ZUND-BAR — Restaurant in Atsugi

🍜 ZUND-BAR Classic - 塩 / zund-bar classic - shio 🇯🇵 zund-bar / aikoishida, kanagawa 🗓️ 07/08/2024

(@wei.oframen on ig for my ramen adventure 😚)

ZUND-BAR is the original shop of the famous Afuri franchise with many locations in Tokyo and overseas. The name Afuri came from the fact that ZUND-BAR sits at the bottom of Mt. Afuri (aka Mt. Oyama). They serve several bowls from their regular Afuri locations but have a ZUND-BAR exclusive which is the Classic. The Classic is an extremely light bowl with toppings served on the side. I opted for the shio because people usually associate Afuri with their Yuzu Shio after all. The broth was also made with the mountain spring water and local ingredients without any chemical enhancers iirc. tbh this bowl was almost too light for me. I can barely taste any depth of flavor in the broth and the noodles had this weird grainy, mushy texture that I'm not a fan of. The toppings were placed over a bed of rice and I felt like I ended up enjoying the toppings with the rice more than the ramen itself. For the price of the Classic and the effort to travel all the way here, I don't think it's really worth it unless you also have a plan for the onsen nearby. Again, my opinion is for the Classic alone, maybe it's more viable if you get the other bowls that Afuri does really well. However, it's definitely a cool shop with a cool atmosphere for the ramen history nerds. When using public transportation, the bus is the only way to get within walking distance of the shop. The closest station is Aikoishida but I think it's better to get off at Hon-Atsugi and take the 33 bus cuz this bus stops much closer...

We really enjoy this ramen restaurant! The yuzu ramen is really unique...it has a slightly sour flavor that mixes well with the spiciness. It is a great meal for a chilly day.

That being said, it is a popular restaurant, with people coming from all over to eat there, so sometimes there is quite a line. You can avoid that by arriving early.

On a final note, don't skip the awesome soft serve ice cream on...

神奈川県厚木市の山間にひっそりと佇むZUND-BARは、AFURI系列の総本山として、その名に恥じない洗練された淡麗ラーメンを提供する名店です。お店の最大の魅力は、何と言っても丹沢山系の澄んだ天然水を使用したスープ。この水が、ラーメンの透明感のある風味を一層際立たせています。淡麗とまろ味、どちらを選んでも深い味わいが楽しめますが、塩ラーメンを頼むなら、鶏油が控えめな「淡麗」がおすすめ。鶏の旨味と柚子の風味が絶妙に絡み合い、最後の一滴まで飲み干さずにはいられません。

ZUND-BARは、もともとAFURIのスタート地点とも言える歴史的な店舗で、20年にわたりその地でラーメンを提供してきました。シンプルな内装も魅力の一つで、ラーメン屋というよりもカフェのような落ち着いた空間が広がり、天井が高く開放感があります。食事をしながら、周囲の美しい自然を感じることができるのも、この店ならではの贅沢です。

混雑時は長い行列ができるため、タイミングが重要。呼び出し時に不在の場合並び直しが必要なため、店前でしっかりと待機しましょう。また、お店ではソフトクリームも名物の一つで、ラーメンを食べた後、多くの客がテイクアウトしている姿が見受けられます。甘さ控えめで濃厚な味わいのソフトクリームは、食後のデザートにぴったりです。

ZUND-BARでは、ラーメンだけでなく、デザートやサイドメニューにもこだわりがあり、本枯節のおかかごはんや炙りコロチャーシュー飯も絶品。お腹に余裕があれば、ぜひ試してみてください。

ZUND-BAR is a famous ramen shop located in the mountains of Atsugi, known for its clear, flavorful broth made with pure water from the Tanzawa mountains. The menu offers both tanrei (light) and maro (rich) versions of the broth, but the tanrei version, especially with the salt flavor, is highly recommended for its delicate balance of chicken and yuzu flavors. The restaurant has a relaxed, cafe-like atmosphere and is popular with visitors. Be prepared for long lines, and don't miss the chance to try their soft-serve ice cream...