Tryjin ramen 渡来人
What?
Tryjin (Toraijin; 渡来人), the famous Oarai ramen shop.
Where?
Onuki-cho 602-3, Oarai-machi, Higashiibaraki District, Ibaraki Prefecture, 311-1311/茨城県東茨城郡大洗町大貫町602−3/
Open: 11.30 am - 2 pm (lunch), 5 pm - 8 pm (dinner)
Closed on Mondays, Tuesdays
About
The story of Tryjin can only be described as that of passion. The owner of the restaurant has worked for many years in Tokyo as company employee, until one day he decided to follow his dreams and enter the culinary business. He worked at different restaurants to gain experience, and in 2007 he opened his own business, which he named Tryjin (Japanese: Toraijin, which translates into a person from overseas). When asked as to why he chose to run a ramen shop in Oarai, he just smiles and tells the story of good friendships and the small-town atmosphere, which he recommends everybody from a metropolis should experience. He also does not fail to mention that until Tryjin opened, Oarai did not have a flagship ramen restaurant.
You have to give it to him, his ramen truly stands out! The idea behind Tryjin was to create a flavour that you do not get easily bored of – in large cities like Tokyo ramen shops can offer unusual ramen combinations, but in the countryside you have to rely on a more regular customer base, so the flavour has to keep you coming for more. The regular menu is relatively small – chashu (char siu) ramen, miso ramen, and tsukemen, with the option of customising your order (vegetarian? No worries, you can swap meat for eggs or veg!). Additionally, Tryjin always offers a seasonal ramen, which comes with a twist – it can for instance feature typical Oarai products such as mentaiko (spiced pollack roe), butter and shirasu (whitebait).
Master’s passion for food is not limited to ramen – he also enjoys designing and creating different kinds of desserts. So if you’re a home-made dessert lover, Tryjin has got you covered! The pudding is to die for, there is always a different flavour of gelato on offer, not to mention the seasonal specials. No wonder people from Ibaraki (and other prefectures too!) drive all the way down to Oarai just to eat some Tryjin food!
What also distinguishes Tryjin from many other Oarai (and Ibaraki prefecture) shops is that the master speaks really good English! He’s lived in the UK for a few years, and he will be more than happy to tell you more about his food, or help you choose the perfect dish for you!
The shop is rather small, with two long shared tables and 5 seats at the counter; it get can very busy during both lunchtime and dinner time, so brace yourself~ the ramen, however, is worth the wait!
