An Ordinary Japanese Guy

Yesterday, I had a tantanmen (sesame-based spicy noodles) and fried rice set at a local Chinese restaurant. ​Now that the warmer season is finally arriving, Chinese restaurants and ramen shops in Japan start serving "Reimen"—a type of chilled ramen with ice cubes in the soup. But yesterday, I didn't even glance at the cold option and went straight for the hot tantanmen. ​The rich aroma and flavor of the sesame coated the noodles beautifully, making it absolutely delicious. Tantanmen is usually known for being quite spicy, but the one at this shop isn’t very hot at all, so even people who aren't good with spicy food can thoroughly enjoy it. ​The fried rice was also excellent. It was well-seasoned, and while the texture was perfectly fluffy, each individual grain of rice remained wonderfully chewy and moist! ​The small dish in the center is zhasai (pickled mustard plant). It works great as a palate cleanser between bites, but it’s also delicious when eaten t...

Today, I had the Tori Shio (Chicken Salt) Ramen at a shop called "Guriko," which has actually been featured in the Michelin Guide. ​True to its Michelin recognition, every single ingredient in this bowl felt meticulously crafted! The soup was clear and refined yet packed with deep chicken flavor, the bamboo shoots had a surprisingly refreshing taste, the rare chashu pork brought a subtle smoky aroma, and the noodles filled the air with the scent of wheat. ​What’s more, it only cost 850 yen, which is quite affordable in this day and age. ​No wonder the shop was pretty packed with customers. ​Interestingly, while it has that high-quality taste, it’s actually a ramen chain, and the one I visited was just one of their locations. ​Their main shop is apparently in Okayama. ​According to my research, they don’t have any locations in Tokyo, but they are expanding from Aichi Prefecture toward the west side of Japan. If you ever travel to these areas, you should definitely ...

This hamburger steak and doria set was my lunch today. ​Since it’s a frozen meal, all it takes is 6 minutes in a 600-watt microwave. ​And just like that, it's completely ready to eat. ​Even though it’s so simple and effortless, I'm really grateful that I can get a proper meal with both rice and meat. ​Considering it only costs around 400 yen, the taste is more than good enough and quite delicious! ​By the way, what kind of frozen or instant meals do you usually eat on busy days in your country? Let me know in the comments!

This is the tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen I had for lunch yesterday. ​When people think of tonkotsu ramen, they usually picture famous chains like Ichiran or Ippudo, and their homeland of Kyushu. However, Himeji City in Hyogo Prefecture is actually home to a large number of tonkotsu ramen shops as well. ​Zundoya originated in Himeji and has now grown into a major chain that even has locations overseas. ​Their style of tonkotsu ramen is heavy, punchy, and incredibly satisfying, featuring a rich pork bone broth enhanced with added seabura (pork back-fat). ​Apparently, Himeji used to be a town with many factory workers back in the day. The local culture of heavy tonkotsu ramen began because these workers preferred a strong, hearty bowl of noodles after a hard day's work. ​On the other hand, tonkotsu ramen from Kyushu comes in a wide variety of styles, ranging from light and smooth to rich and deep, with some varieties being subtle enough to eat every single day. ​Even within ...

This is the ramen I had for lunch yesterday. ​It’s a chicken-gala and pork-bone ramen from a shop in Fushimi, Kyoto, that has been deeply loved by the locals since 1974. ​The sweet, mellow chicken and pork broth pairs perfectly with the rich soy sauce flavor. It has a solid, deep taste, yet it’s not greasy at all, allowing you to slurp it down effortlessly. ​The raw egg is a topping, and mixing it in halfway through adds an extra layer of thickness and creaminess to the soup. At this shop, the raw egg is a staple topping that almost everyone orders. ​If I ate this every single day, I’d definitely be consuming way too much sodium, but it’s the kind of comforting, delicious ramen that makes you want to come back day after day. ​The menu is entirely in Japanese. They only accept cash. Most of the customers are people from the neighborhood. ​It might seem a bit unapproachable for tourists, but if I could travel with you, this is exactly the kind of authentic place I’d love to t...

This is "Mekabu," which I ate as one of the side dishes for my lunch the other day . ​Mekabu is the root part of wakame seaweed. ​Since the finely chopped, slightly slimy mekabu is packed inside a seasoned sauce... ​I just drink it straight! ​This sliminess is something that mekabu produces naturally, and it contains nutrients that are great for your body, such as boosting your immunity. All of that goodness comes bursting out at once when it gets chopped up. ​While I just eat it plain, it is also delicious when mixed with other slimy foods like natto (fermented soybeans) or chopped okra. Of course, it goes perfectly with white rice too! ​People in Western countries don't really eat seaweed that much, do they? ​I kind of want you to try it, but please be careful not to upset your stomach.