大貴: Bowl #29

In all honesty, the fine points of this shop have been forgotten. Clearly is has taken too long to get around to writing this post, my apologies in advance for its vague details and short length. What is remembered is that the dining room at 大貴 (Daiki) was quite busy and it took a little while to get a seat at the counter. Thankfully, it didn’t take very long to be served a piping hot bowl of their shoyu Ramen.

The broth was inviting; a rich scent of pork and soy sauce wafted up from the dish. It was just as delicious as one could hope. The bowl was topped with a few slices of chashu pork, some steamed greens, menma, nori and thinly sliced scallion. Though they are standard toppings, the combination creates diversity and adds depth to what would otherwise be just a bowl of noodles. Feeling a bit rushed because of the busy lunch hour, it did not take long to finish off the whole bowl and head to the cash register to get the second to last stamp. Only one stop left to go before completing the Ramen Rally Challenge!

大貴 (Daiki)

Shoyu-Ramen.
Hearty pork broth flavored with soy sauce.

麺場ふうらいぼう: Bowl #28

One of the main reasons I knew I had to finish this blog, not just because it is good to finish things that you start, was to write about this shop. Nagaoka really surprised me with the number of amazing Ramen restaurants that were listed in the Komachi magazine. Each one had their own unique signature. With the second visit to the area, it was time to finish off this challenge once and for all.

The first stop we made was to a shop that ended up being closed, good job to me for checking the printed hours and holidays beforehand. In the end, I am thankful they were not open. As soon as I entered 麺場ふうらいぼう (Men-ba Fuuraibou) the theme of the shop was very clear. The inside was designed after a garage. Tables lined the walls under the windows, circling around a central counter area that enclosed the kitchen. The staff was dressed in coveralls, just like what is worn in a car shop. Metal and cement were the main building materials present, with wooden accents for a touch of warmth.

Once my order of the house Ramen was placed it was time to sit back and watch the finely tuned (pun intended) staff at their perfectly timed routine from my seat at the counter. When my Ramen arrived, it was easy to see the payoff for their almost robotic actions. The bowl of steaming hot soup was topped with a nice array of carefully laid toppings. A tangled mass of noodles lay twisted underneath a single slice of chashu pork, some greens, grated scallions, menma and a pinch of red pepper shreds.

The noodles themselves were wonderfully cooked; just the right amount of chewiness with their own distinct wheat flavor. The broth was rich in color and just as flavorful; just the right balance of salt and soy sauce. There is something so satisfying about diving in to a bowl of steaming hot Ramen. Even if you burn your mouth on the first few slurps that is how you know it is worth it. Before I knew it, my spoon was scraping the bottom of the dish. Completely satisfied, it was time to acquire stamp number twenty-eight and head off for the penultimate bowl of Ramen.

麺場ふうらいぼう (Men-ba Fuuraibou)

Watching the noodle pot bubble and boil.

One of the best bowls on the challenge.

Delicious, thin, straight noodles.

A clear sign of a delicious dish.

王華飯店: Bowl #27

Bowl number 27 came from a small Chinese restaurant on Joetsu’s bar street. The two of us have walked past it a number of times while out on a weekend night and Husband had commented on wanting to try it sometime. Well, the night finally came. Many of the restaurants and bars on the street look as though they were once residences, and it is quite likely that they were just that. 王華飯店 (Ouka-hanten) is no different. The parking area is just a small cave that barely fits two cars, just like a garage in a family home. After squeezing past both of the cars that were parked in the “lot” we entered the small dining area.

It was still pretty early in the night, so the restaurant, along with the street outside, was empty. Our little group was seated at a really big table for just the three of us. After learning that most of the menu was Chinese dishes, Husband was ready to chow down. I stuck with my challenge and ordered chashu Ramen.

The soup was clear but flavorful. The noodles were the traditional Chinese style; yellow in color and very squiggly. Their consistency was pleasant with just the right amount of chewiness. The chashu pork was pretty ordinary; the taste was nice but was nothing spectacular. Overall it was a nice, basic bowl of Ramen. The boys ordered various Chinese dishes and said that they were quite delicious. Stamp 27 was added to the book and another trip to Nagaoka was planned for the next weekend to finish out the adventure. 

王華飯店 (Ouka-hanten)

House chashu-men

Noodle shot!

If anyone is still reading this, hopefully you haven't given up on me, or think that I gave up on my goal. I did finish the Komachi Magazine Ramen Rally Challenge of 30 bowls by October 31, but with my busy schedule writing about the last few shops sort of fell by the wayside. Alas, I have vowed to finish what I started! So stay tuned, check back soon, and get excited! I will fill you in about the end of the adventure.