We had a little R&R in Tokyo last week and met up with our friend Mark "Magnum" Williams who introduced us to a ramen shop in Akihabara. Jangara specializes in Kyushu ramen and has several shops in Tokyo. I lived in Kyushu for over 10 years and am quite serious about ramen. There are many pretenders, but Jangara is serious ramen. The above pictured bowl is the top of the menu version and the orange item in the soup isn't a carrot. It's karashimentaiko a Fukuoka delicacy. This was simply the best ramen I've had this century! Expect to stand in line if you go there during lunch hours, but it is well worth the wait. So now we have a dilemma every time we hit "Akiba", Star Kebab or Jangara for lunch. It's going to have to be a coin toss.
Kyushu ramen is my favorite kind of ramen. :9
ReplyDeleteMy son would have loved it! He used to eat ramen every blessed day! I will keep it in mind.
ReplyDeleteThe instant ramen my roomies and I used to eat in grad school has faded into memory. I wish they could have some of this ramen here in Japan. Thanks for the comments.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, what IS that orange thing?
ReplyDeleteThe orange thing is what makes it distinctly "Hakata" ramen. Hakata is the port area of Fukuoka City and is famous for "mentaiko" or spicy cod roe.
ReplyDeleteI love the stuff, but it is not heart friendly or cheap. We usually only get it at New Years. The spicy variety is called "karashi mentaiko".