Fancy watching your ramen go up in flames before your very eyes? Or how about a side of dinnertime theatrics along with your meal?
Menbaka Fire Ramen in Kyoto is no stranger to both. Nestled deep in Kamigyo Ward to the north of Nijo Castle, the eatery has been serving up it torched ramen since 1985, when its founder discovered the fiery taste from combining green onion with extreme heat. Needless to say, the eatery opens to swarming queues of curious tourists right up to closing time!
Honmura Art Village, a district home to around ten art installations scattered across former residences, is one of the first pit stops for visitors to Naoshima. But that’s not the only thing this quaint neighbourhood is worth making a beeline for. Tucked away from quiet streets are several hidden cafes and eateries where you can grab a bite (or a breather) between art hopping.
It was by pure chance that I stumbled across Apron Cafe while searching for my second last stop on the Honmura art village trail. A neatly written sign on a blackboard indicated its existence around the corner from a nondescript single level building.
While Hiroshima may be famed for her deliciously fat oysters and okonomiyaki, did you know that the city is also home to a unique style of ramen? Known as tsukemen, this dish is essentially a soupless version of the comforting ramen noodles we have come to know and love, paired with a bowl of thick dipping sauce to coat them noodles.
Located a stone’s throw from the bustling Hondori Shopping Arcade 本通りショッピングアーケド and the famed Okonomimuraお好み村 in Naka Ward, Bakundan-ya Honten ばくだん屋 has been earmarked by many as a must visit for Hiroshima style tsukemen.
Chue On It 