I had always been curious about the sign along the national highway, so I finally decided to visit the restaurant. I tried the recommended Hormone Ramen and it was delicious. They even gave me extra noodles for free, along with a complimentary coffee. Although I didn't quite like the texture of the hormone, the soup was really tasty. It seems like it would be perfect for warming up in the winter. Many people were ordering the set menu with half fried rice, so I think I'll try that next time. I wonder if the regular flavor is more popular than the hormone ramen. Just a heads up, smoking is allowed, so be cautious if you dislike cigarette smoke.

The third restaurant in Esashi that I haven't been to yet is Men-dori Ramen. There is another ramen shop nearby that my husband has been to. During lunch break, some working people were eating there, and of course, smoking was allowed. I guess it's because of the location, it's impossible to have a non-smoking policy. At night, they also offer a menu that turns into an izakaya. I think I'll try the salt ramen. The chicken meat was delicious. When I think ramen is really delicious, it's probably a combination of factors, but there are times when I focus on individual flavors like the seasoned egg or the noodles.

I was really surprised when this place changed into a soba restaurant, like why?? But then I checked Tabelog and it seems like it has turned back into a ramen shop (although they still have soba on the menu). So, on our way back from playing in the sea at Esashi, we decided to stop by "Mendori" after a long time. The parking lot is spacious and they have sunken kotatsu seating, which is convenient for larger groups. So we went in and found that they had brought back the ramen menu, with dishes like "Horumon Ramen". I decided to order the "Spicy Miso Horumon Ramen". The ramen came surprisingly quickly (compared to before when it used to take over 40 minutes). The taste was just like I remembered, and I enjoyed the "Horumon Ramen". The portion size increases with a 100 yen upsize, so I recommend it. I'll definitely go for the larger size next time.

There are izakaya menu items such as grilled hokke and yakitori, as well as soba and ramen. When it comes to noodles, our must-try dish is the Hormone Ramen. It has been our number one dish since we opened, and is very popular. Once you try it, you'll be hooked! Our recommended Hormone Ramen for 850 yen is like adding smooth medium curly noodles to the spicy miso hormone hot pot. It comes with chopped green onions, leeks, and tofu. The hormone is simmered to a firm and elastic texture. It's best when it melts in your mouth. Also, please add some chashu to the Hormone Ramen.

Kumaishi~ When you go towards Esashi, there is a shop that I have visited several times. It is located on a side street off the coastal highway, with a large, eye-catching sign typical of rural towns. Every time we go with 3-4 people, we sit in the raised tatami seating area. The shop has about 6 counter seats, several 2-4 person tables, and other raised tatami seating areas, all of which are usually quite busy with customers of various backgrounds. At the entrance, there is a large lucky owl wood carving, and inside the shop, among the menu posters, there are also health food advertisements, creating a somewhat mysterious atmosphere. Surprisingly, they serve delicious ramen, ankake yakisoba, and set meals. - Ankake Yakisoba (Salt): A generous portion. The noodles are slightly thick curly noodles. The ankake sauce contains shrimp, squid, scallops, pork, as well as cabbage, bean sprouts, carrots, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and plenty of vegetables. It's a light dish with a rich flavor that is quite tasty. I often order the salt-flavored ankake yakisoba here, but the spicy miso ramen, where you can adjust the spiciness, was also quite delicious. The noodles are medium thick with a slight curl, and the miso soup is rich and sweet, making it easy to eat. The miso hormone ramen (ramen with sautéed hormone and bean sprouts) is also popular. Miso ramen is tastier than soy sauce ramen. The lady owner is an elegant and somewhat enigmatic madam who takes orders in a relaxed and graceful manner. The lady's husband, who seems like the owner, casually comes to the shop and invites customers to the snack bar across the street for drinks in the evening. The quiet man in the kitchen is said to be a former Japanese cuisine chef, and although the shop is a ramen shop, they are also known for their rice dishes and set meals. This ramen shop is quite mysterious in various ways, but the taste is reasonably good, so I often visit when I am in this area.

Three of us visited the restaurant during lunchtime, but due to bad weather conditions (blizzard, high waves warning), we were the only customers. As we headed towards the raised seating area, the staff (possibly the owner?) immediately turned on the stove for us, which was much appreciated. After carefully considering the various menu options, my mother and I were torn between the recommended stir-fried noodles with a thick sauce and ramen, but I had been set on eating ramen from the beginning, so my mother chose vegetable salt ramen and I chose salt ramen with a side of gyoza, with extra green onions. My brother ordered spicy miso hormone ramen with a side of rice. The salt ramen had the usual toppings like wheat gluten, bamboo shoots, green onions, nori, and chashu, with medium-thick curly noodles. The vegetable salt ramen had the same toppings as salt ramen plus stir-fried carrots, bell peppers, and shimeji mushrooms. The spicy miso hormone ramen had tofu, hormone, and possibly other ingredients that I couldn't identify because I ate them before checking... The salt ramen had a classic appearance and the curly noodles were delicious when mixed with the soup. However, it was a bit too salty for me, so I couldn't finish the soup... The gyoza came in a set of five, they were small but flavorful, especially when dipped in vinegar (the sesame sauce provided was too sweet for my taste). My mother mentioned that the vegetables were a bit hard, but she still enjoyed the dish. My brother finished his meal in no time, without any complaints. Overall, the taste, portion size, and price were all excellent. The interior of the restaurant was larger than I had imagined, with about five counter seats, two tables, and three raised seating areas... (I can't remember the exact details, so please forgive me). There was a figurine of an elephant near the TV, with the words "how about elephants"... Well, I'll definitely come back next time to try the stir-fried noodles with a thick sauce!