Kamukura

Two and a half years. Somehow it's taken me this long to visit Osaka's famous Japan-wide chain Kamukura. Kamukura is a classic shime-ramen, the kind of ramen you've had dinner, several beers, but for some reason you're a bit hungry on your way home at 3AM. I personally have a tough time downing a bowl after lots of food and drink, but one of my New Year's resolutions was to stop in some of the must-visit shops I hadn't yet, so planning for the night I ate a light dinner, had some craft beer, and stumbled to Dotonbori to try the "Oishii Ramen".

二年半。それぐらい大阪に住んでいるのに有名な神座に行ったことはありませんでした。神座はしめラーメンの店だと思うのでしらふに行ったらあかんと思います。私は普通いっぱい食べて飲んでからそんなにお腹がすいていませんけど、新年の抱負のために行きたかったです。量が少ない晩ご飯を食べて、地ビールをいろいろ飲んで、酔ったまま道頓堀に行って「おいしいラーメン」を頼みました。

The Bowl
Kamukura's ramen is shoyu ramen, but it doesn't taste like what you'd normally think of as shoyu ramen. In Japan during the winter, people often gather and eat hot pot. They use a base, often soy sauce, and put vegetables, meat, and boiling water in. Towards the end, noodles are added to soak up the last of the oily broth. That is what Kamukura tastes like. Not high class ramen by any means, but it has a certain refreshing and recognizable flavor. Just like a lot of hot pot, the chashu was mediocre, and the whole thing was filled with cabbage.

神座のラーメンは醤油なんですけど普通の中華そばとぜんぜん違います。冬の鍋にはみんなよく麺を入れるんですね。そんな油っぽい鍋のスープの最後の分プラス麺という味がしました。「めっちゃうまい」と言えませんけど人によって気に入る味かなと思います。しかも鍋みたいにチャーシューはまあまあでキャベツがいっぱい入っていました。

Would I Go Again?
Not on my own; maybe with a drunk friend.

一人でまた行きませんけど、ひょっとしたら酔っ払い友達と一緒に行きます。

Should You Go?
I wouldn't recommend this to people who are looking for the best, but I would say you should go if you want something very Osaka.

最高のラーメンを探している人にお勧めできませんけど、大阪の文化をみたい人にはいいかもしれません。

Information
神座