I searched for some good ramen shops in Matsumoto, and I thought miso ramen would be the best choice for such a cold night. So, I visited Mensho Sakura (麺匠 佐蔵), which is not far from my hotel. They are located in the renovated KURA (warehouse), which has a really nice atmosphere.
They have an upstairs area with some tables on the second floor as well. The first floor only has counter seats. I didn’t take a photo of the ticket vending machine. They sell ramen and tsukemen, all featuring miso soup. Options include Sakura miso ramen (佐蔵味噌らぅめん), seafood miso ramen (魚介味噌らぅめん), vegetable miso ramen (野菜味噌らぅめん), baked miso ramen (焦がし味噌らぅめん), and more. Additionally, they also prepare Kurobuta pork gyoza. It was winter, and with Covid-19 spreading, they keep all windows and doors open. As a result, it was as cold as outside.
I ordered Sakura miso ramen with Ajitama. All additional toppings are 100 yen each. I bought one “topping ticket,” and the staff asked me what I would like. So, I said, “Ajitama, please.” The ramen has long bamboo shoots and roast pork. It also has minced pork seasoned with miso, which I mixed into the soup and ate.
They use a special miso, Anyoji miso (安養寺味噌). Anyoji miso is said to be the origin of Shinshu miso. Their miso soup has a rich taste and texture. Additionally, the soup has a pork bone broth. It had a slightly sticky texture, but it wasn’t greasy or overly strong. It was mild. Their medium-wide noodles dressed with the rich soup were awesome. Of course, it was great as miso ramen, but I found myself saying, “The miso was awesome…” after eating. The power of Anyoji miso is impressive all the same.
And the roast pork was fatty and delicious.
They only offer medium-sized bottled beers, so I ordered highball. Needless to say, sparkling drinks are suitable for ramen even on such a cold night, no matter how chilly it gets… 🙂
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Name Mensho Sakura (麺匠 佐蔵)
Open Lunch, Dinner
Reservation Unavailable
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