maru5585
Today, I thought about where to go around Nihonbashi, but I didn't have much time, so I intentionally avoided the popular restaurants, and decided to target this place, which is about to celebrate its 10th anniversary. The location seems expensive, and there must be a reason why they have been able to continue for so long. They already have a second store in Kanda, so they must be doing well. The owner trained at famous restaurants like "Nishi-Azabu Gogyo" and "BASSO Drillman," so my expectations were high. When I arrived at 13:04 on a weekday, there was no line outside, and there were 4 customers inside already. There were also 2 customers behind me, so it seems like you might have to wait depending on the time. The dimly lit interior had a trendy izakaya-like atmosphere, with 7 counter seats, 1 table for 2, and a table for 4 in the back. There were 3 male staff members working. Since it was my first visit, I ordered the "chuka soba" for 1050 yen and the "special toppings" for 350 yen at the ticket machine. I was also curious about the "intense broth" but didn't know what that meant, so I chose the normal option. I felt a little hot inside the store, and in about 6 minutes, the "chuka soba" was served. The interior was dark, and the pendant lights were hanging between the seats, so the bowl didn't receive much light, making it hard to see the soup clearly. However, there was a faint good smell of seafood, and the luxurious special toppings covered the noodles. I couldn't tell what the standard toppings were, but it seemed to have 3 types of chashu, 3 sheets of nori, menma, komatsuna, negi, kaiware, and a seasoned egg hidden underneath. When I tasted the soup, it was a light and delicious broth with a strong umami flavor. It seemed to be a blend of chicken-based broth with seafood, but the animal taste didn't stand out, nor did the dried fish flavor, resulting in a well-balanced and rich soup. It wasn't too fishy, so it wasn't clear what was special about it being "intense." The soup had a nice soy sauce kick, and the sweetness from what seemed to be chicken oil added to the overall flavor, making it easy to drink. The homemade flat thin straight noodles were slippery and smooth, with a good chewy texture and a strong wheat flavor. They were cooked just right, retaining a firm texture that didn't get lost in the soup. The three types of chashu were excellent, especially the thick cut charcoal-grilled pork belly, which was tender and flavorful. There was plenty of menma with a mix of thick and regular cuts, each offering a different texture but the same savory flavor. The three sheets of nori were of high quality, and the crunchy komatsuna and diagonally sliced negi and kaiware were attention to detail. The seasoned egg looked ordinary, but was perfectly cooked, with a slightly firm yolk and a good infusion of flavors. This "chuka soba" achieved a high level of balance between the well-made noodles and soup, with no flaws in the supporting elements. It seemed to excel in precision and attention to detail, showcasing the excellence of the ingredients and the meticulous work put into the dish. It left me with the impression of a ramen that suited its location well. Instead of being "not like a non-chemical additive," it leaned toward being "like a non-chemical additive" in its approach, with a high level of completion in maintaining the delicate balance of flavors. The quality of the ingredients and the careful work put into every aspect of the dish made it truly delicious.