Back safely from the Philippines, I headed to Umeda to catch the bus home. I’ve been around here several times before. Last time the place I recommended was Ippudo, and I was thinking of going there again, but there was an odd-looking ramen shop right in front of it, so I went in. Seeing it doing business so confidently right next to a famous ramen shop that always has a long queue, I figured there had to be something to it. And sure enough, I guessed right..
The entrance
You can tell at a glance it’s been around a long time. Ippudo was just two meters from its front door..
Cabbage ramen, 600 yen
It’s the basic shio ramen topped with cabbage. The broth was surprisingly clear, the kind that would be perfect for a hangover. They’re open until 5 a.m., so for drinkers out all night it’s a much better bet than Ippudo. The chashu had a slight off-taste, but not enough to bother me. Above all, a price like this right in the middle of Umeda is something to be grateful for.
The noodles
The thickness varied a little, so they may be hand-made. But these days extra-thick noodles that maximize the chewiness are all the rage, so they didn’t especially impress me..
Gyoza, ordered on a roll
The ramen was so good that I added an order of gyoza. They were carefully made, but it turned out they had no garlic in them. A bit too tame for my taste.
Fried onion
About halfway through I added a spoonful of this, and it gave it a different kind of flavor. It was neck and neck with the garlic chives that go with Kamukura’s Oishii Ramen.
After eating, I wandered around Umeda taking pictures.
Winter in Osaka
It’s chilly
Christmas decorations
It drizzled a little, too.
Christmas decorations 2
It was fantastic, but somehow it made me miss the warm south..