A couple of weeks ago, a couple of colleagues and I decided to spend some time in Miyanoshita, Hakone. After settling into our ryokan, our dinner choices ended up being either a very funny American-themed restaurant or this nice ramen place near our ryokan with roasted duck. So here we are at 麺398-1 (Men 398-1)!
Before talking about the ramen though, I kinda wanted to talk about this hazy IPA from Gora, town in Hakone (and close by to Miyanoshita). I remember being surprised on how fruity but not too hoppy it was. Having it in the ice cold glass was refreshing after a day of traveling. If you're looking for a beer that isn't too boozy but not too light from the hops, it's worth finding even in the 7-11s.
Okay, back to ramen. I was surprised to see the mountain of mustard greens, roasted okra, and scallions on the dish. Since I got a salt ramen, it ended up being a really light but substantial dinner. If I needed a bit of a flavor punch, the blow torched duck was seasoned really nicely and not too gamey. The broth was just really simple, nothing too crazy (though some of that duck did impart flavor to the broth) and the thin noodles complimented it well. The pumpkin and the slice of radish didn't do too much (but did retain their own taste) and the roasted okra was just a fun garnish.
Overall, just a good time if you're in Miyanoshita and can't find a table at an izakaya or sushi restaurant.
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