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.
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| 麺場ふうらいぼう (Men-ba Fuuraibou) |
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| Watching the noodle pot bubble and boil. |
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| One of the best bowls on the challenge. |
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| Delicious, thin, straight noodles. |
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| A clear sign of a delicious dish. |
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