...that identifies completely in the Japanese mind with Kitakata and this is its ramen -they are so classic that what many people think as "ramen" with the chashu (チャーシュー/叉焼) meat, the menma (メンマ) bamboo sprouts, the negi (ネギ) scallion, the fried naruto (鳴門/なると) fish paste and the soy-flavored soup are actually the ramen of Kitakata. Which started from this shop, Genraiken (源来軒) in 1927.
There is nothing special in the shop and if they didn't say everywhere they are the... founder (the "元祖" they have all over the place, inside and out), only the fanatics would know it. Pictured is, of course the cook who made them for the first time -now there are about 120 ramen shops in Kitakata, making it the city with the most ramen shops per capita in Japan.
Their ramen are indeed very good though and using the wide pasta that is the characteristic of Kitakata ramen. I had mine with extra chashu because I was very hungry.
Although those who are really hungry, like the gentleman on the left in the picture, order the special double portion -compare it with his friend's which was the same Atsuko and I had.
(For a bigger version of these pictures both in color and black and white, check my "Japan Arekore" set on Flickr)
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