いけずな京男
It's been a while since I visited the Minami Inter store. Usually, I go to the store at the Kyo-Miyama Aeon shopping mall for shopping or after watching a movie, and when I go to Tango or San'in area, I stop by the store in Kameoka on Route 9, so it's been a while. It was past 10 pm and I was in the mood for that particular taste that I just had to have, so the nearest place where I could get it quickly was here. The parking lot was almost full, but it's not too big, maybe around 15 regular cars and 5 compact cars. It was a Saturday night, right off the highway exit, so there was a constant flow of people coming in and out. The store looked sparkling new, as if it had just reopened during the pandemic. The counter for solo diners that used to be near the kitchen was now replaced by a huge double-sided long counter right in the center of the store, stealing the spotlight. However, I had noticed a similar solo dining counter at the newly renovated Yokozuna main store a month ago, so maybe this is a trend due to the high number of solo travelers. I sat down and placed my order right away. I ordered the standard Takabashi ramen with a side of fried rice. The noodles were average, with plenty of vegetables, and the taste was just right. While waiting, I noticed a call button on the table in front of me. It's quite convenient for those who are shy or have a soft voice. Soon enough, my order arrived. I lightly sprinkled some pepper, pushed the vegetables into the soup to let them soak in the flavor, and took a sip. The soy sauce-based soup had a rich flavor, which might seem light to some, but the salty, sweet, and savory taste with a smooth texture was delightful. The crunchy bean sprouts and tender, well-seasoned chashu pork that came up from the bottom were delicious. I alternated between taking a bite and sipping the soup. The fried rice, with the same seasoning, was light in flavor. Many places have heavily seasoned fried rice, but since the ramen had the soy sauce flavor, I enjoyed mixing the pickled ginger with the ramen soup and the fried rice together. The fried rice was not sticky and had a nice, fluffy texture. With plenty of vegetables and a decent portion of fried rice, I was quite full. And all this for 990 yen is a great deal. By the way, it's relatively empty at night, so when leaving, there are cars making right turns, but it's actually prohibited to turn right in this area. If you're heading south, you need to make a left turn first onto Route 1. When you see Yoshinoya on the left, make a left turn and then an immediate right turn. In other words, head north parallel to Route 1. If you see Lawson on the right, pass it and then make a left turn just ahead at the entrance to Fukuyama Transport. Then you'll see a traffic light in front of you, and further back is Lawson on Route 1. Make a right turn there, and you'll be heading south on Route 1. Especially during the day, it's safe and easy to turn at the traffic light. Give it a try.