Thursday, October 6, 2016

鱗 (Uroko in Osaka)

らーめん鱗 西中島店

DSCF1776.jpg

Another shop in the Top 50, another shop I had to hit before the year runs out.

DSCF1774.jpg

One thing I like about this list is the variety. Online user rankings tend to favor heavy soups, and they tend to favor Tokyo over anywhere else. This list is Tokyo-heavy, for sure, but they really represent the rest of the country well.

DSCF1773.jpg

Uroko is all about shio. This shop is relatively new, and an offshoot of あす流 (Asuryu), another popular shop in Osaka. And while most shio is considered light and delicate, Uroko goes full-Osaka on this one.

DSCF1777.jpg

Sure, the soup is light. It's a clear chicken and dried fish deal, much like the shio found elsewhere in Japan. What sets it apart is what you see on top. A heavy layer of seabura pork back fat and a sprinkling of dried bonito flakes. Two of my favorite things. You get your umami, and you get your thick, fatty mouthfeel.

DSCF1779.jpg

I love it, and I love how Osaka is all over the place on the ramen map. Light shio made unlight by the toppings is genius.

DSCF1780.jpg

The menu has a few more items. The mazesoba, a soupless bowl, was also legit.

DSCF1781.jpg

Keep it up, Osaka!

DSCF1782.jpg

Map of 4 Chome-5-22 Nishinakajima, Yodogawa-ku, Ōsaka-shi, Ōsaka-fu 532-0011

大阪府大阪市淀川区西中島4-5-22
Osaka, Osaka-shi, Yodogawa-ku, Nishinakajima 4-5-22
Closest station: Nishinakajimaminamigata

Open 11:00-14:30, 18:00-22:00
Closed Sundays and holidays