【Ramen Journey】Right near Yokohama Station! The unexpected deliciousness of the limited quantity "Happy Natto Ramen"

I experienced the much-talked-about limited quantity natto ramen at "Gonen Shokudo," directly connected to the west exit of Yokohama Station. The combination of the fluffy natto mousse whipped with a blender and the ultra-thin noodles was lighter than I imagined, making it just the right bowl for an adult's detour.

I remembered the rumored bowl while at Yokohama Station

While walking through the underground shopping area of Yokohama Station's west exit, I suddenly recalled the rumor that "Gonen Shokudo's natto ramen is amazing." I love natto enough to eat it regularly, but when it comes to ramen, that's a different story. The strange combination piqued my curiosity, and I thought, "I want to try it at least once," so I decided to go there.

The sound of a whirring noise heard in the quiet interior

The location directly connected to Yokohama Station was just the right distance for a detour. I arrived at the restaurant around 11:15 AM. Perhaps it was still a calm time before lunch, as there was no queue and I quickly purchased a "Happy Natto Ramen" (1000 yen) from the ticket machine. I took a seat at the counter.

The quiet interior resonated with the sounds from the kitchen. I heard the sound of a blender whirring and realized it was the process of making the fluffy natto mousse I had heard about. It was my first time hearing this sound in a ramen shop, and my anticipation grew for what kind of ramen would be served.

Encounter with the fluffy natto mousse covering the bowl

Looking at the bowl, I found myself transfixed. Spreading across the surface is a frothy natto mousse. It was so fluffy that it looked like it was about to spill over the bowl.

First, a bite of just the mousse. The distinctive scent of natto is subtle, much milder than I imagined. Rather than the natto being prominent, it gave the impression of a new style of ramen where one can enjoy the interesting texture and lightness.

The unexpected pairing of ultra-thin straight noodles and soup

As I gently lifted the thin noodles from beneath the mousse, unexpectedly, ultra-thin straight noodles were revealed. I was surprised that such delicate noodles were hiding under the strong personality of the natto. The mousse clung nicely to the noodles, which paired well with the soy sauce-based soup.

The flavor was unexpectedly refreshing and delicious, different from the richness one might imagine from the name "natto ramen."

Simple ingredients and the monthly excitement of natto

The ingredients include extremely thin rare chashu, thick and tender menma, purple onion, green onion, wakame, seaweed, and large grain natto, making it quite simple. I felt the composition doesn’t overshadow the star, the natto mousse.

I learned that the natto used changes every month, which explains why it is offered in limited quantities. The allure of wanting to return each time to enjoy a different expression is certainly appealing.

A lingering satisfaction I realized after leaving the restaurant

By the time I finished eating and left the restaurant, there were people lined up waiting. I felt lucky to have been able to enter during a less busy time. Although it wasn’t as flashy as I had imagined, there was a satisfaction in experiencing the unexpected deliciousness crafted by a specialty noodle shop committed to local produce.

What I noticed while walking was that the flavor of natto lingered in my mouth for a while even after the meal. However, it wasn’t a strong aftertaste, just a soft echo that made me think, “Ah, I just had natto ramen.” With the convenience of being directly connected to the west exit of Yokohama Station, it’s a place I would like to revisit when a different type of natto is used.

Goneng Shokudo
Location: 1-1-8 Kitakou, Nishi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, Ekiniya Yokohama B1F

Interview/Writing by SYURI

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