My son, sprinting to get some polyphenol-infused, "endless treasure noodles!"
The name is a delicious mouthful, just like the ramen served here.
越後秘蔵麺無尽蔵, (Echigohizoumen-Mujinzou) means literally: "Echigo Treasure Noodles: Endless Supply."
Fun, right?
Echigo is the former name of modern-day Niigata Prefecture, where I reside, and where this ramen shop's parent company, Kitakata, got its start back in 1980! More fun!
This is a national chain ramen-ya (ramen shop) which is the first in Japan to infuse its men (noodles) with polyphenols from persimmons (note the picture of the persimmon on the front of the store). Unique, to say the least!
LET'S DIG IN!
Echigohizoumen-Mujinzou
Located at the foot of the Kushigata mountain range (Japan's smallest mountain range) in rural Tainai City, Niigata Prefecture, hitting this ramen shop is an out-of-the-way adventure worth taking for those who love nature and noodles.
The staff is very friendly, the atmosphere inviting, and the noodles and soup, delicious. This time I opted for the deluxe pork shōyu (soy-sauce-based) ramen.
Note the lovely presentation.
I especially love the boiled egg included in this tasty beast, which is cooked just right and flavored wonderfully after it soaks up the delicious broth a bit.
This ramen shop offers a choice of either thick or thin noodles (I like the thin style best) and also a choice between a lighter or more fatty broth. I view both of these options being present as an almost non-negotiable prereq to a great, chain-style ramen-ya.
Portion size, flavor, etc.
The portion size here is almost perfect. Other joints give you such a heaping mass of hot noodles and bacon soup that one almost always leaves with a serious case of "ramen belly." Ramen belly is not fun. I left this shop, however, feeling satisfied, and yet still light enough and coherent enough to operate a motor vehicle without groaning under the weight of three thousand pounds of ingested pork and noodle soup.
Isaiah, digging into his "kids' ramen set."
I ordered the more fatty and flavorful option where the broth is concerned, and it was pretty good. Tasty. Nicely flavored. It wasn't overpowering, though. I did wish for a little more of the dashi zip that I had experienced at Akashamoji, though.
The hosomen thin noodles were good, the Welsh onions were fuckin' dank, and the plentiful supply of crunchy-fresh nori (dried seaweed) was ever-welcome.
Another bonus is that this place is pretty kid/family friendly!
Isaiah picking out a toy as a part of his okosama setto ("kids' set").
Complimentary breeze provided by my company.
All in all, a good place. Downsides for me were the lack of a truly flavorful (I like really "punchy" soups, flavor-wise) broth, and a slightly chain-y feel to the motif and decor in the shop itself. The upsides were the friendly staff, beautiful presentation, and kids' options!
FINAL RATING!
Atmosphere: 7/10
Broth "Dankness"/Flavor: 6/10
Noodles: 8/10
FINAL SCORE: 7/10 Ramens!
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(Thanks for stopping by! If you missed the last installment of the Steemy Ramen Review, "Kissou," you can find it HERE!)
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as Facebook and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)
