Limited to 50 Servings: Punk Machida’s Ramen Shop Unveils Tonkotsu Obsession
FRIDAY reporter also tasted it!
“Anyone who tries our ramen becomes a repeat customer without fail!”
So says Punk Machida (55), a zoologist who’s a frequent face on television. In April of this year, he opened the ramen restaurant “Ramen Gorji” in Asahi City, Chiba Prefecture.
“I’ve always loved ramen and wanted to try my hand at it myself. Actually, I ran a ramen shop about ten years ago, but since I cooked outdoors, the heat intensity varied depending on how the wind blew, and I couldn’t achieve the desired quality. This time, I built the entire shop from scratch.”
The signature dish, “Gorji Ramen” (¥1200), is limited to 50 servings per day, which is attributed to Machida’s commitment to quality.
“We use only SPF pork from Sangen pigs for the soup, and we carefully select the meat and bones, so we can’t obtain any more raw materials. Some ramen shops claim to use ‘pork bone soup’ but actually add fish powder or vegetables, but we only use pork bones. It’s freshly butchered, so it’s fresh and rich in collagen. Our quality sets us apart from others!”
With a confident expression, Machida placed his meticulously crafted bowl in front of the reporters. Toppings include roasted pork, bamboo shoots, egg, and simplicity. Taking a sip of the soup, which is accentuated by the back fat, reveals a rich umami flavor of pork bone and a sharp soy sauce taste that spreads throughout the mouth, surprisingly leaving a refreshing aftertaste. It’s understandable why Machida proudly boasts that customers come from all over the country.
Could ramen made by a man who knows animals inside out be worth a try?
From the May 24, 2024 issue of FRIDAY
PHOTO： Takayuki Ogawauchi
