【Ramen Journey】To Yokohama Kitayamatedai's "Kondo-ya Honten" for family-style ramen! Aiming for an extra thick layer of seaweed covering the bowl

Driving to the long-established family-style ramen shop "Kondo-ya Honten" in Yokohama Kitayamatedai. Sampling the ramen with an abundant layer of seaweed, reviewing the rich tonkotsu soy sauce soup, medium-thick noodles, and thick chashu.

The destination for the drive was the long-established shop in Kitayamada

Yokohama, which has many Iekei ramen shops. Among them, one that has been loved by the locals for a long time is "Iekei Ramen Kondo Family Main Shop" located in Yokohama, Kitayamada.

It seems that the "nori that covers the bowl" is famous, and I went there during a holiday drive to experience that impressive bowl.

The Iekei ramen culture in Yokohama is deep and there are many shops that are called famous. Among them, Kondo Family Main Shop was established in 1992. They say that there is a reason to keep going to a shop that has been around for a long time, and the reason I chose this shop as my destination this time was because I found out about the existence of "ramen topped with enough nori to cover the bowl."

Iekei ramen is characterized by the ample nori that is served with it, and the aroma of the nori soaked in the soup adds depth to the flavor of the noodles and soup. I want to experience a bowl where I can fully enjoy that delight.

There are two parking spaces in front of the shop

There are two parking spaces in front of the shop. Even when it is full, a partnered parking lot is available about a minute's walk away, and if you bring your parking ticket, you can receive a service voucher worth 100 yen.

On holidays with a lot of car travel, this parking environment is a great point. It's an easy-to-stop shop even during a drive.

Saturday lunch was fully booked! Even so, the turnover was fast.

I visited on Saturday afternoon. The restaurant was full, and there was a line of several people outside. First, I purchased a meal ticket inside the restaurant and then returned to the line outside. I bought a ticket for ramen with extra nori. I requested all the flavor preferences to be normal.

There were about 8 people in front of me, but the turnover was quick, and the waiting time was about 15 minutes. Even after being shown to my seat, the ramen arrived in about 5 minutes.

Extra nori covering the bowl! The impressive sight of 10 sheets is obvious at first glance.

The moment it was brought to me, the first thing that caught my eye was the amount of nori. By adding extra nori, there were a total of 10 sheets. They were arranged around the rim of the bowl, giving such a presence that the noodles were almost invisible.

When you take a look at the seaweed, you'll find thick slices of chashu and spinach in the center. The composition is seaweed, chashu, spinach, and then noodles. It's a simple combination typical of Iekei ramen, but this also highlights the goodness of each ingredient.

The piping hot soup and the shorter, slightly thick noodles make for a classic combination.

First, take a sip of the soup. The steaming pork bone soy sauce soup has a strong umami flavor. The salty taste, characteristic of a richer seasoning, makes you unconsciously scoop more with the spoon. It was also generously poured into the bowl, so there was plenty.

The noodles paired with it are shorter, slightly thick noodles. They have a chewy texture and pair well with the soup, making for a combination that can be said to be the hallmark of Iekei ramen. This great compatibility has been proven by a long history.

The thick chashu enhances the sense of satisfaction.

The char siu is a thick type. It has a meaty texture, and the more you chew, the more umami spreads. Just one slice is satisfying, elevating the overall heartiness of the ramen.

The high quality of the seaweed stands out in this bowl

The star of this ramen is indeed the seaweed. There is a quantity that covers the bowl, but it is not just a matter of being plentiful. The aroma and quality are clearly distinguishable.

Even after absorbing the soup and oil, the seaweed retains its firmness, and the aroma of the sea and the umami of the tonkotsu soy sauce intertwine, creating depth in flavor. Just bringing it directly to your mouth is satisfying, and the quality of the seaweed is clearly conveyed. This bowl makes you truly feel the significance of having extra seaweed.

The gentle presence of the spinach and the enjoyment of flavor variation.

Spinach, a classic topping for Yakiniku ramen, is cooked properly and has a fluffy texture. It slightly softens the mouthfeel within the rich soup.

Additionally, the table is equipped with the standard doubanjiang, garlic, and ginger. I tried adding a bit of grated garlic halfway through.

Adding a bit of grated garlic enhances the richness of the soup and tightens the flavor. Even with the same bowl, I felt a slight change in impression towards the end.

It has the expected impact and satisfaction that can serve as a destination for a drive.

Enjoying the extra nori ramen at a long-established Yakiniku ramen shop, that bowl brought exactly the impact and satisfaction I expected.

There aren't many ramen shops worth heading to as a destination, but the ramen at Kondo-ya Honten offers a solid experience of "enjoying seaweed in family-style ramen," with the impressive amount of seaweed covering the bowl. The piping hot soup and noodles create a combination that is simple yet highly satisfying.

This ramen makes you want to drive a little further just to eat it. It's a shop worth stopping by during a drive in Yokohama.

Kondo-ya Honten
Location: 1-1-39 Kitayamatedai, Tsuzuki Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Park Fuji Koizumi 1F

Reported and written by SYURI

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