蒙古タンメン中本
I visited the main branch of Men'uo, a red snapper ramen restaurant in Kinshicho, at 19:15 on Sunday, September 24, 2023. As of today, it has a rating of 3.68 on Tabelog's TOP500 list for 2019. There were 4 staff members, and the background music was traditional Japanese shamisen music. The restaurant has 16 counter seats, and the smell of broth or fish can be sensed even outside the store, unlike the typical ramen shop smell. Upon entering, I found a variety of menu options at the ticket machine. Without prior research, I hesitated a bit but ended up ordering the red snapper ramen for 980 yen. It was convenient to be able to use my Suica card for payment. Surprisingly, the ramen arrived promptly at 19:17, even though I wasn't waiting in line. The presentation was simple. The soup was rich in red snapper flavor, with a persistent aroma, possibly from sesame oil. While the soup was salty, it also had a rich red snapper taste. There were minced fish pieces hidden between the slices of chashu, which enhanced the red snapper flavor as they melted. The thinly sliced chashu appeared to be slightly seared using a burner, but the visual effect was subtle. The noodles were made of whole wheat flour, thin and straight, providing a satisfying chewiness. They absorbed the soup well due to the oil content, ensuring a delicious experience until the last bite. The strong red snapper broth was effectively captured by the whole wheat noodles. Towards the end, I started to feel a bit of monotony, but the addition of komatsuna (Japanese mustard spinach) and yuzu citrus added a refreshing touch, resulting in a well-balanced bowl overall. The restaurant had a lingering fishy smell, which might affect the taste preference of the ramen. Overall, it was a bowl of ramen that could be divisive in terms of taste. In a baseball game status analogy, it could be considered as having Meat D and Fish A, indicating a strong preference for red snapper. However, it lacked Animal Power C, suggesting a mild punch. The Salt level was moderate, and the Running Power C was decent, although the restaurant required a short walk from the convenient Kinshicho station. The staff seemed more like part-time workers than full-fledged apprentices, with a moderate level of attention to detail. The menu was extensive, and the ramen seemed like it could have been prepared by part-time staff, raising questions about the consistency of taste. Nevertheless, it was delicious. Thank you for the meal.