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Hiro Ramen A pork miso ramen bowl at Hiro Ramen in Ashland. [Mail Tribune / Nick Morgan] Friday May 26, 2017 at 12:01 AM Nick Morgan Mail Tribune @mtcrimebeat There's an abundance of great Japanese restaurants in Southern Oregon, but Ashland is finally home to the region's first ramen shop, Hiro Ramen. Hiro Ramen, open since March at 11 N. First St., sells 10 variants of the Japanese short-order staple, along with plenty of extras and a few other variables to make each bowl a one-of-a-kind experience. As a ramen shop first-timer, I found ordering surprisingly simple, thanks to a clearly laid-out menu and streamlined pricing. There's three soup bases: pork, chicken or vegetarian vegetable, and from there you pick from three broth flavors: soy sauce flavored Shoyu, savory Shio or the fermented flavor of Miso. The pork base has a fourth option, the bone broth Tonkotsu Ramen. I went for a pork miso ramen bowl on my visit, and even on a 90-degree day, I simply couldn't get enough of its rich broth. For someone whose prior ramen experiences mostly consisted of Cup Noodles in college, the delicious broth was such a pleasant surprise. I found the flavor savory without tasting salty, and with just a little bit of a spicy kick. Those who prefer their ramen spicy need only say so. My ramen was served in a bowl big enough to be considered large, though not quite as oversized as the ramen dishes Misoya in Medford serves. Inside my bowl was a hearty pile of fresh, firm noodles cooked to the Japanese equivalent of al dente, but the variety of toppings are what make ramen restaurants interesting. My pork miso ramen was topped with a single slice of roasted pork known as "chasu," bean sprouts, green onions, carrots, fresh corn kernels and half a seasoned hard-boiled egg.  The toppings are arranged in different places throughout the bowl, making for some little surprises as I worked my way through the bowl. Bean sprouts worked great with the noodles and I found the carrots and corn while I was working my way through the broth. Each ramen base has its own standard toppings, though it's easy to order them to taste. I heard a customer request theirs with no bean sprouts, for example. No matter what ramen dish you choose, the base price is the same: $9.50 plus Ashland's meals tax. Topping the extras list as most expensive is extra chasu for $3, which I'd recommend for heartier appetites. You can add kimchi or spring herbs for $2, an extra egg for $1.50, or extra vegetables such as corn, bean sprouts, tofu or bamboo for $1.  The chicken base ramen bowls come with similar toppings to the pork, while vegetable ramens include tofu, bean sprouts, mushrooms, green onions, spring herb, carrots, corn and a seasoned egg.  Service was very quick during my lunchtime visit, ready in just a couple minutes after I placed my order, which surprised me because of the steady lunch crowd inside. It makes for a great working lunch pick that's far more interesting than a sandwich. Those not in the mood for ramen can choose from a handful of Korean and Japanese style rice bowls with prices ranging between $9.50 and $11. Surfaces inside were clean and even when I'm picking nits my gripes are few. I'd prefer it if the restaurant weren't closed Mondays, and I wish finding a parking space nearby wasn't so difficult in Ashland. The latter complaint is hardly in the business' control. Hiro Ramen is one of those spots that makes dining fun with its rare mix of novelty and speed priced fairly.