hover in the sky
I visited "Ore no Tonkotsu Minato-ten," a place I’ve been to a few times before. I arrived a few minutes before opening, and as I sat on the bench outside, a staff member opened the door and greeted me cheerfully, saying, "Thank you for waiting. Please come in!" It made for a pleasant entry. Once inside, I stood in front of the ticket vending machine and began to decide what to order. Again, I received a polite invitation from a staff member who said, “If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.” I assumed this person is usually in charge of cooking.
At the vending machine, I purchased tickets for the Foam Taiwanese Tonkotsu Ramen, two pieces of fried chicken, draft beer, and an extra noodle order. After sitting down, I handed the tickets for everything except the extra noodles to a staff member in the dining area (I would give the ticket for the extra noodles when I ordered them). During this time, the staff member asked when I would like my beer served, and I requested it to be served alongside the ramen.
Before long, the cooking staff brought out the ramen, while at the same time, the dining staff delivered the fried chicken and draft beer. Everything arrived perfectly timed. I was impressed; it’s clear that they must practice coordinating the timing of serving food and drinks to customers.
The fried chicken had a light, crispy coating and was juicy on the inside, deliciously seasoned with a sweet and spicy sauce already applied. It’s advisable to taste it before using the mayonnaise served on the side. In any case, I washed it down with my cold draft beer.
Now, regarding the Foam Tonkotsu Ramen, they foam the broth individually using a blender, emulsifying it. The creamy, mild, foamy soup had no hint of the typical pork bone smell and had a smooth mouthfeel. Additionally, this method enhances the depth of flavor in the soup, making it rich and tasty.
This time, I ordered the Foam Taiwanese Tonkotsu Ramen, which has deliciously spicy minced meat added. Despite being labeled "spicy," it doesn’t have a strong heat and feels more like a gentle broth. Because of this, the delicate foamy tonkotsu soup is not overwhelmed when mixed, allowing me to truly enjoy the fragrant taste and slurping sensation of the Hakata-style thin noodles. It was incredibly delicious.
Moreover, changing the flavors using the self-serve corner with toppings like kimchi, pickled greens, garlic, and spicy bean sprouts was also a lot of fun. Thank you for the wonderful meal!