中華そば 塩 / Chūka Soba Shio / Chūka Soba Dokoro Konpirasō — Tsuruoka, Yamagata

Clear tanrei soup is crafted from a blend of chicken, pork and fish stock. The fish stock contains flying fish that are dried then grilled (tobiuo no yakiboshi). Medium-width high-hydration wavy noodles are house-made. Topped with pork chashu, bamboo shoots, negi and sesame seeds. Also pictured is the house-recommended shoyu menma chūka soba.

Master Kakegami-san dropped out of college (in Saitama) at the age of 20 to return home and start working at his father’s robatayaki restaurant. Eventually he would go on to take over operations of his family’s ryokan (inn), which was opened by his grandmother in the 1960’s. After running the inn for several years, Kakegami-san decided to start serving ramen there, but only during the cold winter months (the time most difficult to bring in customers). He is self taught, having never apprenticed at another ramen shop. Open October to May for lunch only, 11am-2pm. 48 seats. Since 2002.