塩川屋

Shiogawaya is a recently opened Kitakata ramen shop. As expected from a shop with shio in the name, shio is the ramen of choice.

Sorry, Sio.

Shiogawaya’s master set out to use not only local Fukushima ingredients, but ingredients from friends and family. The pork is a specialty breed that is raised on a diet of エゴマ, a kind of wild sesame that is meant to give a nice flavor to the meat.

The tare is made by a high school friend of a friend.

And the noodles, of course, are made just down the road.

The pork was oddly lean compared with what you might find at other shops. I usually prefer a bit more marbled fat, but this was a nice change from the many, many bowls I’ve had in Kitakata. The recommended addition of wasabi was also a nice touch.

The same pork is used to make some fried メンチ – deep fried minced pork cutlets.

Kitakata is famous for the old buildings, and this shop is housed in a 100 year old warehouse. Great care was kept to keep it as original as possible. A beautiful shop, indeed.