Thursday, May 25, 2017

味楽 (Miraku at the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum)

利尻らーめん 味楽 新横浜ラーメン博物館店

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I'm often invited to the press opening events at the Shin Yokohama Raumen Museum. The visiting shops are all interesting, but this one in particular had me excited.

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Years ago, I visited Rishiri Island, just about the farthest north you can go in Japan. While there, I tried a ramen shop, was massively disappointed, and figured that the island's famous konbu seaweed had no effect on the local eats. I few weeks later, the director of the museum told me about a ramen shop on the other side of the island, a shop that was rich and full of local umami. I completely missed out, and Rishiri isn't the kind of place you visit often.

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Years later, and they (the good shop) are popping up shop in Yokohama. Now's my chance!

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You know your island is obscure when your business card has to explain where it is.

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Well, most foodies know about Rishiri, and chefs from around the world love this konbu in particular.

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Quite an impact in this bowl. A bowl of 焼き醤油らーめん - fried soy sauce ramen.

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While most ramen simply ladles in a spoonfull of soy sauce tare seasoning, Miraku fries it up in a wok. This gives it a stronger, almost burnt flavor. Add this initial impact to the mellow umami from the Rishi seaweed and you've got a solid bowl.

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After meeting the super nice elderly shop staff, I might just have to make a trip back north. One of these days.

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Very easy to crush this one.

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They will be at the museum for the near future, maybe a year and a half or so.

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Museum site here.

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Map of 2 Chome-14-21 Shinyokohama, Kōhoku-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 222-0033

神奈川県横浜市港北区新横浜2-14-21 新横浜ラーメン博物館店
Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Minatokita-ku, Shinyokohama 2-14-21
Closest station: Shin-Yokohama

Open 11:00-23:00
Weekends 10:30-23:00