Dashi to Men Kujira

A specialty Chukasoba (Chinese-style ramen) shop opened in October 2023 along Hirokoji-dori, near Toshincho intersection in the Sakae area of Nagoya. It's a "kappo-style" dashi-based ramen establishment produced by F-Lead Inc., known for popular restaurants like Ouka in Toyota and Hotaru in Higashiura. The shop features a unique space of about 30 seats, combining a semi-basement area with a loft-style second floor reminiscent of an alleyway. The signature dish is the "Aged Soy Sauce Dashi Chukasoba" for 920 yen. Its broth is a multilayered dashi created from five ingredients – flying fish niboshi, Rishiri kelp, Shodoshima niboshi, Chiba honkarebushi (dried bonito flakes), and domestic dried shiitake mushrooms – extracted through both cold brew and heating methods, then blended with a clear soup of domestic chicken and old chicken, and finished with a tare (sauce) combining three types of soy sauce. The noodles are custom-made medium-thin straight whole wheat low-hydration noodles using Aichi-grown Ayuchi no Minori wheat, offering a rich wheat aroma and firm texture that harmonizes with the soup. The "Light Soy Sauce Shellfish Dashi Chukasoba" for 920 yen is a light-style dish based on the umami of shellfish, with lemon and red onion adding a refreshing accent. The "Katsuokombu-sui Tsukemen" for 980 yen features visually appealing cold noodles submerged in kombu water, with a rich soy sauce-based dipping broth; squeezing kabosu over it is recommended for a flavor change. A wide range of options includes "Creamy Toripaitan Soba" for 980 yen and the plant-based "Vegan Paitan Soba" for 1,200 yen, with the seared rare chashu rice bowl for 550 yen being a popular side set. During lunchtime, a large serving of noodles is free, and the shop operates continuously until midnight, catering to late-night ramen demand. The kappo-like service, where each person is provided with their own tray, and the attention to detail, even down to the water tumblers, symbolize a new generation of dashi-based ramen. The shop is open year-round, but information on temporary closures is announced on the official Instagram, so checking the latest information before visiting is recommended.