Hello there, noodle explorers! Today I’m going to share “Yomo-men” with you. “Yomo” is derived from the Japanese word “Yomogi” which means Japanese mugwort, and “men” means noodles. Thus, “Yomo-men” are the mugwort-blended green noodles offered at “Yomo-men to Izakaya Tenki” in Ozu town and taste like neither Udon nor Ramen, offering a unique taste!! 

“Yomomen” in Ozu Town

“Yomomen and Izakaya Tenki” is located along the old Route 57 (Prefectural Road 30) that connects Kumamoto City to Aso. Make a turn at Ozu Post Office to find it. The restaurant on the left is Izakaya and the right one is Yomo-men. 

Look at the signboard in the photo above! It reads “Yomo-men are the mugwort-blended noodles topped with plenty of ginger and simmered horsemeat”. What a mouthwatering explanation! Plenty of ginger and simmered horsemeat!? I can’t wait to eat! Let’s dive into the restaurant right away!!

Get your meal ticket at this ticket machine upon entering.

“Yomo-men and Basuji Don Combo” (1,150 yen with tax) tempted me, so I couldn’t help but order it.

The interior exudes warmth with its intimate counter seating and a quaint raised tatami area, which is called “Koagari” in Japanese. I hand over my ticket and eagerly anticipate the arrival of Yomomen.          Oh, I forgot to tell you this: in “Koagari”, it is preferable that you sit in Seiza style which is the traditional and formal way of sitting in Japan. And what’s more, “Koagari” may be somewhat small for more than two or three people to sit in. So if you visit here with your friends, choosing counter seating may be recommended.

Slippery and chewy texture! Their strictly selected noodles!

“Yomo-men” arrives first! The green noodles are peering out from the rich soup, and some horse meat, green onion, and plenty of ginger are added.

The texture of the mugwort-blended noodles is like the combination between Udon and Ramen. It’s astonishingly slippery but tastes so firm. What a wonderful taste!!

According to the owner, they have been exploring the best blending since 2012, the year they opened this restaurant. Indeed, it doesn’t taste grassy at all!

The soup is made from horse borne and seasoned with Kyushu soy sauce, so it tastes salty-sweet and so rich, matching the noodles unbelievably. Actually, I’ve never heard of horse bone broth, and I learned that it was difficult for them to get them since there are few horse bone suppliers.

They spend all day preparing the horsemeat by simmering it after eliminating any gameiness, which will make them so tender!! 

When mixed with the generous helping of ginger, the dish transforms, offering a burst of clarity and freshness.

Basuji Don” Offers an Amazing Taste too!

While I was stunned with “Yomo-men”, “Basuji-don” (horse tendon rice bowl) was served next. “Basuji” is the stewed horsemeat (sometimes flavored simply with sake and soy sauce). And look at this. A soft-boiled egg is on the top!! Needless to say, it matched rice very well.

Alternating between the Yomomen soup and the tendon bowl creates an endless loop of savory satisfaction. Ordering this combo was a good decision, wasn’t it?

You can also Take Their Dishes away!

Good News – you can also take “Yomo-men” away! Apparently, they sold them as the season-limited edition at the end of each year, but now they are available at any season!! 

Refreshing in Summer and Warming in Winter! Enjoy “Yomomen” in Any Season!!

Thanks to the ginger, Yomomen is a versatile dish – refreshing and light for summer days, yet hearty enough to warm you up in winter.  The taste of their meticulously crafted noodles is beyond description!!

 While primarily a lunch offering, it also features on the izakaya menu, making it an excellent choice for a comforting final dish to wrap up a night out. If you get curious about the bizarre but addictive “Yomo-men”, please give it a shot!!!

Yomomen and Izakaya Tenki