Hachi-ya

 

 

 

After visiting Asamushi Aquarium and Aomori Art Museum we were pretty famished so we looked for a place to eat and Hachi-ya (literally 8 shop) looked good, and it was!

This place is great for non-native speakers because they have a picture of every menu item and then you just use the vending machine to buy the ticket for your order.

You can sit at the bar, at a table or take your shoes off and try it Japanese stlye! And if you’re bored, they have an entire library of mangas to look through!

In addition to ramen, they have three different rice bowls (I think it is more of a side order/ appetizer but I’m sure 2 of them could count as a meal) which are ¥250 each)

Chuu ka tetsu

We found Chuu Ka Tetsu while looking through the latest edition of Amuse magazine. Amuse can be found at most restaurants in the local area as well as book and convenience stores. Located in Hachinohe, this wooden lodge hosts some of the hottest and greatest home-made tasting food around!

The owner is also from Misawa! This restaurant does not have an English menu, so if you can’t read Japanese please bring a native friend, or choose the bowl from the picture (what I did, it’s the picture from the magazine).

Here is what I ordered and it was absolutely delicious. The soup was thicker and the noodles had a very homemade taste. It was rather hot that day but I think this dish would be perfect for one of those cold snowy days in Aomori!

Here is another set which is a Chinese dish called Ma Po Tofu. Tofu with ground pork in a slightly spicy/savory sauce over white rice. It was also quite good.
I’m not sure what else is on the menu, I need to bring a Japanese friend or brush up on my Kana.
If you have the opportunity, please try Chuu ka tetsu, the food is great and staff is very friendly!

Directions
- Head towards Hachinohe via Rt. 45.
- Turn left at "Sega World" Intersection.
- At the second traffic light, turn right.  You should be going away from the Pia Do sign.
- After the fifth traffic light.  The restaurant will be on the left.
  *Note: It is across from a pachinko parlor.  Parking is very limited.
 

Takumiya Misawa

                          

 

We decided this weekend that it is time to try out some new restaurants again! So look forward to more posts!

Sunday night we tried Takumiya, a ramen shop in Misawa. We heard good things about it from some friends so decided to try it out.

 

Takumiya’s specialty is this “spicy” pork ramen with cartilage pictured above. I forget what the exact name is for this dish, but the menu claims they have limited quantities. It didn’t exactly taste spicy though, just a little salty.

And here is my dish, basic salt ramen with sesame seeds. It was a little heavier than other ramen shops.

 

My favorite part of the meal was their shrimp gyoza! I thought it was fantastic!

 

Directions: From POL gate, go straight passing three lights. After the third light, Takumiya ramen is on the right after Workman.

Ho-Oh Ramen (Phoenix)

 

Ho-Oh Ramen is located in Oirase Town just before entering Towada. We have passed by the sign for this Ramen-ya many times but never tried it because it was so close to our favorite Ramen restaurant, Shanghai-Ryu (Dragon). Today we planned on going to Shanghai Ryu, but it was closed. We remembered Ho-Oh was not far (literally around the corner.) We decided to try it.

Upon entering we were greeted with a manly chorus of “Irrashaimase!” Which, I thought was lovely. The entire building is red and black, inside and out. I found it very chic.

Ho-Oh is celebrating their 7 year anniversary right now and have a special ramen on the menu to commemorate it. We ended up getting a pork base soup ramen, which was a bit heavier, and my favorite, a salt ramen.

I can honestly say Ho-Oh is one of the better ramen shops in the area.

 

Directions: From P.O.L Gate: go straight past Universe, Cake House, and the Pachinko Parlor that looks like a log cabin. You will hit a red light.  You will see a sign for Ho-Oh and Universe on your left. Take a left at the light (you will also see Shanghai Ryu at the light). Ho-Oh will be on your right.

Shanghai Ryu and other Ramen-ya

We went to Towada Friday and Saturday and both times we decided to stop at a Ramen restaurant. (two different restaurants). The first one is called Shanghai Ryu Chinese Restaurant. They have mostly ramen and a few other dishes. Ramen is considered Chinese because they use Chinese noodles. Don’t be fooled by the outside of the building. Looking inside from the outside it doesn’t look like a great place to eat but once you are inside, it really has a nice atmosphere. They have seats at the bar, tables, and tatami sections. The ramen here is very good too!   

The next Ramen shop I unfortunately don’t know the name. It is along route 10 (as is Shanghai Ryu) and next to a Lawson’s. The menus are all in Japanese. I was lucky enough to go with someone who could read Kanji. I didn’t ask if they had an English menu so I don’t know if they have one or not. This place was really small, regular tables and seats at the bar. The walls are just plywood, but don’t be fooled, the ramen here is really good as well!   


Directions to the ramen shops from POL gate: go straight  toward Towada City. You will see Shanghai Ryu first on your left (about 10-15km) and the other shop is after it  on the left next to a Lawson’s. A long blue building is behind it (I think they have batting cages there). 

Ramen-ya

One of the best things about living in Japan is all the ramen shops! I love love l-o-o-v-e noodles! Here are three good ramen restaurants I've been to in Misawa.

Ramen with a set

Gyoza at the black ramen house. It is so good!

salt ramen with vegetables

side order of rice with seaweed and pork

The first Ramen shop I don't know the name. It is a large black building in the same plaza as Docomo and it has a yellow sign with red kanji lettering. I


just call it the black ramen shop. This shop is a chain and they have one in Towada city as well.

This was the first time we had ramen. I like this place because you can choose a soup base (salt, miso or soy) and  whatever fillings you want (vegetable/pork etc) and you can have a set to go along with it (gyoza and pork bowl). 

Miso ramen with pork

Directions to black ramen house: from POL gate go straight through 3 traffic lights. After the third traffic light there will be a white building with pink letters that says "Docomo" in that same plaza is the black ramen house

pork ramen from Sapporo

The next Ramenya is my favorite. It is called Sapporo. It is a really small restaurant but the portions are huge and quality is excellent! You can order takeout from here too, but you need to bring your own container. How convenient! I will bring my own container next time, I always have a tough time finishing ramen because the portions are so big! There were three ladies cooking here and there is a bar and a section to sit down (shoes off, Japanese style). 

Directions to Sapporo: (from Misawa Life) Exit the POL gate and continue going straight thru about 4 lights. You will be looking for the Lawson's on the right and the ramen shop will be on the left. If you make it to the Universe Market you have gone to far. 

Even vegetable ramen comes with meat!

Raumen Yumeya

The last ramen shop we went to is called Yumeya. It is right next to Vikings and is hard to miss because their logo is a cat with balls and he is flexing. It is smaller than black ramen house but bigger than Sapporo. They also have a place to sit Japanese style. They also have regular tables and stools at the bar. You can have ramen here and they also have rice bowls. Here's a quick look at the menu.

Directions to Yumeya: From POL gate take a left at the first stoplight. Yumeya should be on your third left. You will see the sign.