大哉心乎
Located a little north of Shijo Kawaramachi, towards Shin Kyogoku Street, there is a curry-focused tsukemen and ramen shop that has expanded from Tokyo. With a renowned curry tantanmen shop, Torazou, on Tomikoji Street in the vicinity, I decided to have lunch there on a Saturday afternoon for comparison. The interior of the shop consists of counter seats surrounding the kitchen, and when I arrived just after the opening at 11:30 am, I was the first customer, followed by two others. The menu offered tsukemen, ramen, and abura soba, but I opted for the Curry Tsukemen priced at 800 yen (tax included). The dipping sauce was based on a broth made from beef cheek meat and seafood, served bubbling hot in an iron pot. This ensured that there were no concerns about it getting cold. The slightly yellowish milky broth was on the lighter side, with not much of a curry flavor. Adding the homemade chili oil available on the table further diminished any curry-like taste. The spiciness, however, was distinct. The noodles were medium-thick, flat noodles sourced from a famous noodle-making company called Kaikaro in Asakusa. They had a smooth and slippery texture, which was quite memorable. The toppings included thick slices of chashu with a nicely seared surface, a soft-boiled egg with a light saltiness, spinach, and nori. The chashu combined the tenderness of lean meat with the melt-in-your-mouth fattiness, making it delicious. The slightly cold temperature of the egg was a minor drawback. The meal was completed with a serving of white rice, which could be dipped into the broth to enjoy it like curry rice. While it was tasty, it did not quite deliver the curry risotto-like flavor. Overall, the tsukemen failed to make a strong impression. When compared to Torazou Tomikoji, Torazou clearly excelled in delivering the curry essence. Additionally, paper aprons would be a welcome addition for a curry tsukemen experience. Thank you for the meal.