Wednesday, June 26, 2019

Tantanmen × Yume azito

In Kyoto without a ton of time, I looked for a place where I could get good bowl on my way to where I was going. I found Tantanmen x Yume azito, a basement shop hidden away not far from Shijo Station. I ordered the tantanmen, but not just any tantanmen: the white sesame soymilk tantanmen.

京都にいましたけどそんなに時間がなかったので近くにある麺屋さんを検索しました。「担担麺×夢azito」という四条ら辺の隠れ家の店が見つかりました。普通の担々麵じゃなくて、白ごま豆乳担々麵をオーダーしました。

The Bowl
This was one thick bowl. The soymilk gave the broth a creamy feel, and it was almost like eating noodles soaked in a sesame paste gravy. The noodles themselves were in thin bunches that brought the milkiness of the broth with them. The soup was covered by ra-yu, too, which allowed it to become thinner and more drinkable as it went on, even if by the end it was mostly salt.

これは濃かったですね。豆乳でクリーミーでまろやかになりました。ゴマダレのグレービーに浸している麺を食べていた感じがしました。麺は細めで、スープのミルキーさをよく取れました。ラー油も乗っていて、溶けたらスープがもっとサラッとして飲みやすくなりましたけど、最後ちょっと塩辛かったです。

Would I Go Again?
I enjoyed the wacky bowl but I don't make it to Kyoto enough to merit another visit, even if the place hadn't closed for good.

変わっているラーメンがおいしかったですけど、店自体がつぶれています。

Should You Go?
If it were still open I would recommend it for anyone who likes thick ramen with a bit of spice.

もし閉店していなければ、ピリ辛のこってり系が好きな人にお勧めします。

Information
担担麺×夢azito

Tuesday, June 4, 2019

Tori Shio Ramen Hippo

A ramen shop called Hippo has appeared in a few areas of Osaka. With a name like "hippo", you might think it's some kind of super-thick ramen, but what Hippo serves is quite the opposite: light shio. I went with the chicken shio ramen.

「Hippo」という店が大阪でいろいろな場所で出てきたりしています。「Hippo」という動物が大きいのでなんかのどろどろ系のラーメンかと思うかもしれませんけど、実はあっさり系塩です。私は鶏塩ラーメンにしました。

The Bowl
The broth was clear yellow, simple with an almost citrus-like tanginess. The noodles came in thin white strands: a style that fit the soup well. Instead of chashu, there were meaty pieces of chicken. They were tasty, and kept the light theme of the bowl.

スープは半透明で黄色で、柑橘的な味がしました。麺が白い細麺でした。あっさりとしたスープにちょうどよかったです。普通のチャーシューの代わりに、旨味が効いてる鶏が乗っていました。豚のチャーシューより軽くて美味しかったです。

Would I Go Again?
I would, maybe to one of their other branches.

また違う支店とかに行くかもしれません。

Should You Go?
It's a good stop for something light.

なんかさっぱりものが欲しい時に行ってください。

Information
鶏塩ラーメン Hippo