멘야 카엔

I returned after hearing they had started spicy Iekei ramen. Every aspect has improved since opening day. The soup is extremely rich, but expresses that richness through depth of flavor rather than viscosity. The salinity is persuasive without becoming violent. Iekei can be delicious without being salty enough to scrape the roof of your mouth. The shop has now found its center completely.

Seoul Nat'l Univ. Station <Menya Kaen>. The successor to Gambare Uku-chan. Sharo-gil has surprisingly few good restaurants relative to its foot traffic and age group, but at last a straightforward ie-kei ramen shop has appeared. It is not extremely kotteri, yet the soup is clean with a clear character, and its potential explodes the moment minced garlic enters.