Chinese Noodles Fumoto

The other day, after visiting “Yakimeshi to Men Kyoto” in Kawaramachi Sanjo, Kyoto, I learned that there’s a ramen shop called “Chinese Noodles Fumoto” in Hirakata City, Osaka. They really go all out with their ramen and fried rice, and I heard they now have eight locations across the Kansai region, including the main shop in Hirakata.

The fried rice and ramen I had there were definitely top-notch, so I thought, “Maybe I should check out the main shop…” So, I actually went there, and as for what the place was like…

The customer service goes beyond what you’d expect from a ramen shop… Chinese Noodles Fumoto is a shop like this…

Chinese Noodles Fumoto opened in June 2019 on the first floor of the North Wing of Biore in front of Keihan Hirakata-shi Station. A quick search reveals that this spot used to be home to Ramen-so Rekishi wo Kizame Hirakata. Apparently, Rekishi wo Kizame Hirakata was also a spot with long lines, so it seems this shop has taken over and is riding that wave. Expanding to eight locations in just seven to eight years since opening clearly shows they’re riding a wave of success right now. I bought a meal ticket from the vending machine on the right side of the entrance and went inside. There are only 10 seats at an L-shaped counter that wraps around the kitchen. While the kitchen area is fairly spacious, the counter seating felt a bit cramped in comparison. On the other hand, the staff’s service is cheerful and attentive; they even take the time to explain the menu to first-time customers before they buy their tickets. Honestly, I think this level of service goes beyond what you’d expect from a typical ramen shop.

I guess fried rice really does make a bigger impression than ramen… How did the most popular menu item at Chinese Noodles Fumoto—the Chashu Noodles and Half Fried Rice Set—actually turn out when I tried it?

So, let me introduce the most popular menu item I ordered that day at Chinese Noodles Fumoto: the Chashu Noodles and Half Fried Rice Set (price: 1,350 yen, tax included). About five minutes after ordering, the set was brought to my table, and this is what it looked like…

I think the ramen I had at “Yakimeshi to Men Kyoto” came with a total of three slices of rare chashu… Since this is the Chashu Noodles, the bowl came with enough chashu to go all the way around the rim. This really whets the appetite. As for the half portion of fried rice, this is also quite substantial. It might even be as much as a full serving of fried rice at other restaurants.

Well then, let’s start with the soup… It’s a double broth made from seafood and pork, with a fairly robust flavor. The soy sauce has a sharp, clean finish, and there’s a subtle sweetness lurking in the background. However, this is just my personal impression, but I feel the flavor differs from the soup in Yakimeshi to Men Kyoto’s Chinese noodles. Well, there’s no reason to serve the same ramen when the brand names are different…

The noodles are house-made, made from Hokkaido-grown “Yumechikara” wheat blended with whole wheat flour. The thin noodles are easy to slurp, and cooked al dente, they offer a satisfying, firm bite.

Then there are six slices of rare chashu topped with shallot oil. Like the rare chashu at Yakimeshi to Men Kyoto, it appears to be marinated in a soy sauce-based sauce infused with red wine. As always, my untrained palate couldn’t detect the wine flavor, but the thinly sliced, lean meat is quite light and refreshing. So, I recommend dipping it thoroughly in the soup before eating rather than eating it as is.

And finally, the half-portion fried rice. Just like the fried rice I had in Kyoto, the rice grains are cooked quite firm, offering a fluffy texture along with a satisfying chew. The way this fried rice is made feels like a Chinese Noodles Fumoto Group original, and there’s a clear difference from other fried rice dishes. Whether you like that difference is up to you, but for me, this one is better than the fried rice at Sōdaishō…

So, I finished Chinese Noodles Fumoto’s most popular menu item—the Chashu Noodles and Half Fried Rice Set—in about 10 minutes and left the restaurant. Both the chashu noodles and the half fried rice were satisfying, but the fried rice left a stronger impression. I think I understand why they put “Yakimeshi” (fried rice) at the forefront of their second brand. If only I could order this fried rice as a standalone dish…

For takeout, fried rice is available as a standalone item… Chinese Noodles Fumoto is a 3-minute walk from the nearest station, Hirakata-shi Station on the Keihan Electric Railway.

Chinese Noodles Fumoto offers takeout, and there’s even a button on the ticket machine specifically for takeout fried rice…

As for the price, a regular portion of fried rice is 670 yen, and a large portion is 970 yen. You’d definitely buy this! With fried rice, you don’t have to worry about the noodles getting soggy, so it’s perfect for takeout. If you get the chance, be sure to give this fried rice a try.

Now, here are the shop details…

P.S. If you are looking for delicious ramens in Osaka, please stop by this article below…