If there was one ramen shop in all of Japan that I really, really wanted to try, it was Ide Shoten in Wakayama. I first arrived here on their day off and I was so disappointed that I changed all my plans the next day and was determined to come back. So I did and it was f'ing amazing. Wakayama tonkotsu-shoyu is one of my favorites and Ide Shoten is definitely in the top 5. The deepness of its shoyu flavor is inexplicably soulful. I swear...you'll be moonwalking like Michael all the way back to the station. Don't believe me? Trust me, you will!
From Wakayama Station go straight and make a left on the first main street. After 7 blocks it'll be on your right. Open from 11:30am to 11:30pm and closed on Thursdays. The eggs and maki-sushi's are on the table in front of you. It's all honor system so if you eat one tell them so at the end. You will not be disappointed with Ide Shoten.
Other sites that mention Ide Shoten:
Showing posts with label Japan-Wakayama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan-Wakayama. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Marutaka Chuuka Soba (丸高中華そば JR和歌山駅東口店) - Oda, Wakayama, Japan
When everything else in Wakayama is closed, don't fret because Marutaka is always open. There are a few of these around the city, but this branch is the closest to the station. They serve a rustic-style tonkotsu shoyu ramen true to the Wakayama tradition. It may not be as good as Ide Shoten, but the deep shoyu flavor is something I will never get sick of. The noodles and chashu are pretty good too.
From JR Wakayama Station take the East exit and head to your right just past the bike parking lot. Take a quick right on the first street and it'll be on your right. It's barely a minute from the station. Open everyday from 11am to 1am.
Other sites that mention Marutaka Chuuka Soba:
From JR Wakayama Station take the East exit and head to your right just past the bike parking lot. Take a quick right on the first street and it'll be on your right. It's barely a minute from the station. Open everyday from 11am to 1am.
Other sites that mention Marutaka Chuuka Soba:
Friday, April 24, 2009
Day 23 - The Alchemist must live in Kyoto...
As this journey nears its end, I found the perfect place to reflect upon the past three weeks. It's been amazing! Virtually unbelievable! So with only four full days left, I set out to make up for lost time. Today was crazy. I started out at Kyoto with the intent to see as much as I could in 2 hours. With so many places to choose from, I only had time to visit Kinkakuji. I had been here several years ago, but I really wanted to show all of you its breathtaking visual. I think the pictures say it all. I even met a deaf mute man that gave me a taxi ride I'll never forget. Then it was off to Tenri where everything moved slow and didn't open until night. I must have walked for at least an hour in search of the elusive Tenri Ramen. Seriously, the nearest ramen-ya to the station open for lunch was roughly 2 miles away. After a quick slurp and quick retreat from Tenri, I made the 2-hour train trek back to Wakayama. I wasn't gonna leave until I ate at Ide Shoten and man was it worth it! Finally, it was back to Osaka for the night where I decided to enjoy a 280 yen Yoshinoya Gyu-don. Don't ask me why. It just felt like the perfect ending.
Clockwise from top left: Tenka Ippin, Saika Ramen, Yoshinoya, and Ide Shoten. This is what I ate for the day. It's probably not a diet recommended by mom or your doctor, but damn was it good! Haha. And please...eat at your own risk. :)
So without further ado, I give you the daily slide show. Next up Nagoya and the hot springs of Atami...oooh yeah.
Clockwise from top left: Tenka Ippin, Saika Ramen, Yoshinoya, and Ide Shoten. This is what I ate for the day. It's probably not a diet recommended by mom or your doctor, but damn was it good! Haha. And please...eat at your own risk. :)
So without further ado, I give you the daily slide show. Next up Nagoya and the hot springs of Atami...oooh yeah.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Day 22 - Wakayama's Castle in the sky...
I woke up this morning feeling like crap. My body ached, my head hurt, and my nose would not stop running. I missed my morning train out of Hiroshima and contemplated staying one more day. Nope! I wasn't gonna let a little cold ruin this trip for me...or you! So I finally left Hiroshima around noon with Shin-Osaka in my sight. And after a quick check-in at my hotel, it was off to Wakayama.
Thursday is probably one of the worst days to visit Wakayama. For some reason almost everything closes on a Thursday. As luck would have it, today was a Thursday. I've been eagerly awaiting to try the famed Ide Shoten for days now and of course it too was closed. Perhaps I should have stayed in Hiroshima.
But I did manage to find one place that was open--Marutaka Chuuka Soba. It wasn't as popular or famous as Ide Shoten but it represented the Wakayama style very well, a tonkotsu-shoyu ramen with a deep, distinct flavor. You don't know how good this ramen made me feel.
So after a satisfying meal, I decided to walk the streets of Wakayama when I turned the corner and saw this amazing castle floating in the sky. It was an unexpected sight in the middle of an urban street. The park around it was so peaceful. Walking around it proved to be a fitting end to a rather tumultous day. Have I ever thanked you for reading my blog? Thank you...
Thursday is probably one of the worst days to visit Wakayama. For some reason almost everything closes on a Thursday. As luck would have it, today was a Thursday. I've been eagerly awaiting to try the famed Ide Shoten for days now and of course it too was closed. Perhaps I should have stayed in Hiroshima.
But I did manage to find one place that was open--Marutaka Chuuka Soba. It wasn't as popular or famous as Ide Shoten but it represented the Wakayama style very well, a tonkotsu-shoyu ramen with a deep, distinct flavor. You don't know how good this ramen made me feel.
So after a satisfying meal, I decided to walk the streets of Wakayama when I turned the corner and saw this amazing castle floating in the sky. It was an unexpected sight in the middle of an urban street. The park around it was so peaceful. Walking around it proved to be a fitting end to a rather tumultous day. Have I ever thanked you for reading my blog? Thank you...
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