. The ramen was delicious. However, I may have expected too much of the past atmosphere. Perhaps it would have been better to leave the memories as they were, quietly.

This time, I tried the popular local ramen shop, #MuroranRamen #RaimonRamen, which also has high ratings on Tabelog. I had the Nikudama Ramen. The fish-based soy sauce ramen was lighter than it looked. The thin noodles had a firm texture and went well with the rich soup. The thick slices of chashu had a satisfying chewiness. The shop is located near #Sugawara Shrine on Kamakura Kaido. The shop doesn't look like a typical ramen shop at first glance, so please refer to the second picture. The parking lot is located across the street from the shop. The shop is run by a friendly mother and son. They take orders after asking, and they can adjust the taste later to suit your preference.

This is a famous restaurant that played a leading role in the ramen boom of the 1990s, founded in 1991. The proprietress, Mrs. Utsumi Satoko, became a celebrity appearing frequently in the media and is still active as the "mother of ramen". I visited this place over 20 years ago, before it moved to its current location. Back then, it was quite inconvenient with no parking lot, making it a challenge to visit due to the long lines. The term "Muroran Ramen" (definition unknown) was unfamiliar at the time, but a similar popular trend was the Asahikawa Ramen "Pépan" in Yokohama, founded in 1995. The proprietress of "Pépan" is also still active and working hard. I revisited the place recently, and the environment has changed with expanded roads and a parking lot, bringing back memories of the past. I arrived on a Sunday at 11:20 and easily parked my car without any hassle. The restaurant, with around 13 counter seats, was full, so I was asked to wait outside by the proprietress. After a few minutes, some seats opened up, and I was guided inside. I tried to sit in the back but was recommended by the proprietress to sit in the front. To my surprise, the elderly man sitting next to the seat I initially chose was a legend of "Yokohama-style ramen". The atmosphere inside was mostly regular customers, and the proprietress and the legend engaged in a deep conversation without any hesitation. The conversation revealed that they were both 76 years old and had changed the noodles to "domestic wheat" about a year and a half ago. The ordering system was cash payment after placing an oral order, with the second generation (the son) handling the cooking alone. I ordered the "Wonton Noodles (3 pieces)" for 1100 yen in soy sauce broth and added a "half-cooked seasoned egg" for 100 yen. The ramen, served in a small bowl, was simple yet packed with deliciousness. The soup had a strong aroma of the broth, with layers of umami from animal ingredients and a hint of vegetables. The soup was rich and mild, blended with lard, creating a flavorful and easy-to-drink broth. The noodles were thin and slightly wavy, made by "Sugano Seimenjo", with a low hydration rate. It was a nostalgic experience, reminding me of the simple pleasure of eating ramen in the past.

Once a month, I feel the urge to visit this place... It's located far from Machida and Tamagawa Gakuenmae, but it's always packed with customers. It's a place that serves Muroran ramen. Instead of the trendy curry ramen, they serve authentic Muroran ramen with a soy sauce base made from kombu and bonito flakes. The noodles are thin and just perfect! The flavor is on the strong side, but they can adjust it to your liking, which is nice. The trash can for tissues is located under the table, which is a must. It's not a flashy flavor, nor is it a refined soy sauce flavor, but rather a strong soy sauce base with a Japanese dashi made from kombu and bonito flakes. Delicious as always, thank you!

In conclusion, I was satisfied with the cozy and homey atmosphere of this traditional house-style restaurant, which deserves a rating of 3.67 stars. The salt and soy sauce were delicious, and I would definitely want to visit again. The restaurant had a family-friendly feel, with seats spaced out enough for comfort. When I visited on a Wednesday at 13:45, the place was almost full but there was no waiting time. They were quick to rearrange seats when new customers arrived. They gave me extra chashu instead of menma. They did not provide hand sanitizer, which was a bit concerning. The mama's service was friendly and attentive, and the chef took our orders. The staff was kind and helpful. The restroom was small but clean, with a washlet. The salt chashu ramen with flavored egg was 1,300 yen, the soy sauce wonton noodles with 5 pieces was 1,200 yen, and the rice set was 200 yen. I paid a total of 2,700 yen for my meal, which included a limited edition dish.

It's nostalgic. In the ever-changing food and beverage industry, it's impressive for a restaurant to stay around for so long. I extended my journey to Tsurugawa, but the restaurant I was aiming for was closed. Time was running out before my afternoon work, so I wanted to grab a meal. I've been to Rai Bun a few times before, and I remember seeing it featured in a ramen magazine advertisement. It was an Ajinomoto advertisement. Despite all this, the ramen at Rai Bun was surprisingly delicious. They have a variety of menu options, so I definitely want to come back in the future.

The first time I went, and the last time I went, it was just an average ramen place, nothing special. But this time, after a few years, I tried the highly rated salt ramen based on word of mouth. It was much tastier compared to the soy sauce ramen I remembered. However, it didn't feel like a significant improvement as a salt ramen, so I might not choose this place again if I want salt ramen. The son who seems to be making the ramen was more friendly compared to a few years ago, which was nice. I might come back just once more to try the soy sauce ramen.

"Ramen with soy sauce 800 yen + extra noodles 100 yen" ■ 91st bowl in 2023 ■ (first visit) ◇ time: 7 minutes until the bowl arrives / weekday 13:20 / no waiting ◇ topics ★ Established in 1991, it used to be a very popular shop. Parking lot for 4 cars available. ★ The female owner who used to appear in the media rarely enters the kitchen and seems to be retired. ★ ◇ today's ★ The noodles are from Nakaniwa Seimen? Thin wavy noodles cooked to a firm texture are just right. ★ The soup has a layered deliciousness with animal and seafood flavors, as well as bonito flakes. The fish powder is sprinkled generously, and the soy sauce base is subtle. If this has been served for nearly 30 years, the quality is high. ★ The char siu is small but has a soft surface and a flavorful core. The charred bamboo shoots are crunchy and my favorite. Thank you for the delicious meal!!!!

It's been 10 years... In the past, it was the mother who ran the place, but now it seems to be the son. There is a parking lot which is convenient. There is a sign for rose soba at the entrance, which made me curious and I ended up ordering it. It had a bit of an Asian spice flavor. Hmm, I think I prefer regular ramen... I'll come back next time for the standard ramen. Thank you for the meal.

Today, I came to Machida City, Tokyo for work. Since it was along the Tsurugawa Kaido, it was still early for lunch, but after finishing some work, I decided to visit the ramen restaurant "Raimon". This place used to be a popular ramen shop in the past. There was a parking lot across the street. The parking space can accommodate 4 cars. From the parking lot, you can see the sign across the street. The store used to be on the parking lot side but has since moved. I visited the old store years ago during the ramen boom, and I remember waiting about 90 minutes to eat ramen. I entered the store when it opened at 11 am. I was the first customer, of course. I sanitized my hands at the storefront before entering. I was greeted by the son of the owner, I believe. The owner, Setsuko Utsunomiya, herself brought me water. She seemed to be in good health, which was great to see. Setsuko was a famous figure who appeared in various media during the ramen boom. She now leaves the cooking to her son and focuses on customer service. They promote Muroran ramen here, which is quite rare in Kanto. There were menus on the table. When I mentioned that it had been a while since I last visited, the new owner suggested trying the "Salt Ramen" for 800 yen, going back to basics. I ordered verbally and paid afterward. I actually tried to visit the new store a few times before, but it was always closed, so I couldn't go. The interior of the store only had counter seats. The only seasoning available was pepper. Customers started coming in one after another. After a short wait, the ramen was served. The toppings were simple: chashu, menma, and green onions. Menma had some kind of fish powder sprinkled on top. I tried the soup first. The clear salt broth had a strong seafood aroma. It seemed like a blend of animal and seafood flavors. The noodles were thin with a slight curl, and a bit firm, which I liked. The menma had a dark color but was well-seasoned and had a good crunchy texture. The chashu was lean and well-seasoned. After paying and leaving, Setsuko chased after me and gave me a pocket tissue holder made from scraps of sharkskin sold at the store. It was a nice gift, which I will use right away.

Meatball Ramen (Shoyu): 1,000 yen It's been a while, Ha~Ha♫ Thunderbird Ha~Ha♫ Feelin' comes ♫ Feelin' comes lunch ♫ I'll drink the soup with a strong seafood flavor ♫ Nostalgic ramen, it's still good (o^^o) There's a sticker for tantanmen (^^) Next time, I'll try the tantanmen⁂ Food log rating: 4.5: Heavenly‼︎ 4.0: Outstanding! 3.5: Average 3.0: Disappointing ===========

Today, I was able to make time in the morning as planned, so I decided to visit places along the Odakyu Line. First, I went to a popular shop that had moved to Tsuruma, and then I moved to Machida to visit a place that I had been wanting to go to for a long time, "Muroran Ramen Raimon." "Muroran Ramen Raimon" is a famous and popular long-established ramen shop founded in 1991, run by the female owner Setsuko Utsunomiya, who has often appeared in the media. I had a good impression of the shop when I visited the old location back then, and I had been thinking of visiting again since I heard about the relocation. However, with the decrease in opportunities to see the name in the media and the fact that it is located away from the station, I had completely put it on the back burner. But today, when I was planning my visit based on new shops I wanted to go to along the Odakyu Line, I suddenly thought of it and decided to go and enjoy the visit after a long time! After leaving the north exit of Machida Station on the Odakyu Line and turning right (towards Tamagawa Gakuen), I walked along the tracks and turned left at the second level crossing, then continued straight ahead, turned right at the Sugawara Shrine intersection, and went straight ahead on the left. The shop has a house-like exterior with various plants placed near the entrance. The interior of the shop is not very spacious and has a traditional Japanese house atmosphere. There are only counter seats, and when I visited around 1:30 pm today, there were 7 customers in front of me and 5 customers behind me. I ordered the Wonton Noodles (Shoyu) (1100 yen) and a half-boiled seasoned egg (100 yen) that I had decided on before visiting, after briefly looking at the menu on the table. After ordering, the Wonton Noodles arrived in a few minutes. The kitchen seemed to be completely run by the second generation, but the appearance had changed a lot since the previous visit, with a small bowl with fish powder on top and the char siu being rare. I was looking forward to trying it out! I tried the soup first, and it was delicious! The hot soup had a light oily feel and a layered and thick umami flavor with various ingredients such as animal, seafood, dried foods, and vegetables, just like it was said to use over 20 ingredients back then. The base soup was full of depth and richness, capturing various flavors, but nothing stood out, and the soy sauce flavor of the seasoning fit well without being too assertive. The wavy medium-thin noodles had a slight firmness and smoothness, and they slurped well into the soup, with a light bite that was pleasant and delicious. The noodles had a strong aroma of wheat, but the amount of noodles was a bit too much for the small amount of soup, making them a bit prone to sticking together, and the interaction with the soup was not perfect, but the compatibility with the soup itself was good and I enjoyed slurping it up! The char siu was made from shoulder loin, with a slightly moist and meaty texture and tenderness, enhancing the flavor of the meat and tasting delicious! The wonton was small in size, with a moderately assertive flavor in both the filling and the skin, which was chewy and tasty! The seasoned egg had a gel-like half-boiled yolk, with a strong flavor of the yolk that was well accentuated and tasted good! The bamboo shoots had a crunchy texture, a dark color, and a strong flavor that was not too strong but had a solid taste that was delicious! The chopped green onions added a good accent with their aroma and texture! I lightly mixed the fish powder that I had been curious about in the middle, and it was mainly made from dried fish, with an increased seafood flavor such as anchovy, giving a good contrast and enhancing the taste! Finally, I savored the remaining soup once again, and it was a complex and deep umami flavor with a strong dashi taste, and I couldn't help but gulp it all down! After finishing everything, I was hoping to go smoothly today.

I heard that there used to be long lines at the long-established ramen shop, Rai Bun, near Sugawara Shrine, so I decided to visit. I arrived before noon on a weekday and was able to sit at the counter right away. I ordered my favorite wonton noodles. Although they also had a rice set, I decided to pass on it this time. The soup was light yet flavorful, and I felt like I could drink it endlessly. The noodles were chewy and delicious. The wontons had plenty of filling and a smooth texture. The seasoning for the noodles was also tasty. It was a delicious meal.

I went to work at a place that was less than a 5-minute walk away, so I waited until 11 o'clock to go. I ordered the Nikudama Ramen in soy sauce flavor. It looked and smelled soft. The soup was... soft. It was a delicious soup with a seafood flavor. There was a picture of Mr. Yamagishi from Daishoken on the wall, and there is something in common. Maybe it's bonito flakes. The noodles were medium-thin straight noodles that went well with the soft soup. It went down smoothly. The chashu and menma were also gentle in flavor without any sharp edges. It's the opposite of me who has lived a sharp life. But it's delicious. I could eat it every day. I will come back again.

During work, I decided to visit a restaurant that I had been to with a colleague from work in the past, which is located near where I was passing by. The restaurant is situated along Tsurugawa Street, near the intersection of Tsurugawa Street and Kamakura Street. The parking lot is located diagonally across the street from the restaurant, with space for about 4 cars. The exterior of the restaurant is a bit hard to spot, as it is on the first floor of a house surrounded by potted plants. Inside, there is only a counter with various decorations and photos displayed. When I visited around 12:30, there was only one other customer in the restaurant. The staff, consisting of a mother and son, were polite and attentive. I ordered the soy sauce ramen, which arrived in about 5 minutes. I chose the same soy sauce ramen as my previous visit. It came with simple toppings such as chashu, green onions, and bamboo shoots, with thin curly noodles in a mild soup that was easy to drink and very enjoyable. I ended up drinking the soup quickly without realizing it (laughs). I forgot to order the larger portion this time, as I felt the portion was a bit small during my previous visit. They also adjust the soup's richness based on your preference. If I am in the area again, I would consider stopping by this restaurant.