那の福 (Nanofuku at a Highway Parking Area in Saitama)

那の福



Would you ever eat ramen at the Japanese equivalent of a highway truck stop?



I would!



Actually, highway rest stops, called parking areas or service areas, are a sight to behold. There is a toll system across this country on the expressways, and getting off the road is not an option. So for gas and food they have these massive stops every 30 or 40 km. Japanese style fast food prevails, with tempura, rice bowls, and of course ramen being prevalent. Usually it's just a generic soy sauce ramen, but at 上里 rest stop on the Kan-Etsu Expressway there was a cool looking Hakata style shop.



This shop is an extension of a shop in Tenjin, Kyushu. You're a long way from home buddy!



My lens was fogging up, it was rainy and humid out this day. Anyways, very standard stuff. I can't really recommend it, but it's not like you're going to go there anyways (about 2000 yen and an hour each way from Tokyo to this area on the expressway).



But the fun came with a separate bowl of rice, nori seaweed, and spicy cod roe. Finish the noodles, and dump that into your soup!



Mmmmm, pinky goodness. As always, dumping a bowl of rice into your ramen soup turns one meal into two.

In May I truly think it best
To be a robin lightly dressed
Concocting soup inside my nest
Mix it once, mix it twice
Mix that ramen soup with rice

Shop info here