ramen151e
Visit date: March 30, 2023 (Thursday)
Today's lunch was at the ramen shop "鴨ONBABY Omotesando Store" which operates only during lunchtime at the dining bar "QUONS" in Omotesando, Tokyo. This shop opened on October 24th last year! I had no idea about its existence until I came across a tweet on my Twitter timeline. They serve ramen with soup made from Kyoto's duck and Shiga's Omi duck broth, so as a duck ramen lover, I had to go try it. However, it's strange that a ramen shop in such a location like Omotesando, where there are no ramen shops with a rating of 3.5 or higher on Tabelog, has not gained any attention. Even now, it doesn't even have a rating on Tabelog, and it's not talked about at all. Is it because of the light-hearted name "鴨ONBABY"? Or is it because they named it "Omotesando Store" even though it's a pop-up shop with no other branches, making people think it's a chain store? Or maybe the taste is just not up to par... I don't know, but I decided to go check it out regardless. So, I arrived at Omotesando!
I exited from Exit B2 of Tokyo Metro Omotesando Station, walked along Route 246, turned right before the famous shoe retail store "Dr. Martens," and found the shop about 10 meters ahead on the left side. However, while there were plenty of eateries along Route 246 on the way here, the alley where the shop is located seemed less crowded. I entered the shop at 1:20 PM and was directed to a cozy seating area with sofas. Despite being a bit late for lunch, the fact that there were no other guests in the restaurant after 5 months of opening raised concerns about how they were managing.
Looking at the menu, they only offered two types of ramen: "Shoyu" and "Shio," with options for additional duck roast toppings. Based on recommendations, I decided to go with the "Special Salt" ramen. The owner came out of the closed kitchen, handed me a hot towel, and took my order. When I asked for recommendations between Shoyu and Shio, the owner mentioned that most people order Shoyu but also recommended Shio. So, I went with the Special Salt ramen for 1,200 yen. The ramen was served promptly, featuring clear duck-scented soup with a blend of duck fat and garlic, creating a delightful aroma. The soup was a light yet flavorful duck broth base with kombu, dried shiitake, bonito, and mackerel, enhancing the umami taste. The noodles were a perfect match, being a medium-thin straight noodle with a smooth texture and good elasticity. The duck roast slices were tender and juicy, with no hint of gaminess, while the diced duck roast had a slightly chewy texture but released the savory essence of duck meat when bitten into.