【Street Chinese】After eating the hot Sanma-men at "Chuka Hanten Ranran" in a residential area of Yokohama, I felt refreshed.

After taking a walk in Chigasaki Park near Center Minami Station of the Yokohama City Subway, I headed to the Chinese restaurant Ranran that I had been curious about. In the scorching heat of 34 degrees, I finally tried the famous Sanma-men.

On my walk, I headed towards the Chinese restaurant Lanlan that I had been curious about

On my days off, I enjoy walking in the nearby park, and on this day, I made my way to Chigasaki Park in the Yokohama Center Minami area. It's a popular park with lots of greenery, perfect for a stroll. While walking there, I suddenly remembered a Chinese restaurant that had been on my mind for a while.

Previously, when I passed through this area, I had noticed a large sign for "Chinese Restaurant Lanlan" that stood out amidst the residential neighborhood.

Looking at reviews, I saw comments saying it had been around for "over 20 years." It's located about a 10-minute walk from Center Minami Station on the Yokohama Municipal Subway, and it seems to be a place frequented by locals, which piqued my interest due to its high ratings.

That day, I decided to use my park stroll as an excuse to finally visit the Chinese restaurant Lanlan that had caught my attention for so long. To be honest, I was somewhat skeptical about what the food would be like, but I resolved to visit with courage.

By the way, there are parking spaces for four cars in front of the restaurant, so it seems you could stop by by car as well.

At lunchtime, it was already bustling and nearly full

The highest temperature in Chigasaki Park was 34 degrees. Having walked through the scorching sunlight, I could feel a light sweat forming on my forehead.

Amidst this, a sign suddenly appears in the residential area, along with a stylish tiled exterior welcoming me.

Several potted plants were lined up in front of the shop, conveying a sense of local charm. I visited around 11:30. Despite it being right after opening, there were already many customers inside. This place is indeed popular... my initial doubts slowly faded away.

The menu board in front of the shop prominently featured "Sanma-men" as "our recommendation," introducing it as "a local ramen from Kanagawa Prefecture." Knowing it's a staple in the area raised my expectations. To be honest, having a hot noodle dish in 34-degree heat felt like a somewhat daunting combination.

A hearty serving of Sanma noodles, with the rich heat of the gravy clinging tightly to it.

The interior has five tables and four tatami seating areas, creating an individual shop atmosphere that exudes a traditional, relaxed vibe of old-school Chinese dining. The air conditioning was a welcome relief to my sweaty body.

Facing the bowl that was brought to me, I realized there was no need to worry about the choice of hot noodles in the heat. The thin noodles are submerged in a gentle soy sauce-based soup, topped generously with bean sprouts, Chinese cabbage, pork belly, and wood ear mushrooms, initially overwhelming me with its volume. The thick, sticky gravy clings firmly to the noodles and ingredients, pulling into long strands every time I scoop with my ladle, making for a piping hot dish.

The bean sprouts and Chinese cabbage are cooked thoroughly while still maintaining a crunchy texture, and the sweetness of the pork belly fat melds into the broth, enriching its depth.

Among them, the larger pieces of wood ear mushrooms provide a pleasant crunch, asserting their presence with every bite.

Eating something hot on a hot day is a common story, but as I continued to eat while sweating, it oddly felt pleasant. By the time sweat began to bead on my forehead, coupled with the strong air conditioning in the restaurant, I experienced a refreshing feeling as my body felt lighter instead.

When I added a splash of vinegar, the rich soup gained acidity, allowing me to enjoy it deliciously until the end without getting bored.

Additionally, there were samples of a daily and weekly lunch menu priced at 980 yen displayed outside the shop, indicating that they were well aware of the demand from locals looking for a convenient lunch spot.

I was curious about the opening date, and it turned out to be even more than what I heard through word of mouth!?

I had seen online comments stating that it had “been around for over 20 years,” so when I was paying, I asked the staff about the opening date. To my surprise, I received an answer that exceeded expectations: “It has been over 40 years.” I feel that the reason this place has been loved for so long in the local residential area can be sensed just from having this bowl.

This one restaurant satisfies both the fatigue from walking and the encounter with an unexpectedly renowned establishment in the residential area. Next time I walk through this park, I’ll definitely stop by here again.

Chinese Restaurant Ranran
Location: 3-3-3 Chigasaki Minami, Tsuzuki Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Interview/Article by SYURI

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