【Ramen Journey】The "Karashi Men" loved in Yokohama's Nakacho Dori is a bowl that makes you want to come back to this city

I visited "Men Ichi Nakacho Dori" which has been loved for nearly 30 years near Nakacho Dori Station on the Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line. I enjoyed the inviting atmosphere of the town that makes you want to stop by during a walk and the charm of the addictive specialty "Karashi Men."

I headed to a ramen shop while taking a walk from Nakamaichidai Station in Yokohama City

On a holiday morning, I was walking around the area near Nakamaichidai Station on the Yokohama City Subway Blue Line. This area features wide sidewalks characteristic of Kohoku New Town, along with a serene streetscape that continues along the greenway, walking past Chigasaki Park.

The walking path feels surprisingly natural, as if it’s close to a residential area, creating a sense of relaxation.

As I started to feel a little hungry, I headed to "Menichi Nakamaichidai," which is near Nakamaichidai Station. This ramen shop has been in business since 1999 and has been loved in this town for nearly 30 years since its founding.

What I was aiming for was the shop's specialty, the "Karashi Noodle."

When I hear "spicy ramen," I imagine a strong刺激, but Menichi's Karashi Noodle seems to be a bit different. The reason it has continued to be loved locally for so long must be more than just its spiciness. I headed to the shop with expectations of what kind of balance it would have.<

Even right after opening, the shop was about 80-90% full.

I arrived at Menichi a little after 11 o'clock. The exterior is that of a town ramen shop located on the first floor of an apartment building, with a yellow sign as a landmark, exuding a calm atmosphere.

This is a ramen shop that has blended into the daily life of the town. It is about a 3-minute walk from the station, but on this day, I deliberately took a leisurely stroll there, which gave me the impression of being in harmony with the town's ambiance.

The interior has about 13 counter seats and around 4 tables that seat 4 people each. Despite having just opened, around 80-90% of the seats were already occupied by customers.

There were some solo customers who seemed to be regulars, as well as families. There was no pretentious atmosphere, and each person appeared to be enjoying their ramen in a natural way.

The ticket vending machine accepts cash only. Water is self-service, and paper aprons are provided near the entrance. This setup allows those who need them to grab one for themselves, contributing to a comfortable atmosphere typical of a local ramen shop.

The "karashi men" can be chosen from salt, soy sauce, or miso flavors.

On this day, I chose the salt flavor of "karashi men" at the vending machine. The price is 1000 yen. The karashi men style allows you to choose the soup from three types: salt, soy sauce, and miso.

The ingredients are chashu, green onions, corn, wakame, nori, and a simple topping that has a nostalgic feel to it. On top of that, there’s red mustard.

This mustard, resembling karami tamago, surprisingly looks quite mild when the bowl arrives. It doesn’t have the intense pressure of super spicy ramen.

When you actually eat it, the spiciness is also quite subdued. The true nature of the mustard has a taste that combines chopped pickled mustard greens with spicy elements like chili oil and garlic, and as you slowly dissolve it while eating, the impression of the soup changes.

Instead of focusing on spiciness, the flavors of the soup expand

since I chose a salty flavor, the soup initially has a lightness typical of salt ramen. From there, when you start to break down the mustard...

The aroma of chili oil and the flavor of garlic spread, gradually adding depth to the taste. The texture of the pickled mustard greens adds an accent, making it different from a simple spicy ramen. It’s not just about the heat, but rather a flavor that makes you want to eat it again. By the way, for those who enjoy spicy food, there is an option to increase the spiciness.

When you dissolve all the mustard, the soup turns this bright red. Later on, I tried adding the grated garlic that was on the table, which complemented it perfectly. The outline of the salty soup changed, and I was able to eat it all the way to the end without getting bored.

The "mustard noodles" that make you want to eat them again are ramen that makes you want to come back to this town.

In an era where ramen shops with strong personalities and striking visuals are gaining popularity, Menichi Nakachidai seems to have a relaxed quality about it in a good way. Delicious and makes you want to eat it again, the "mustard noodles" were ramen that made me want to revisit this town.

It’s a place you can casually stop by during a walk and easy to enter alone. I’ll continue my walk while thinking, “Should I go for miso next or soy sauce?” It was a bowl that somehow felt the calm air of Nakachidai. Menichi Nakachidai Address: 1-30-13 Nakachidai, Tsuzuki Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, 1F Interview and text by SYURI

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