"Ramen Tanshoko" opened in 2023 on a narrow back-street in the western outskirts of Hiroshima. I've walked past it numerous times, but yesterday evening I decided to pop in and try one of the ramen dishes.
The restaurant is narrow and only has seats at the counter. When I went in there was no loud and cheerful "Irrashaemase!" cry of welcome. Instead, the master gestured to the ticket machine where you order your dishes.
I ordered "Iwashi Shio Ramen" for 850 yen. There was no beer option. This is one of those modern "craft ramen" shops where the focus is on a small range of quality ramen dishes.
What is "Iswashi Shio Ramen?
Iwashi = 鰯 = sardine
Shio = 塩 = salt
Ramen = ラーメン = ramen = a Japanese noodle dish of Chinese-style wheat noodles (中華麺, chūkamen) served in a broth or bouillon
Shio ramen consists of noodles in a salt-seasoned bouillon, typically chicken-based. However, Ramen Tanshoko's bouillon is sardine-based.
The shio ramen was served with two strips of pork, two strips of bamboo, some spinach, and a square sheet of dried "nori" seaweed, and some shredded onion.
The flavour was very clean, light and pleasant. If you are starving you may want to order an extra side dish, but shio ramen makes an excellent light meal and is a good example of Japanese "fast food."
A Ramen Shop for Shoko Nakagawa Fans
The taciturn master of Ramen Tanshoko is a Shoko Nakagawa fan-boy and has several Shoko Nakagawa posters on the back wall, and a bunch of other memorabilia on display.
Shoko Nakagawa is a Japanese "talento," i.e. a singer and voice actress who is famous for being famous.
According to Wikipedia, her nickname is "Shokotan," which must be why the ramen shop is called "Ramen Tanshoko." (Check out the arrow under the second word of the restaurant name on the window of the door - らーめん しょこたん - and you will notice that it points backwards, offering a hint that the hidden name is actually "Shoko Tan." )
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shoko_Nakagawa
Here's a Shoko Nakagawa in action about ten years ago:
She's famous for hosting a Sunday morning Pokemon show and also for doing the voices of several anime characters.
But I digress.
There were only two other customers in the restaurant while I was there, so our company consisted of four silent and solitary blokes.
The ramen was pleasant. I might drop in again one day to try the shoyu ramen.
I wonder what the coffee shop next door is like...
Cheers!
David Hurley
#InspiredFocus
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