The mackerel set meal ramen｜Sumibiyaki noko chukamen Okurindo

I went to lunch at “Sumibiyaki noko chukamen Okurindo”(Charcoal-grilled thick Chinese noodle Okurindo) in Daimon, Tokyo. At first glance, this ramen restaurant looks like a typical Chinese noodle store, but the menu in the storefront describes set menus of mackerel, squid, fall fish, sardine, and horse mackerel, which is a quirky detail to attract ramen lovers’ interest.

This time we visited the restaurant just in time for opening time. There were about four customers ahead of us. The restaurant has a calm Japanese-style atmosphere with long counter seats that can accommodate about 10 people. I ordered the “Mackerel Set Meal” from the “Charcoal Grilled Thick Chinese Soba Noodle Set Meal Series,” which is one of the features of “Okurindo”. After about five minutes of waiting, a bowl of ramen is served in front of me, and the aroma of grilled mackerel envelops me in such a way that the word “saba no ramen”（mackerel ramen） is exactly right, and there are no other words to describe it.

The soup was thick, and the flavor of the savory, seared mackerel came out in all its glory, enhancing the flavor of the ramen even more. The mackerel-based broth, which brought out the aroma of the char-grilled mackerel, was exquisite and opened up a new world of ramen.

This ramen has a unique accent, and that is the style in which the char siu pork, grilled green onions, and diced raw onions are served on a separate plate. By adding these ingredients to your own taste, which varies with the ramen broth, you can further personalize a bowl of ramen to your liking.

Of particular note are the diced grilled green onions and fresh onions. Adding these to your ramen will change the rich broth into a crisp flavor, and will allow for a wider variety of flavors. The addition of sansho (Japanese pepper), which is served along with the ramen, further unifies the ramen and enhances its flavor.

“Okurindo” is a ramen restaurant that focuses on ramen, but incorporates new elements within it. If you are looking for a new ramen experience, this is the place to visit. This is a highly recommended ramen restaurant that can only be found here.