Ramentary: Jaaran Ramen (Asago)

The proprietors of this joint obviously have a soft spot for Bob Marley, as his face decorates their walls and their menu. Reggae regularly comes out of the speakers, and the sign is red, green and yellow. It`s a small place, seating maybe 15, but there always seems to be a line. I`ve eaten here twice already in the first week, which isn`t a surprise to those friends of mine who know about my affection for ramen.

The first time I went with the plain ramen, an oil-rich tonkotsu broth with just a few pieces of fatty and delicious chashu (Japanese spelling) and green onions as toppings. The noodles are a bit chewy and plentiful and the soup is rich and flavorful. With it being summer and all, I also have a tendency to consume about a pitcher and a half of water with each bowl. My first time was my predecessor`s last day, and the first meal I had with the other new ALT, Matt from Canada.

The second time I went with some teachers from Yanase, and ordered the tomato ramen. While it might not sound particularly appetizing, it was actually really good. Bok choy, small pieces of chicken, and of course tomato chunks were spread through a bowl of even richer broth, a combination of the pork-bone and tomato-infused bases. Even though I was told it was thinner than normal, it certainly didn`t taste that way. I threw in some of the spicy veggies on the table and basically knocked out the entire bowl in about 7 minutes, including conversation. Again, a pitcher and a half of water. Must be all the salt and msg.

This is apparently the most popular ramen joint in the area, and I can see why. Friendly owners (Ryuhei seems like a good guy), a nice small setting, relaxing music, and some good eats.