【Street Chinese】 Unexpectedly arriving at the memory of ramen at "Kyoshin" in Higashi-Terau, Tsurumi Ward

I visited "Kyoshin" in Higashi-Terau, Tsurumi Ward seeking cold Chinese noodles but had to give up as I was slightly ahead of the season. Instead, I reported on the simple ramen I had, the quiet moment on my way back, and the heartwarming scene I encountered at the babbling brook greenway.

Yokohama, Tsurumi Ward, Higashiterao, on a quest for chilled noodles at Kyoshin, or so I thought!?

Perhaps it was still before the rainy season had ended in the Kanto region, but in the muggy heat, I suddenly craved chilled noodles. I headed to "Kyoshin," located in Higashiterao, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture. It was my first visit, but with its red awning and aged exterior, I couldn't help but inflate my expectations, thinking, "This must be where I can encounter authentic flavors."

Since it takes about 15 minutes by bus from JR Tsurumi Station, it’s best to go by car or bus. This time, I took the bus and arrived precisely at 11 AM when they opened. After getting off at the bus stop, I walked through the residential area, feeling a bit anxious, wondering, "Is there really a restaurant up ahead?"

Red awning, golden lattice glass door, a vending machine standing still. Potted flowers decorated the entrance, and next to it was a detective agency advertisement poster for some reason, which made me do a double take. Including the mixed atmosphere typical of a street-side Chinese restaurant, the exterior had a somewhat private feeling, and I gathered a little courage to slide open the door.

As soon as the shop opened, I said, "I'll have the chilled noodles, please."

On this day, what I was aiming for was chilled Chinese noodles. Right after the store opened, I confidently said, "Please give me chilled Chinese noodles," only to receive an unexpected reply.

"Chilled Chinese noodles are only available after the rainy season ends."

It was true that it was still before the end of the rainy season, but a sense of urgency flashed in my mind, thinking, "Wait, could this be a complete miss?" When I asked, "Is there something similar?" the response was a contemplative "Hmm." They didn't force recommendations for similar items and were sincerely pondering the situation, which made me feel a sense of honesty. Not wanting to insist further felt inappropriate, so I decided to gracefully give up and order ramen instead.

Regaining my composure, I faced a bowl of ramen.

The inside of the shop had five red counter seats and two tables for four, totaling thirteen seats. Since it was still early in the day, there was no one else in the shop besides me. I sat on the round stool at the counter, waiting while observing the bottles of soy sauce and chili oil on the table. The peace lasted for about twenty minutes until I finished eating, feeling like I had the place to myself.

In the kitchen, an elderly woman was moving her hands. The younger woman who brought water and took orders was a bit younger. As I observed, wondering if they were mother and daughter, their harmonious interactions made me feel that they must have been running this shop together for a long time.

About seven minutes after placing my order, the ramen arrived. I was surprised by the price of 550 yen. What came out was a slightly translucent, mildly sweet soy sauce soup.

The noodles were thin and had the very essence of traditional Chinese soba. The toppings, including chashu, menma, naruto, seaweed, and green onions, were just right. Along with the gentle aroma wafting with the steam, I felt the previous "chilled Chinese noodle loss" fade away.

With just one sip, a simple and unadorned deliciousness. There's nothing gimmicky about it, and I'm once again pleasantly surprised by how carefully it has been made at this price. "This is the kind of ramen that’s good.” Those words naturally came to mind.

Looking at the ingredients, the first thing that stands out is the generous amount of green onions. The swirling pink patterns of the cute naruto and the larger pieces of nori add color to the bowl.

The menma, though modest in quantity, has a nice crunch, and there is only one slice of chashu, which is lean and meaty, allowing me to savor the solid flavor of the meat with each bite. Nothing is particularly standout; each ingredient quietly plays its role, but certainly fulfills it. It was such a bowl.

Sitting alone at the red counter in a quiet shop, savoring the ramen, felt somewhat like a luxurious time. The regret of missing out on chilled Chinese noodles was wiped away by this bowl and this moment.

On the way back, I walked alone along the serene greenery path

Feeling full, I thought it would be a waste to simply retrace my steps, so I decided to slowly walk alone along the "serene greenery path" that flows near the shop. The green path, maintained along the waterway, gently separates itself from the noise of the residential area, allowing for a peaceful moment to flow.

As I walked, I stumbled upon an unexpected sight. Families were engrossed in catching crayfish in various places along the waterway.

Children dropping lines, parents watching nearby, and the catch wriggling in a container at their feet. On everyone's face, there was a calm expression enjoying the holiday, making me feel my heart relax simply by observing.

I never imagined I would encounter such a scene on this greenway, which wasn’t even my intended destination, after missing out on cold Chinese noodles and ending up with ramen instead. Perhaps walking alone allowed me to take a closer look at the mundane scenery.

By the time I arrived at the bus stop "Nishiderao Kenkoji-mae", the desire to enjoy this view a little longer outweighed the thought of the return bus schedule.

It's precisely because things don't go as planned that a ramen walk is interesting.

Looking back, this day did not go as planned from start to finish. I couldn't have cold Chinese noodles and changed to ramen instead. Moreover, I unexpectedly encountered a heartwarming scene at the babbling brook greenway, which I had only stopped by on my way home. Still, no, precisely because of that, I feel it became a memorable day.

When visiting Higashi-Terau, Tsurumi Ward, how about filling your stomach at Kyoshin first and then extending your feet to the babbling brook greenway? You might discover unexpected delights.

Kyoshin
Location: 1-3-5 Higashi-Terau, Tsurumi Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Interview and Text: SYURI

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