Menya-Taku (Nishi-Nagahoribashi,Osaka)

Menya-Taku,located near Nishi-Nagahori station in Osaka-shiei subway, is one of the most popular ramen shops in the west side of Osaka city. The Owner had worked at Menya-Teru group for a long time, and then he got the skill and became a cief in Menya-Teru Nakatsu brunch(Nakatu-takurou brunch). Maybe Taku is owner's nick name, and Mr.Taku named Menya-Taku as his own shop.

They serves three types of ramen, ordinary style ramen, tsukemen and mazesoba. Mazesoba looks like a ramen without soup, and we can eat as the same as yakisoba. They have mainly two soup stock, made from boilde pork born and dried tuna(Katsuobushi). I'd like to recommend W soup ramen of several ramen. Just bofore they serve this to customer, they combine two soup stocks made from one based pork soup and the other dried tuna, creating good pafume and special tasty.

Menya-Tsumugu （Higashi-Osaka,Osaka)

　Menya-Tsumugu,located between Kawachieiwa station(Kintetsu) and Takaida-Chuou station(JR West), is one of the famous ramen shops in the east part of Osaka Pref. It has been featured on several local magazines, and lines of 10 people or more stretching to front way are not uncommon around lunchtime on weekdays.

Tumugu means weave. It's noodles are very unique and made of different wheat, wild flavor and mild flavor. The cut end of noodle looks like stripe.

Menya-Tsumugu serves ramen and tsukemen. When you order the meal, you will be asked if you want your ramen Tansei(light flavor) or Jukusei(heavy flavor). I always eat Jukusei. The soup stock is based on Tonkotsu(grilled and boiled pork born) and Gyokai(skipjack tuna etc.), and is creamy and so tasty.

If you have 60 minutes enough to stay there, you should try to visit to Menya-Tsumugu for the memorial.

Takashi （Osakajoukiazume, Osaka）

　Takashi,located near Osakajoukitazume station in JR West Tozai line, serves　the unique ramens called Wakayama-kei(style). The soup stock of Wakayama-kei　ramen includes two characters these are tonkotsu(grilled and boiled pork
bone) and shoyu(soy source). We can selecte Tanrei-type(light),　Motoaji-type(middle) and Jukusei-type(heavy). I like a Jukusei of three　types. Noodles is as thin and hard as Hakata men of Kyusyu ramen. The noodle　is quite good and I'd like to recommemd the shop due to it's convenience to　the sightseening Osaka-jo.

Yashichi (Umeda/Nakatsu,Osaka)

Located between Umeda and Nakatsu stations in Hankyu Line, Yashichi is ranked as No.1 in Ramen Data Base in Osaka Pref. supported by Supleks Corp. Yashichi serves up some of the best New Wave Ramen of Chicken based
style(Toripaitan). Their soup stock is made of holl chiken selected as high ranked, and special salts and herbs inported from France or the another european countries. The soup charactor is heavy, mild and cleamy. If you have one hour to visit ramen shop, you cannot get their ramen ,I think. Many ramen lovers are usually wating in front of the entrance by a line, maybe it takes about 90 munites to get Yashichi ramen.

Tenka Ippin Souhonten （kitashirakawa,Kyoto）

Located on Kitashirakawa-dori in north east of Kyoto city, Tenka Ippin is one of the most popular ramen chains in Japan. Souhonten means the head model shop. There are so many branches spreaded all across the country serving up the heavy chicken flavored ramens from Kyoto. The soup stock is delicious and unique taste that the most ramen lovers have never been experienced prior. If you have only time to visit a ramen shop in Kyoto, I'll recommend to go to one of Tenka Ippin group. They have two style blend, one is Kotteri(heavy) and the other is Assari(light).I like better Kotteri. Tenka Ippin recently gained publicity in United States, as it opend a branch in Hawaii.

Daigorou-shoten

Daigorou-shoten, a member of Mentetsu family, is near the side of Yodo　River. This is located far from JR Osaka station to north west. Maybe it　takes over 15 minutes on foot. This is as popular and famous as Gnjou and　Yashichi in Osaka Kita area. Daigorou-shoten has traditional ramen blended　from shoyu or shio, and several kinds of tsukemen(Kotteri, Curry, Tomato　Tonkotsu etc). The noodle is handmade style(Jikaseimen), as fresh and good　quality. I like Curry Tsukemen all fo menus. This is tuned to Japanese　taste, that's not so hot but mild. And if you want to eat double mounts of　noodle, you sholdn't pay extra fee.

Kougaryuseimen (Sumiyoshi,Hyogo)

Kougaryuseimen is a member of Mentetsu family - this also includes Daigoroushouten　(Kita/Osaka), Ohmaeda　(Itami), Menyarou　(Ikeda), and　Marujou　(Nanba/Osaka) etc. This is located near Sumiyoshi station in JR West kobe line, and faces Kokudou Route 2. The master has a experience that worked as a shop-masuter in Toyonaka-Mentetsu - the center of Mentetsu familiy. They will serve you a high qualified noodle that has several characteristics - good flavor, soft touch and steady resistance to the tooth. There are special tsukemen called Keikotsu tsukemen and two regular
ramens of shoyu and shio. Keikotsu means a chicken born, boiled and stewed for a long time. This is different from Tonkotsu - made of pork born. The taste of Keikotsu isn't as heavy as Tonkotsu. On the other hand, shoyu and shio blend ramen look like Mentetsu style as the same as family shops. The soup looks clear and deep and the topping someone is gorgeous. Of course the taste is highly leveled and qualified as well as Toyonaka-Mentetsu. This is the one of the most popular among ramen lover lived in Kobe city and has always waiting line in front. Attached is shoyu ramen - regular menu.

Koryumasu (Sakuranomiya,Osaka)

Koryumasu is located near Sakuranomiya station in JR Wset Osaka-Loop Line　within a few minutes walk. This is the best poplular ramen shop in　Miyakojima-ku,Osaka city, and ranked the top by Ramen Data Base of Suplecs.　This shop has a very unique oupstock made of Tonpi that means tale of
chicken and includes lots of collagen. This ramen falls down Toripaitan soup　category. There are two kinds of ramen, regular or special, in this shop.　Their soup is very heavy but smoothly, and their rivals can't imitate the soup. Koryumasu looks like Koryouriya that means Japanese traditional small restaurant ranked middle. If you visit at Koryumasu, you will be surprised at this looks very clean and frankly. In every summer they start another special menu as tsukemen, popular too.

Attached piture is tsukemen, summer time menu.

Ramen Jinsei JET （Fukushima,Osaka）

There is Ramen Jnsei JET near Fukushima Station in JR West Osaka Loop Line　on a few minitues walk to north. They opend the shop in June, 2010 as a　scond bland of Higashinari Kinsei, the popular ramen shop in Tamatsukuri,　and then got the newface prize of, Kansai Ramen Taisho in 2010. They have a　special limited ramen/Tsukemen called "Torinikomi" that means chiken stewed very well. It looks like right-browned soup and the smell of the chicken is fragrant. On the other hand, reglar menus, Wafu-Shouyu and Shioniboshi, ares popular for ramen lover, too. Recently they have developed curry typed tsukemen that can be arrenged the ajustment of hotness. Now ramen lovers in Kansai area pay attention to Fukushima, there are many popular ramen shops.

Menya Roran （Umeda/Kitashinchi,Osaka）

There is Menya Roran in Osaka Station Building 3rd basement foor 2, located between Osaka station and Kitashinchi station in JR west. They have many kinds of ramen and tsukemen, and some kinds of soupstocks, Shouyu, Yuzushio, Miso etc. They are so skillful that they can make several variation of shoyu and Miso, Kotteri Assari Kogashi Hot etc. They always recommend Yuzushio ramen and tsukemen, but I like Kogashi Miso ramen best. They always open the shop without suspisious of business, however they close the shop earlier than another in night. Umeda and Kitashinchi is center of business in Osaka city, so they have many Roran lover among business men/women working nearby.
Of cause I'm one of then. Attached is Yuzushio Ramen, the most popular ramen in Menya Rouran.

Kinguemon (Fukaebashi,Osaka)

This ramen shop, Kinguemon, is the most popular among ramen lovers in Kansai erea as a strongly syoyu-blend ramen. There is Kinguemon near Fukaboshibashi station of Osaka Shiei subway on about 5 minutes walk to east. The owner of Kinguemon, Mr.Ohkura, has the experience that he had worked in the Ministry of Finance for eight years, and resigned the job. Then he had studied ramen by himself for a long time, and inquired the special technique of ramen. Now he gets many prize of ramen　sponsored by local magazines, Kansai isshukan, Ramen Walker etc. They have three regular ramen, red gold and black, and some special ramen, Osaka-black Naniwa-black and Naniwa-gold etc. My most favorite one is Naniwa-black. We can select the type of noodle, heavy or thin. I like better heavy noodle. Attached picture is Naniwa-black, heavy type noodle.

Pikkari Shokudou （Yahata, Kyoto）

There is Pikkari Shokudo near Hashimoto station of Keihan Line in Yahata　city, that is located between Kuze county in Kyoto prefecture and Hirakata　city in Osaka prefecture. The outskirts of Hashimoto station is very quite　and calm, and then there is a few lights in the evening. But the Japanese word "Pikkari" means bright, I think it is ironical. Pikkari Shokudo locates on about five minutes walk from Hashimoto station to south. This looks so old and small, I don't feel brightness from it's look.

A couple of master and his wife works in this raman shop and they have a high qualified shio-blended ramen. I hear the master is a specialist of salt, because he has the experience that worked in salt wholesales dealer of the salt by the rumor. Their salt blended soup is clear, soft and popular among Ramen lovers in Kansai area. It is few topping anyone on the their ramen. The ramen called "Maotan-men" is consisted of a few kaiware, thin noodle and shio blended soup. It is very simple and so cool. The shop doesn't lools bright, but the taste feels so delicious.

Ichiki （Dikokucyo, Osaka）

　Ramen Ichiki is a very casual shop in the outside of original area of Nanba,　Osaka. They has so unique ramen that I have never seen yet, and it is　called "Banmen." Banmen is consisted of only a little soup, large volume of chopped green onion, and fine noodles. And if you order a Banmen, you must be supprised at the low price. This type of ramen is generally categolized to "Shirunashi" that means little soup. The feeling is similar to Mazesoba than ordinaly ramen. Mixing egg to this, you can enjoy another feeling. Probably soup stock is made of chiken and pork, and it is salty and alittle oily. Banmen has so simple taste that many people after drinking session want to try it.

Tanron （Nishinomiya,Hyogo）

Ramen Tanron is located between Nishinomiya station and Sakura-Syukugawa station in JR West Kobe Line. There are many ramen shops in the western side of Nishinomiya city, along Route 171 trucks. Mr.Wakamatsu, Tanron Ownner sheff, has the ability to develop ramens, good at creating new styled goods and generate traditional goods. Many people visit to try Aburasoba and monthly special menu reported recently by Ramen Walker Hyogo, the magazine in local area (Hyogo Pref).

On the day before yesterday, I tried a special ramen on January 2011, called "Niboshidamashii." blended strongly Niboshi dry fish. This has a dark brown and salty soup with Niboshi flavor, and heavy noodle that is the same as Tsukemen. I don't recommend this for people don't like fish well, however I like this menu. I'm looking forward to try new special ramen in February, announced by his brog.

　URL　http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/ramenfighter/

Higeinu (Amagasaki,Hyogo)

This place doesn't appare to be all that well-known southside of JR West　Amagasaki station, however it is featured in an issue of Ramen Walker HYOGO.　It is located near Amagasaki station within five minutes on foot. Higeinu　means miniatre schunauzer, a small size dog, maybe their pets. They have the variation of shio, syouyu, and tough meat(Suji-Niku). When I visited there in evening, it is very crowded with business men and women who tried Gyusuji-Tsukemen, Beaf tasted Tsukemen. I had already tried it, so I ordered Niboshishio, salt blend ramen. Niboshi-shio is based on consomme made by dry fishes, and it's character is exactly opposite of Gyusuji-Tsukemen. Niboshishio has a clear flavor and look, however Gyusuji-Tsukemen has a strongly flavord soup and impacted view. In the point of Noodle, Niboshishio is slender, straight and hard, but Gyusuji-Tsukemen is wide, soft and wavy a little.

I like Niboshishio better than the other, because I like ramen than Tsukemen just now.In next time, I will try syoyu blend ramen probably.

Yousukou Souhonten （Umeda, Osaka）

Yousukou means the Yangzi river, the huge and famous river in China. Maybe their ancesters had came from China to Japan long times ago, and then opened Chinese restaurant in Osaka. Now their ramen is so popular among business men at Umeda-Kita area in Osaka. It is so clear that looks like clear
consomme soup, that's slightly salty taste. Whenever I have Yousukou ramen, I realize the phrase that simple is best.

We Japanese have a unique custom that called SHIME or SHIMERU. This is the end of dishes ,drinking beer, sake and the othe sprits in party with business partners. Usually we have Ochazuke, Onigiri or ramen as a SHIME in Izakaya, Japanese traditional styled pub. But Yousukou has the best of dishes as SHIME ramen, it is filled with business men on the way to home. I'm one of them sometimes.

Toyonaka Mentetsu (Toyonaka-shi, Osaka)

I think that Toyonaka Mentetsu, located near Toyonaka station in Hankyu Takarazuka Line, is the most famous ramen shop in Kansai area. Many ramen shop masters had studied and worked as clerks there, and then they have opend the clone shops in Kansai. They are called "Mentetsu-Kei" or
"Mentetsu-group," but they are few shop under the direct control of Toyonaka Mentetsu.

I love the noodle of Toyonaka Mentetsu, that has specially erastic and smooth character and rich flavor. Because Mentetsu means the marverous specialist of ramen noodle. Incidentally their ramen soup has the highest quality. They have two regular soups, shio-blend and syoyu blend, looks clearly and tasts deeply. Their chashu pork grilled ewll is bigger than another shops.

Sandaime-Tamagorou (Umeda/Kitashinchi, Osaka)

Sandaime-Tamagorou is in the 3rd Osakaekimae building at 2nd basement floor, that's located between Osaka station and Kitashinchi station of JR west. They have special ramen and tsukemen based on Niboshi that means dried small sardines. The soup is filled with flavor of Niboshi and get along with their noodle, wavy, hard and heavy a little. Ramen fan maybe consider that this is one of the famous Niboshi-kei ramen.
I like their tsukemen. If you were not asked whether you want cold or hot, they will serve cold and wet type. My problem is that their tsukemen is cold enough that they make cooled down after a short time. So recently I order Atumori-type tsukemen(hot).

Syekarashika (Nigawa,Takarazuka)

Syekarashika is located with Hanshin Keibajou and Nigawa station, Hankyu Imazu Line, about five minutes walk from Nigawa station. They have Nagahama styled ramen that's called HAKATA RAMEN. HAKARA RAMEN has the soup based on pork born and special thin noodle. We can request the noodle condition by boiled time. The Hardest al-dente noodle is called KONAOTOSHI. I like BARIKATA al-dente that is more soft than KONAOTOSHI or HARIGANE a little. The topping someone are very simple, Benisyouga, Goma, Kikurage, Takana, and garlic.

Syekarashika is the most famous HAKATA RAMEN in Kansai area, but this is very small shop. So they opened two branch shop, Sumiyoshi and Umeda.

Gunjou (Tenjinbashisuji-6chome,Osaka)

In Osaka, Tenjinbashisuji-6chome is one of the most popular areas of ramen. Maybe, Gunjou that means ultramarine, is the most famous in this area. They have good team work to create high quality ramen that includes their spirits. Recently Gunjou changed their menus completely and promote renewal
to inquire more high-leveled ramen. I tried "Nidaime-Tsukemen" as brand new menu.

Tukedare(Tukemen soup) is based on Tonkotsu-gyokai made of pork-bones, fishes and shellfishes. And then this new arrenged tsukedare is added fruity sour of Sudachi a little. This is consisted of heavy and light taste, so I feel deeply their techniques. It's brand new noodle is harder and more
thick than before one, and arranged Kanto-style a little, I think.

Gunjou is so small that it must be filled with ramen fans at any time. If you visit at Gunjou, you must prepare oneself for long waiting in front of Gunjou.

Cique-Kibo-De-Kangaero (Fushimi-Sumizome,Kyoto)

Cique-Kibo-De-Kangaero is located near Sumizome station, Keihan Line. It
means "Think global scale." I don't know the reason why they named it.
Maybe, they would like to impress it's name deeply to ramen fans in Kansai
area. They offer Jiro-style ramen that include an extremely generous
portion. If you visit without prior understanding, you must be surprised at
huge ramen. Soup is based on Tonkotsu-Gyokai,that's made of pork bone, fish
and shellfish. Noodle is wavy, extremely thick and linguine-style. Their
ramen is generally called "Jiro Inspired category." Please order "Zen-Mashi.
" You will be knocked down by mountain-size ramen.

Cliff (Osakajou-Kitazume,Osaka)

Cliff is located along the main street going west from Osakajou-Kitazume station,JR-west Touzai Line. It is opend on October of 2010, as the second brand of Tsurumen, that is one of the most popular ramen shop in Osaka Joto area. Cliff looks like a husband and wife work together to create good quality syoyu and paitan ramens.

They have a very limited menu that's called "Jidori-Tsuke". Jidori means the special chicken grown in healthy and natural environment. So, Jidori is more tasty and nutritious than a broiler chicken. Tsuke, called Tsukemen for short, is served as Japanese Mori-Soba style. If you ordered Tsukemen in
ramenshop, you'll be served hot soup,and then served noodles. Hot soup(TSUKEDARE) based on Jidori is good flavor and jucie taste. Noodle is handmade, so very fresh. It is boiled as soft as aldente.

Cliff is my most favorite in Osaka-Kyobashi area recently. In next time I'll try a syoyu blended ramen.

Kinsei Takatsuki Honten （Takatsuki-shi,Osaka)

Kinsei Takatsuki Honten is located near Takatsuki-shi Station,Hankyu Kyoto Line, what is the most famous in Kinsei-group, that's one of the most popular ramen shops in Kansai erea. Kinsei looks like a good teamwork to create good quality miso-blend ramen.

They have special handmade-styled noodles,that's is fine,straight and aldente feeling．Miso-ramen has regularlly topping someone, for example Chashu pork that were well-grilled, sliced green onion, and "ajitama". Ajitama is boiled and tasted by Chashu souece,spice and syoyu. It'soup is
consisted of several blennded miso and sea food flavor oil.I think it is very unique.

They have a special dish called "Kotteri Syoyu Tsukemen", I have never tried. In next time, I'll eat it.