Katmandu Ramen

Today's shop is a bit different from the normal shops I go to. It was created by a guy who originally created a curry shop, so Katmandu is almost more of a curry shop than a ramen shop. Since I love curry, I was pretty excited and ordered the special curry ramen.

今日の店は普通の店と違います。もともとカレー屋さんを作った人に作られた「カトマンドゥ」はラーメン屋さんよりカレー屋さん2近いかもしれません。カレーが大好きなので、特製カレーラーメンを頼みました。

The Bowl
Sure enough, this was pretty much a bowl of straight-up Indian curry. It was thick, but not too spicy. Most curry ramen shops I've been to tend to thin out or sweeten their curry, so I was happy to see a place present a nice and rich curry. The noodles were medium and curly, a nice alternative to rice or naan. I really loved the dry piece of spiced tikka on the side; I would have taken plenty more of that if I could have.

結局インドカレーって感じがしました。とろっとしましたけど、そこまで辛くなかったです。普通のカレーラーメン屋さんはカレーを薄くするまたは甘くしますけど、カトマンドゥのはこってりでした。ナンとライスと違って麺は中太くて縮れていました。おまけのティッカがかなりうまくて、もっと欲しかったです。

Would I Go Again?
Maybe, I'm curious about some of their other dishes.

他のメニューに興味あるので行ってみるかもしれません。

Should You Go?
I recommend this place for curry fans.

カレーのファンはぜひ行ってみてください。

Information
カトマンドゥラーメン

Ippo

Every once in a while some friends of mine insist they have found the best ramen shop. Often I recognize the shop they're talking about, but when I haven't, I am excited to discover a new place. This time a couple of friends took me to Ippo, a tonkotsu ramen shop in Minamimorimachi.

たまに「このラーメン屋さんが大阪の一番やで！」と友達に言われています。行ったことがある店が多いですけど、もし聞いたことがない店のお勧めが来たら、行ってみたくなります。今回南森町の辺にある「一歩」豚骨専門店に連れてもらいました。

The Bowl
And what I received was indeed a solid bowl of tonkotsu. It had a little bit of that tonkotsu stink, and was not lacking in salt, but in the end it wasn't that heavy. The noodles were thin and hard, representing classic Hakata style. The chashu slices were thick and tender, with a strange almost sake-like aftertaste. This was a good bowl of tonkotsu, and I can understand why my friends love it, but unfortunately doesn't make it into my top bowls of Osaka.

定番的で美味しい豚骨のラーメンが提供されました。豚骨的にちょっと臭くて、塩辛かったですけど、意外と重くなかったです。麺は博多っぽくて細固麺でした。チャーシューは厚くてとろけて、何か変な日本酒っぽい後味がしました。うまくて、友達がなんで好きかわかってきました。

Would I Go Again?
Unfortunately, it has closed so even if I wanted to I can't

残念ながら、潰れました。

Should You Go?
You can't, because it's closed.

潰れたので、行けません。

Information
博多ラーメン一歩

Ramen Hayato

Hayato is a recent shop that starting getting buzz immediately. Located on the south end of Tenma by Minamimorimachi Station, Hayato is run by a former chef at annually ranked Kadoya Shokudo.

颯人は最近できた店です。二ヶ月前ぐらいしかできませんでしたけど、いろいろなところから聞きました。天満の近くにある南森町駅が最寄り駅です。店長はカドヤ食堂で修業したらしいです。

The front of the menu offers just two kinds of ramen: shoyu and miso. Of course I got the miso.

醤油と味噌のみでした。もちろん味噌にしました。

Oh yeah, there's also another secret shoyu on the back.

ちなみに、裏メニューのしょうゆもあります。

The Bowl
The fumes alone of this bowl were of a rough miso, and as soon as I tasted a bit of the broth, my mouth was filled with the strong flavors. It was oily and grainy, a not-so-smooth mixture that coated itself around the ginger-laden flat noodles. The ginger that laid beneath the surface of the soup soaked into the chashu too, and was only one of the hidden bonuses, including pieces of yuzu, bean sprouts, and crunchy chunks of menma.

香りだけで荒い味噌の味が感じました。スープを飲んだとたんに、濃い味がしました。油っぽくてつぶつぶした感じでした。平打ち麺は味噌とショウガの味がしました。チャーシューもショウガの風味がしました。スープにいろいろな美味しいものが隠れていました。ゆず、もやし、分厚いメンマが乗っていました。

Would I Go Again?
If I'm in the area, I'd stop in again for sure.

その辺で食べるならまた行きたいです。

Should You Go?
Miso fans should check it out.

味噌が好きなら行ったらいいです。

Information
らーめん颯人

Mister Puppy

More curry ramen!  I had seen Mister Puppy in a magazine or two and online before, and was interested in checking it out, as I am with any curry ramen shop.  It's a bit out of the way, but I had some time and was hungry, and decided to head over there.

They offered a number of different kind of curry ramen bowls, from the basic pork curry ramen, to ones with ume and squid ink.  I was curious about some of the weird ones, but since it was my first visit they recommended I stick with the pork.

Also, shameless plug: Yahoo has started a ramen ambassadors project, and if you look closely at my picture there, you'll notice that it was taken here at Mister Puppy!

Information
ミスターPuppy
3-6-27 Nishitenma

The Bowl
The broth was a very solid curry, thick and slightly spicy.  The noodles were medium, curly, and springy.  There were tons of onion that added a bit of flavor, and the pork was in small slices that were pretty good.  Overall it was a solid bowl, but didn't stand out above the other curry bowls I've had before.

Would I Go Again?
Eh, maybe.  I'm curious about the wacky bowls, but probably not curious enough to go out of the way.

Should You Go?
It's solid, but it's out of the way.  You can skip it.