Ramen Adventures

Monday, May 28, 2018

丸三 (Marusan in Wakayama)

中華そば丸三

I asked my Wakayama Ramen Taxi driver to take me to his favorite shop. Marusan is a local spot a short drive out of town. Typical tonkotsu shoyu style, but in this case a little bit lighter than other shops.

Many shops in Wakayama have a 丸, maru, in the name. One of the original Wakayama ramen shops was called Marutaka, and shops since then have paid homage. The original dates back to the 1940s.

I enjoyed this shop, but unless you drive or take the Ramen Taxi, it is a trek.

This was part of a trip I took to Wakayama to check out the ramen taxi.

The entire writeup is here:

http://www.ramenadventures.com/2017/12/wakayama-ramen-adventure.html

Huge thanks to My Secret Wakayama for the opportunity.

https://www.mysecretwakayama.com/

和歌山県和歌山市塩屋6-2-88
Wakayama-ken, Wakayama-sho, Shioya 6-2-88
30 minute walk from Kimidera Station

Open 11:00-21:00
Closed Sundays

Thursday, May 17, 2018

山為食堂 (Yamatame Shokudo in Wakayama)

山為食堂

Wakayama is known for this style. Heavy pork tonkotsu soup with equally heavy, often local, shoyu seasoning. This particular shop, Yamatame Shokudo, is picture perfect, and a great way to start a local ramen tour. This shop has been open since 1953.

The most famous shop in Wakayama is Ideshoten, a must-hit for anyone on a ramen mission in the area. Keep in mind, though, that there are dozens of other quality shops around.

If you need a guide (and you probably do), check out the Wakayama Ramen Taxi. They will have you sorted in no time!

和歌山県和歌山市福町12
Wakayama-ken, Wakayama-shi, Fukumachi 12
10 minute walk from Wakayama-shi Station

Open 11:00-17:00
Closed Sundays

Monday, May 14, 2018

ねいろ屋 (Neiroya in Ogikubo)

ねいろ屋

I'd visited Neiroya in Ogikubo years ago, and felt it was time for a return. They had closed, but opened just across the small walking street they have always been on.

And, yes, they still serve shaved ice.

Always start with ramen. Actually, I have heard that かき氷オタク, shaved ice nerds, will eat a shaved ice, then ramen, then another shaved ice. Yes, shaved ice has some fans who search out good shops all over the country.

I went with the lemon ramen, a limited item, this time. Neiroya is constantly making limited bowls with a theme of local products. Lemons only really grow in one part of Japan, The Seto Inland Sea, and the limited space means that most of them are from small, organic farmers. Other citrus fruits thrive in Japan, but not lemons.

The regular bowls are shoyu using products from the Seto Sea, and a shio using free range chicken and pork.

The shaved ice menu is always seasonal, and this time grapes were in season. I had to look up these particular fruits, as I'd never heard of ピオーネ or スチューべン before.

Pione are a kind of grape used for rose wine, and Steuben are a dark variety that ripen shortly after Concord grapes.