Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen and Egg Rice

We just came back from a week trip to USA. And we were drawn to Hachi Ren Ramen for lunch again. Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen with green onion and sprout topping.   The spicy flavor comes from their housemade spicy oil with fried shrimps.  Gorgeous soup.   The straight medium-heavy noodles is silky and chewy.   Today I celebrate my return with rice with a raw egg. It came with 2 different soy sauce, which is naturally brewed by a traditional soy sauce maker with some 400 years of history.  Very round and rich flavor.   I always eat noodles first.  It’s a crime to let noodles sit in the soup and become […]

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The best authentic Tsuke-Men in Okinawa

San Chiku Ju is a Tsuke-Men specialty restaurant.  The owner chef has worked in one of the most famous and popular Tsuke-Men in the country, Roku Rin Sha.  It’s the authentic Tsuke-Men as Master Yamagishi created it.   Located near Omoro Machi. They have opened the second restaurant in Ginowan.  I’ve been to that one several times too, but I think this head restaurant is better somehow.  They taste the same, but something’s different.  I recommend to first come to this one.   The menu is simple.  Tsuke-Men, the dipping noodle, or Maze-Men, no soup but seasoned noodle.  Go for Tsuke-Men first. They don’t seem to have English menu. You just need […]

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Rich and light. Complex and simple.

We found ourselves here again before we notice. Ramen Hachi Ren.   Our anticipation is building up.   Apparently someone from Taiwan wrote a note on the wall. I don’t know what it reads, but it seems like he or she likes the food here.   Yes.  This is Hasso Men. The name means 8-layer ramen, with a soft-boiled egg topping.  They won’t tell what are those 8 ingredients, but the taste is complex, and yet, very simple because the soup is so well-balanced.  Very rich, very light.  I know there’s a hint of Yuzu, a kind of Japanese citrus.  I don’t know the rest, but it’s so good. I think this […]

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Our most favorite Ramen

Ramen Hachi Ren opened in 2008, just about the time we moved to Okinawa.  And we fell in love with their Ramen.  For the first 2 years we came almost every week.  We’ve seen their history.  It’s not an objective judgement, but it’s our pure love to say “They are the best Ramen on the island!!!”   Now they became so popular.  Most time and day, there’s a waiting line.  You write down your name, buy tickets for your orders , and wait to be called.   She ordered the signature Ramen.  Tonkotsu base from local Okinawa pork with medium heavy noodle.  Very rich, creamy and tasty.  We just loved the balance of all the tastes […]

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Shio ramen at Awase 3rd St. Ramen

Awase 3rd St. Ramen is a very simple, yet, very unique Ramen restaurant.  Located in the coast line of Awase, Okinawa-shi.   They are playing Jazz. Try shio (salt) Ramen here.  JPY650.  The clear soup is from pork bones, chicken bones, and vegetables.  It’s light, but the body is solid and filled with flavors and umami.  Very heart-warming sips. The noodle is light and curled, a good match with the soup. Chashu is lightly seasoned, but it’s very juicy and tasty. It’s topped with “A-sa”, okinawa local seaweed.  It’s very unique to have this seaweed on Ramen.  Some people like it and some don’t.  We like the oceanic scent that it […]

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