麺’s倶楽部
I finally visited "Ramen Kureha," a renowned pork bone ramen shop in the Tokyo area that I had not been to before. Located in Tanashi, this shop boasts a rich pork bone ramen with an original soup base inspired by the local specialty ramen from Tamana City in Kumamoto Prefecture. The shop originally hails from Ramen Kiraboshi in Musashisakai, opened on April 3, 2010. It is a 10-minute walk from Tanashi Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line, south exit, along Musashisakai Street. It's just before 1 p.m. as I arrive. I quickly purchase a ticket from the machine for ramen, tsukemen, abura soba, chicken white broth ramen, seafood ramen, Kumamoto ramen, and Taiwanese ramen, as well as various toppings, sets, rice dishes, alcoholic beverages, appetizers, and gyoza. I opt for the Ajitama Ramen for 900 yen (tax included). The small shop has 8 seats, and half of them are already occupied. I take a seat at the counter in the back. On the table, there are standard seasonings like vinegar and pepper, as well as freshly ground sesame seeds and garlic chips that you can add yourself. It's nice to have the option to add your own garlic. In less than 3 minutes, my ramen is served in a black bowl with a dark, thick soup that doesn't foam. The bowl contains 3 slices of chashu, seasoned egg, green onions, seaweed, and garlic chips. The soup is thick and doesn't let the ingredients sink. It has a velvety smooth taste with no noticeable oiliness, just the concentrated umami of pork bones, almost like a potage soup. The wild pork bone flavor, with a hint of gaminess, increases my appetite. The soup is not heavy or overwhelming, but rather a well-cooked essence of thick pork bones. The homemade thin noodles have a firm texture that pairs well with the soup. The chashu is a crispy pork belly roll with a sweet fattiness and savory lean meat. The double garlic flavor from the garlic chips and freshly crushed garlic enhances the noodles. Despite planning to stop after this bowl, I couldn't resist ordering a refill of noodles for 100 yen. The freshly boiled noodles have a wheaty aroma, and after mixing them in the soup, I enjoy them with the remaining seasoned egg. The semi-soft yolk adds a sweet richness.