I revisited Tango with the unique soy sauce flavor of the "Kujikara Ramen" I had in Amanohashidate in the past... With that thought in mind, I headed to Tango! As I leisurely drove along the quiet national road surrounded by farmland and ancient tombs, I spotted a sign for a small commercial facility. I parked my car in the spacious parking lot for about 20 cars and was drawn towards "Menya Chakuriki" at the back. Although it was a bit late, I was relieved to see the open sign. I entered the shop right away. The sliding door was double-layered, with Downtown-style autographs and free Umaibo snacks between the two doors. Upon opening the second door, I entered the spacious dining area. So this is what it means to use Umaibo snacks for decoration. I was guided to a table and looked at the menu. There is quite a wide selection of items, but is tsukemen the main menu item? On the back of the menu, I found the "Tango Black" that I was looking for today, so I ordered the "Special" version. The interior of the shop caters to a wide range of customers, from individuals to families. It's a popular shop where each person's order is unique. After a few minutes of waiting, the "Special Tango Black" arrived. My first impression was... "It's black!" That's the best way to describe it. Looking at the soup from a horizontal angle, there was an oily film on the surface. It must be piping hot soup. The huge chashu for the "Special" order was served on a separate plate. It's a great deal to have this chashu and flavored egg for an additional 200 yen! First, I took a sip of the jet-black soup... "Wow!" It has a strong and unique flavor with a powerful acidity that is exactly like the one I tasted at "Kujikara" before. It's definitely addictively delicious! The soup is topped with plenty of green onions and chopped scallions, adding a crunchy texture that stands out. The noodles are medium-thick straight type. The chewy texture and the harmonious soy sauce flavor that has soaked into them are incredibly delicious! The wide, flat Menma bamboo shoots have a crunchy texture and a subtle sweetness that complements the soy sauce soup well. The default chashu is a super-sized piece that is impossible to lift. The concentrated meaty flavor is excellent! The fact that the aftertaste of the soup is not overpowered by saltiness or acidity is thanks to the gentle sweetness of the plenty of lard. After confirming the great compatibility between the soup and the meat, I also submerged the special chashu in the soup. When soaked in the rich soy sauce flavor, the sweetness of the flavored egg becomes even more pronounced. The rich and creamy yolk's intense umami flavor is also excellent. Wrapping the noodles in seaweed and eating them enhances the strong soy sauce soup with the aroma of the sea. Salvaging the chashu that fell into the dark side and enjoying it, it had already fallen apart in a short time (laughs). A luxurious way to wrap the tender chashu in the noodles. A grand carnival is taking place in your mouth! It's amazing how the taste and flavor can change so much with just soy sauce. The jet-black soup is actually not that salty. I highly recommend trying it at least once. ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ I am exploring noodles in Kansai. "But still, I love noodles."

#Menya Chakuriki#Tango Black During my trip to the Tango region, I decided to have lunch here and try their ramen. We arrived at 11 am and were seated right away, but there was already a waiting line forming. Perhaps this place is popular among locals? The taste was average. It was my first time trying Tango Black ramen, and it was lighter than I expected...

I had the limited-time spicy miso tsukemen that appears irregularly. It came with a separate serving of chili oil, so I enjoyed changing the flavor of the not-so-spicy miso tsukemen. It was a hot day, so I wiped away the sweat on my forehead as I ate. Thank you for the meal~

This is a review of Menya Chakuriki. I couldn't decide between Tango Black and Otoko Black, but since it's hot outside, I ended up ordering Tango Black without hesitation. The interior of the restaurant is cool despite the heat outside. It seems like the temperature inside affects the frequency of ordering tsukemen. I quickly eat the nori on the ramen as I don't like it getting soggy. Then I move on to the soup, chashu, and noodles. The soup was not really to my liking, but the chashu and noodles were delicious. I'm curious about trying the tsukemen and ramen from the menu next time.

First of all, please note that on Wednesdays and Fridays at Chakuriki store, they serve the Kuji-kara Ramen menu, so be aware of that. The Kuji-kara Ramen is from the Tenbodachi location, which is closing in March 2023 due to staffing issues, but it is being offered at this store on specific days. I was hesitant to log it on Chakuriki, but I'll make a note of it here. I arrived around 6:30 PM on a Friday. The restaurant was not full, and I was able to be seated. I ordered the Ajitama Kuji-kara Ramen for 850 yen. It arrived in about 5 minutes. It has a Chakuriki-like black appearance, but the soup seems to be a bit uncertain? It was mentioned that it has a unique taste due to using 9 local seasonings, giving it a flavor reminiscent of Tenbodachi wine and local sake, almost like they are fighting in the soup. Without these two elements, it might just become ordinary (laughs). It's an interesting taste that may divide opinions, so be cautious on Wednesdays and Fridays. Even first-time visitors seemed disappointed by the limited menu. I was able to finish the soup, but it definitely has a distinct taste. They only accept cash payments, no credit cards. I reported this on Tabelog, but once there is a posting section, I will copy it there. As it is, it's hard to determine a Chakuriki score.

I have tried Toyama Black before, but this was my first time trying Tango Black. Just like Toyama Black, it wasn't as spicy or heavy as it looks, and you can really taste the seafood broth and the flavor of the green onions in the bowl. There's a hidden treasure of thickly sliced chashu at the bottom of the bowl!

I came to try the local Tango black ramen made with local Tango soy sauce. The taste was as dark as its color, with a strong soy sauce flavor! The addition of pepper made the salty taste even more prominent. The thick chashu pork also had a strong salty flavor, so the overall impression was quite salty throughout. Perhaps due to the lack of other dining options nearby, this place seems to be quite popular, as it was consistently full. However, as a non-local, I may not fully appreciate the deliciousness of this ramen.

After a long time, I visited the restaurant on a Sunday afternoon and had to wait for 10 people (two groups of 5 people each). We were seated 10 minutes later and ordered the special dipping noodles for 1,050 yen plus half rice for 100 yen, totaling 1,150 yen. I started to realize that dipping noodles have become popular in the world. This restaurant was where I had my first experience with dipping noodles. Today, the owner was in the kitchen. In recent years, he has entrusted the running of the restaurant to his apprentices and has been operating another shop near Hashitate Station, so it was a pleasant surprise to see him. After training in Chiba, he returned to his hometown with the passion to open a dipping noodle shop here. The noodles were thick and chewy with a smooth texture, made by Sanpoya Noodle Company. The dipping sauce was based on pork bone and seafood, with a strong acidity that was different from the usual. It focused more on pork bone than seafood, which was delicious. The toppings included pork belly chashu, thick bamboo shoots, naruto, all of which were excellent. Especially the bamboo shoots were delicious. Overall, it was a high-quality bowl of noodles. The chashu was slightly tough, and I would prefer the acidity of the dipping sauce to be a bit weaker. While the prices of ramen in general have increased to around 1,000 yen per bowl, this restaurant has kept their prices the same at 750 yen for ramen and 800 yen for dipping noodles. I thought it was commendable and showed their dedication and spirit. This place is my go-to and where it all began. If you have the chance, please visit!

I wanted to try the popular black ramen but unfortunately they couldn't make it, so I ordered the special ramen instead. It was around 2pm when I went, maybe a bit late. It was a tonkotsu ramen with finely chopped onions added, and it was delicious. Next time, I'll try the Tango Black. Yummy.

This ramen has a unique fish-based soup with soft noodles, which is very gentle and delicious. You can really feel the focus and direction of the Japan Sea side. It's great that the order comes out quickly. There was a sign saying "Please try the ramen from Amanohashidate" which seems to be a sister restaurant, also a famous place. I would love to visit if I have the chance. Thank you for the meal.

As I'm getting older, a full-size ramen and chashu bowl are becoming too much for me, so I opted for a mini-sized ramen instead. While the mini ramen doesn't offer a variety of flavors to choose from, selecting between "light" and "salt" was sufficient. It was just the right portion for a hungry old man like me. Thank you for the meal~♪

I chose this sister restaurant because on Tabelog it said that Kujikara Ramen's evening hours were from 6:00 pm, but it turns out they actually start at 5:00 pm. I decided to try the famous Tango Black ramen to make up for it. The soup was a rich soy sauce base with crunchy leeks and minced pork floating on top. The noodles were thin and flat, which I prefer over the thick noodles in the other black ramen option. The chashu pork was tender with a good balance of fatty and lean meat. The staff seemed very busy with only one cook and one server, but they managed to keep up. With a wide variety of menu options, I would love to come back and try everything if I lived nearby. My father had the ramen and my mother had the mini ramen, both were light and delicious.

I stopped by for lunch at a ramen and tsukemen restaurant. The parking lot is right in front of the shop. This time, I tried the special tsukemen, which had a strong sour taste in the dipping sauce. The noodles were chewy and satisfying, very delicious. Since it was the special, it came with plenty of toppings which enhanced the flavor. I mixed the soup with rice and enjoyed it until the end, but the sour taste lingered in my mouth. The person making the food seemed a bit careless, and the way they handled the bowl was rough, which bothered me a bit.

I arrived around 11:20 am on Saturday, August 27, 2022, and there was one person waiting outside, so I lined up. After about 10 minutes, I entered the restaurant and was seated at a vacant counter. I chose the Tango Black ramen and it arrived in just a few minutes. The soup, which had a soy sauce base with a hint of acidity, was delicious! I can see why there's a line. The texture of the noodles was also good. The chashu pork was flavorful and tender, making it a tasty bowl of ramen. Indeed, this is one of the top ramen shops in northern Kyoto.

Second visit. Last time I had ramen, so this time I tried the tsukemen! Conclusion, I recommend the tsukemen!! The noodles were chewy and had a firm texture even when served cold! The yellow noodles were smooth and had a good throat feel. The rich, thick dipping sauce was flavorful. There wasn't much green onion, but the finely chopped onions added sweetness and richness, which paired well with the rich seafood flavor. The naruto (fish cake) in the soup was also a nice touch. The seasoned egg had a subtle flavor on its own, which was delicious, but when dipped into the sauce, it became even tastier. It was so delicious that I made sure to scoop up all the ingredients in the dipping sauce with a spoon and finished it all. The tsukemen was so tasty! Thank you for the meal!

On this day, I had a business trip to Tango Peninsula in northern Kyoto. It took about 2 hours by car from Kyoto Station, which is quite far. Before the highway was built, it used to take 3-4 hours to get there. I visited Ine Town and Yosano Town for lunch. I was hoping to have some seafood, but couldn't find a good restaurant, so I ended up having ramen, a popular Japanese dish, at Chakuriki Ramen. The restaurant had a high rating of 3.64 even though Tango Peninsula is not a heavily visited area. I arrived at around 12:45 PM and there were about 3 groups of customers already there. I ordered the unique menu item called "Black of the Man" among other options like light salt, salt, and tsukemen. First, I tried the soup. It wasn't as salty as it looked, but it was still flavorful. The soup had a hint of pepper and went well with bean sprouts. It also had a distinct acidity that became addictive as I ate. It seemed to have onions in it, which paired nicely with the thick noodles. The chashu pork was cut into chunks and there were about 3-4 pieces in the bowl. I was a bit concerned about the salt content as I finished the soup. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

The regular menu this time was better. At Menya Chakuriki (Kyoto/Yosano), I had the Tango Black ramen with medium noodles (1.5 servings) + extra char siu + special toppings + half rice. Compared to the ramen I got from the lottery last time at Ramen (Amanohashidate), they looked similar. The special toppings (all-in) included seasoned egg, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and char siu. There were empty seats around 11:55 am (about 90% full), and there were a few people waiting when I left.

"I accidentally dropped one dumpling while transferring them to a plate. I apologize. The remaining dumplings are on the house, please enjoy them." With this unexpected act of kindness, the wife left five dumplings behind. It was a wonderful gesture that showed their dedication to customer service. This restaurant is a hidden gem in the northern part of Kyoto, called "Menya Chakuriki". One of their apprentices opened a popular ramen shop in Hirakata, Osaka called "Ramen Aoyama". Another apprentice from Aoyama opened "Tori Soba Fujita" in Kyotango. It is truly a chain of skilled restaurants. When I passed by 30 minutes before opening, there was no one in sight, but when I returned from Miyazu, there was a line out the door! I was seated within 5 minutes. Many people were enjoying the tsukemen, but I decided to try the "Kyotango Black" for ¥830. I also ordered the dumplings, which looked delicious. The atmosphere in the restaurant was filled with happiness as everyone enjoyed their meals. The husband and wife duo running the place were calm and efficient. The "Kyotango Black" arrived, and the soup was as dark as expected. It was not too salty or spicy, but had a rich soy sauce flavor with a hint of sweetness from the minced onions. The chashu was impressively thick and delicious. The medium-thick noodles were cooked al dente, and paired perfectly with the soup and toppings. I was so engrossed in the ramen that I wished I had some rice to eat with the seaweed. The complimentary dumplings were also tasty. Overall, the "Kyotango Black" ramen deserves a rating of 3.8. It may not be mind-blowingly delicious, but it is definitely addictive."

We went on a one-night trip to Kyotango. It was a girls' trip with my mother and daughter. We stopped at a restaurant for lunch on the way. Since we had a fancy dinner at the inn later, we decided to have ramen for a light meal. It was raining and very cold that day, so we waited in line for about 20 minutes. My mother and daughter had tsukemen, while I had Tanba Black ramen with an egg. The soy sauce flavor was strong but the aftertaste was refreshing. The soup was so good that I could keep drinking it. I liked the thick slices of chashu. The tsukemen was delicious too, but personally, I preferred the ramen. There were also other types of light ramen that looked tasty. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived at the restaurant 10 minutes before opening, and it was still empty like a ghost town. I decided to wait in my car until opening time. Once the doors opened, I took a seat at the empty counter and ordered the "Special Ramen" (930 yen). The bowl was topped with a large sheet of seaweed, chashu pork, seasoned egg, fish cake, and green onions. The soup had a rich seafood aroma and umami flavor, followed by a creamy pork bone broth richness. The soy sauce had a tangy acidity that added a nice kick. The medium-thick noodles had a chewy texture and a rich wheat flavor that paired well with the soup. The rolled chashu pork was melt-in-your-mouth tender with a sweet fattiness, and the seasoned egg had a creamy yolk that added a rich flavor. The chashu pork, bamboo shoots, and seasoned egg were all seasoned slightly lighter than the soup, creating a perfect balance of flavors. Overall, the fish and pork bone broth ramen was a delicious and satisfying dish with a Japanese twist, allowing you to enjoy the richness of the pork bone and seafood flavors.

Today, I went to the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture and stopped by a popular ramen shop in Yosano Town. Ramenya Chakuriki is located about a 30-minute walk from Yosano Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway, along National Route 176. It's a spacious restaurant with a nice atmosphere and plays music by the rock band "BOOWY." I asked the staff for their recommended menu, and they suggested the rich tonkotsu and seafood tsukemen, which has been a popular menu since the establishment. The black ramen made with Tango soy sauce is also a popular choice. Since it was a cold day, I decided to order a ramen that would warm me up. I ordered the Tango Black Ramen. The soup was a black soy sauce-based broth with chashu, green onions, onions, menma, and seaweed. The broth had a fragrant soy sauce flavor that wasn't too heavy, with a pleasant aftertaste. The thin and chewy noodles paired well with the soup. The chashu was large and satisfying, and when soaked in the soup, it was delicious. Overall, the ingredients like menma and onions were plentiful, and the combination of green onions and the rich soy sauce broth was excellent. The flavors were well-balanced, centered around Tango soy sauce. It was worth the trip to Yosano Town. It was delicious!