白味噌つけ麺 - White Miso Tsukemen ￥880
It looks as though there could be an interesting rivalry between the interestingly-named Tonpooh and it's next door neighbour which also just happens to be a ramen shop. Tonpooh is on the right and was open during Golden Week which made the choice a little easier. Since we were in the countryside a little Japanese tradition remained and we were seated on a tatami floor.
And joined by a friendly toothpick holder...
With another customer throwing a tantrum since someone else on her table had mistakenly started eating her bowl before his had arrived, I decided to study how to eat the tsukemen in case there were any secret tips or tricks.
Here you squeeze the lemon into your soup rather than your noodles. It always confuses me which they recommended for us (and how much of a difference it makes. Speaking of which they pointed out that the soup was very thick and advised to get the assari (less oily) but we went for the futsu (regular) anyway.
It was as thick and gritty as it looks. But I really enjoyed it. I should mention that miso ramen was a conscious decision as the local delicacy in Chichibu seems to miso potato which is a very representative name. (How this hasn't caught on in other parts of Japan, I don't know.)
The chashu resembled a flame-grilled hamburger and managed to hit the spot.
When it was time to finish the soup there was no way we were going to be able to stomach the sauce-like broth so it was time to call for soup wari. When our bowls returned we got a little shio ume smeared onto the inside to mix in with the broth. A little surprise.
Sappari.
And then onto the business of why we came to Chichibu in the first place - to see the shiba zakura.
And have some of that miso potato.
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