Shabu shabu Wagyu Ramen @Mendokoro Kiwami, Daimyo, Fukuoka

 

I have tried various types of noodles throughout my stints in Japan thus far. From seafood to vegan and everything in between. I even had wagyu in my ramen bowl before. Despite that, this is an absolute first. Shabu shabu wagyu ramen? Now that is some eclectic imagination there. 

Front of the menu! Shows to you how proud they are for this dish

Mendokoro Kiwami Daimyo-ten  (麺処 極み 大名店), is a ramen joint located in the nightlife center of Fukuoka City. It has a similar name to the previously visited prawn ramen spot I went to in Tokyo (click here if you would like to know more) , but it has no relation. But what it has in common was both of them were recommended by the same friend. Risa, you are a serious legend. 

Vibrant crimson

Among some of the dishes in store were the usual soy sauce and shio ramen, with a few rice dishes. However, the one that caught my attention was the more exciting ones like lemon and you guessed it, shabu shabu wagyu ramen. And it is not just any basic cut of beef, but rather A5! Now, this is something I should not miss. But before I dug in, another meaty morsel was highlighted on the menu that caught my attention, and that was horse sashimi. And that was the starter for the day. 

Saucy close-up

Honestly speaking, this was not the first time I had bassashi, which is what horse sashimi is called locally. However, It was quite a while ago, and as such I could not remember the taste. So how does it taste? It was gamey tasting with a punch of savouriness, as one would expect from a slice of exotic red meat. It was surprisingly lean with little fat at all. Despite that, I was quite chewy and firm. It took a little effort in chewing it, but it was not rubbery like a cheap cut of steak. 

The pairing with ginger and onion really worked wonders!

To pair with this, the horse meat slices were served with minced ginger, chopped onions, and a side of chopped aromatic vegetables. Also, even though it has a strong taste to it, it does not have a pungent aftertaste that comes with raw beef. People who eat lots of rare steaks will probably know what I mean. If you would like a salty tinge to your horse sashimi, you can dip it in a flavoured soy sauce like how you would have regular seafood sashimi. 

Probably the most interesting ramen setup there is. 

With regard to the bowl of noodles itself, it was a really good bowl. You would first have to tip into the bowl that has been loaded with a fatty slice of raw beef and noodles, a hot broth to cook off that raw beef. That is where the shabu shabu aspect comes in, as it cooks off the beef like a hot pot. A genius move if you ask me. 

Down the hatch we go!

It may look gimmicky, but I think it makes this bowl of noodles stand out as it flavours the overall dish in a unique way. The soup was clear but rich as heat will enable the fat from the wagyu to break and melt into the broth, thus flavouring it. If you like a beefy and savoury broth, but you cannot seem to get that fix, then this bowl is the answer to all your problems. Despite such an intense flavour, the broth was quite crisp and had a clean mouth-feel, if that even makes sense. 

After a good mixing. 

The cooked beef that was left behind ended up to be a good charshu alternative. It was chewy and tender, with all the delicate flavour you can get from a slice of beef of this caliber. It was really good. There is also a dipping sauce for you to slather your beef before going all out on it. Honestly, this gave it another edge of flavour which I like.  The noodles were unfortunately pretty standard fare. It was good and does the job, but it has a similar feel and texture as most ramen places I have been to already. Still, a respectable take. 

Oh boy!

Was this the best ramen I ever had? Not quite, but then again it also depends on what you are basing that assessment on. Still, it was quite tasty and I left pretty satisfied But was it interesting? It definitely was. It was a different take on what I have been used to and I will definitely give it a recommendation for people who are just tired on the normal slurp and dunk routine. And the price is pretty decent as well. The ramen stood at 1000 yen while the bassashi was for 980 yen. So if you would like to have a punchy yet soothing bowl of beef ramen, then you are at the right place. And if that has piqued your interest, the address is as follows:

〒810-0041 Fukuoka, Chuo Ward, Daimyo, 1 Chome−6−13 バルビゾン 95 1F

Front of the house. The lantern makes it an easy find.