Mashiko, Tochigi, Japan｜大功

A hidden gem: Surprisingly good miso ramen in the inaka. We were looking for ramen that has garlic and happened to find this restaurant online. When we arrived, the area seemed sketchy and the exterior of the restaurant was even sketchier. Still, we went inside and it was not bad at all. The lady was really nice and warm when she welcomed us. Felt like it was home inside. We both ordered 肉みそラーメン (Nikku miso ramen/meat miso ramen) since it's the most famous menu. Soup: A good mix of garlicky and miso flavors. It was really delicious. They also use Aomori garlic which is good quality garlic in Japan. Noodles: There was a lot even for normal size and the chewiness was just right for me. Meat: Lots of small cut pork meat and that added fat on the soup. Price: 650 yen for the regular bowl, 700 for spicy version. That's actually really cheap for this good bowl of ramen. Overall, it was an enjoyable meal in a cozy place. The old couple running it seemed like really nice people too. Highly recommend this place and will definitely come back.

Visited on a Saturday after 2pm. The meat miso half fried rice set was delicious. It's lighter than it looks, and the sweetness of the pork belly is gentle. The mother was a friendly person, and she said sorry that the cold water wasn't cold enough (it was past its peak time) and gave me a bottle of lemon water.

I visited the store right after it opened on a rainy Sunday and had the "Niku Miso Ramen Garlic Flavor." The appearance of the store, the inside of the store, and the personality of the owner and landlady were all things that I liked. And the taste was really delicious with the spiciness of garlic added to the sweet soup. I would definitely like to visit again.