【City Chinese】At the neighborhood Chinese restaurant "Ichiyoken," I enjoyed the signature gyoza and special miso ramen.

Iichiko located in Tsuzuki Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, is about an 8-minute walk from the Kawasaki Town Station on the Yokohama City Subway Green Line, in a residential area. I went to try their specialty gyoza and their signature miso ramen, which is eaten by breaking apart a miso ball.

The downtown Chinese restaurant in Kawawacho that I had been curious about, Ikkoken

I had always wanted to visit the long-established downtown Chinese restaurant in Kawawacho. It seems to be famous for being run by a couple, and I wanted to experience that atmosphere, so I finally decided to go. I arrived at Kawawacho Station on a weekday afternoon.

This was my first visit to Kawawacho. I was a bit excited to head to the restaurant through streets I've never walked before, from the station I've never disembarked at.

And what I was most looking forward to was the signature gyoza, which is said to have "remained unchanged since the founding." In addition, the carefully crafted miso ramen made with domestically produced soybeans. I imagined what kind of ramen it would be as I headed to the restaurant.

After an 8-minute walk from the station, I finally discovered it along the residential street.

As I walked along the residential street from Kawawacho Station, I noticed signs for a calligraphy class and a dental clinic, and the atmosphere became that of a quiet residential area filled with only local residents. After about an 8-minute walk from the station, I spotted the restaurant's sign.

The exterior of the restaurant features dark brown wooden walls combined with orange tiled walls. At the entrance, there is a noren curtain with "いち" written in large hiragana, giving a friendly and approachable impression.

There are red banners and ramen signboards, making it an easy place to enter. Seeing the picture of ramen topped with soft-boiled eggs makes my stomach growl all of a sudden. Even before entering, I feel a growing anticipation for the typical atmosphere of a street Chinese restaurant.

Although the abundant menu makes me waver...

The outdoor tiled wall has paper menus posted. The specialty gyoza is 550 yen, the special miso ramen is 1100 yen, and the special tamago miso ramen is 1250 yen, which is easy to understand.

Additionally, there are classic street Chinese dishes like stir-fried garlic chives and liver set meal, fried rice, and tanmen lined up. I want to try them all, but this time I have high hopes for the specialty gyoza and special miso ramen, so I enter the restaurant with the determination to stick to my original intent.

By the way, beside the entrance, there is a notice saying "Closed on Thursdays" and an announcement for "Cash Only." Since payment is cash only, make sure to prepare it before entering the restaurant.

Heading into the street Chinese restaurant located in a residential area.

It was a weekday, and the time was exactly 12 o'clock. Inside the restaurant, there were four round tables, one large table, and a five-seat counter. The round tables were already occupied, giving a sense of bustling during lunchtime. The moment I walked in, I thought it must be a popular place. Since I entered alone, I was guided to the counter and could sit down without feeling any pressure. A TV program was playing, and water was self-service.

On the counter, there was a handwritten notice. It said, "We operate as a couple." I understood that the couple was cooking everything by hand, and I began to feel that the waiting time was one of the enjoyable aspects.

Inside the restaurant, there are many handwritten signs. Among them was one that said, "Established for 51 years." It shows that this place has been around for a long time. I ordered the signature gyoza and the special miso ramen.

The signature gyoza was certainly something I would want to repeat.

About five minutes after placing my order, the signature gyoza was brought to me first. The miso ramen followed two minutes later. Since the signature gyoza arrived first, I decided to have that first.

The signature gyoza had a nice golden-brown sear on the skin and was giving off steam. The dish I had been curious about due to its popularity from online reviews was right in front of me, raising my excitement.

When I break it with chopsticks, I find it filled with vegetables and meat. Taking a bite, I feel the toasty aroma from the grilled parts, followed by the flavors of the vegetables and meat inside. The skin is crispy where it's grilled, while the rest is chewy.

I'm satisfied just eating the signature gyoza. I felt like I understood a bit why it's said that "the basic flavor hasn't changed since its founding." I want to repeat this when I come again.

The best part is breaking the miso ball and mixing it with the noodles for a flavor change.

The ramen comes in a navy blue bowl. In the center, there's a miso ball with a charred top. It's generously topped with bean sprouts, cabbage, chives, and carrots. Just from the visual alone, it seems hearty, and my expectations rise. When it was brought to me, I was informed, “Break the miso and mix it with the noodles before eating.”

I want to break the miso ball right away, but first, I tried scooping the soup before breaking it with a ladle. It has a clear, light golden color, and when I drink it, it tastes as gentle as it looks. Even without breaking the miso ball, it’s quite delicious.

When I break the miso ball with chopsticks, the soup takes on a color characteristic of miso ramen. Eating it while gently mixing the slightly coarsely broken miso with the noodles, the richness becomes clearly apparent compared to before. The flavor changes with each bite, so I was able to enjoy it deliciously until the end. I believe that being able to enjoy everything from gentleness to robustness in one bowl is a characteristic of this carefully crafted miso ramen.

By the way, the noodles are thick, flat, and pale-colored, with waves to them. When lifted with chopsticks, they clung to the soup and had a substantial weight. The chewy texture was not overshadowed by the flavor of the miso.

The vegetables included plenty of bean sprouts, chopped cabbage, long chives, and shredded carrots. The toasted grains of miso blended with the vegetables, providing a different flavor from the noodles. The cabbage and chives had a sweetness when bitten into, softening the richness of the miso.

As I alternated between eating the noodles and the vegetables, by the time I finished, my stomach was thoroughly satisfied.

A夫妻二人の街中華, the handmade menu is delicious.

After finishing the signature gyoza and the special miso ramen, it took about 30 minutes from entering the shop to leaving. The posted signs and handwritten notices convey the essence of homemade dishes prepared by the couple. I think the occasional wait during lunchtime is unique to a place that serves handmade dishes.

I walked from the station where I got off for the first time, enjoying the piping hot signature gyoza and special miso ramen. The change of pace from my usual weekday lunch was refreshing and pleasant. The next time I visit, I want to try the "special egg miso ramen" topped with an egg or the "tanmen" listed on the menu.

Ichiyoken
Location: 963-3 Kawawa-cho, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture

Reporting/Writing: SYURI

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