Tāng の Tái Shí Táng

After enjoying the hot springs across the street, we decided to have ramen. The line that was there before we went into the hot springs had decreased by about half, but there was still quite a queue. This was my third time visiting today, but it was my first time actually getting to eat here. The previous times, I had given up and gone home thinking, "Maybe next time." After waiting for about 20-30 minutes, we finally got inside. The restaurant had counter seating, table seating, and a raised tatami seating area, with a total of around 20 seats. The atmosphere in the dining room was quite cozy and somewhat chic, which I personally didn't mind. The ramen arrived fairly quickly after we placed our order. The French duck ramen with straight noodles, duck meat, and a side of cress and green onions had a beautifully balanced flavor. The soup was a bit oily for my taste, but it paired perfectly with the green onions. I could have used even more green onions, but I still managed to slurp up all the soup. We also ordered the chashu rice for just 200 yen, and it was surprisingly filling. The chashu was tender and delicious, with a strong peppery kick that made me break out in a sweat.

I occasionally go to this restaurant from Sakata. It's a perfect place for a drive. The flavors here are unique and not often found in the local area, which I personally enjoy. My go-to dishes are the meat soba and the chashu rice. The elderly staff member gives off a warm and welcoming vibe, making it a great restaurant in my opinion.

I visited this restaurant 20 minutes before opening on a weekday, and there were already two people waiting in line. By the time it opened, there were over 20 people in line. Despite its hidden location, this place is incredibly popular. I entered the restaurant as soon as it opened, and the staff had already taken our order before opening, so we quickly received our food. I ordered the regular meat soba for 970 yen, with an extra flavored egg for 100 yen and a pork rice bowl for 200 yen. The soup for the meat soba had a rich color and a delicious soy sauce flavor with just the right amount of fat. The noodles were thick and curly, providing a satisfying chew. The pork slices included both rare and well-done pieces, totaling around 10 slices. They were tender and juicy, with bamboo shoots and green onions hidden underneath. The flavored egg had a perfectly runny yolk, adding a nice touch. The pork rice bowl was topped with plenty of seared and seasoned pork slices, a steal for only 200 yen. The meal was delicious and filling. This place feels more like a popular ramen joint in the heart of Tokyo than a local ramen shop that has been around for years. While many ramen shops charging over 1000 yen can leave you feeling underwhelmed, I was completely satisfied with the quality and portion size here.