Ramen Hiiragi

Hiiragi is a Nagasaki ramen shop that takes a sharp turn from the city's usual champon and sara udon into something more unexpected: tomato-based broth with eggplant, creating a bowl that reads almost Mediterranean until the Japanese tare underneath reasserts itself. The combination sounds unusual but works as a cohesive dish rather than a novelty. The portions are generous and the shop is compact, moving quickly at lunch. It is worth seeking out for anyone curious about how far Japanese ramen has stretched as a form.