快老麺 / Kairō-men / Souhonke Kourai Dojo — Nagoya, Aichi

The original Kourai style ramen. 'Medicinal' shoyu soup contains chicken carcasses, pork bones, onions, carrots and garlic. Medium-thick straight noodles are special ordered. Kairō-men comes topped with tororo kombu and nori. Ginseng vinegar and chili oil recommended free condiments.

Master Kenji Ohashi is the third-generation owner of Kourai Dojo. He is the son-in-law of founder Akira Kaede, who opened a ramen street cart in the late 1950's named 'Kourai.' Many of Kaede-san's apprentices have gone on to open their own stores independently, today there are an estimated 20 or so shops around Nagoya that serve Kourai style ramen. Master Ohashi-san is now in his mid seventies, he starts preparing for service each day at 7:00 in the morning. The store is only open for lunch, 11am-2pm or until sold out (80 bowls per day). After the store closes, Ohashi-san continues to prepare for service the next day, finishing work each night around 7pm. 10 seats. Since 1959.