Sharing Nostalgic Ramen with Ramen Adventures’ Brian MacDuckston at Koukaiya in Shinjuku Nama Japan 2026-09-29 | Sharing Nostalgic Ramen with Ramen Adventures’ Brian MacDuckston at Koukaiya in Shinjuku
Youki is Hiroshima‘s Best Ranked Ramen Shop Nama Japan 2024-04-03 | Chukasoba Youki (中華そば 陽気) is the highest ranked ramen shop in Hiroshima city and Hiroshima prefecture. Youki serves tonkotsu ramen that is seasoned with shoyu tare and traditionally flanked by a big onigiri rice ball. The recipe of the ramen has remained unchanged since the shop opened in 1957 and gives us a tasty glimpse into ramen history.The ramen have a rather light pork bone soup base, combined with a moderately salty soy sauce seasoning. Overall in kind of of reminded me of a light variant of iekei ramen, although they do not share a common history. The ramen is topped with blanched sprouts and a heap of negi green onion. The chashu is quite old school and reminded me of Kitakata style chashu, lightly flavored with a good bite.The onigiri rice ball is made with high quality rice and seasoned with salt. It does not contain any filling. For me personally, similar to iekei, rice is the perfect finisher for this type of ramen.You can find the Youki main location a bit outside of the city center of Hiroshima within the port area to the South. You can get close to it via tram to Eba station or by taking the bus line 6. There are also Youki ramen shop locations near Hiroshima station and the Peace Memorial Museum.If you find yourself down there, maybe also consider making a stop at rit. craft chocolate and coffee for some great dessert and coffee.Find Chukasoba Youki (中華そば 陽気) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/KkFSTfLvVyS9HfD37?g_st=ic#ramen #tonkotsu #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapan
Kanda Ramen Waizu: Iekei Tonkotsu with Curly Temomi Noodles Nama Japan 2024-03-17 | Kanda Waizu (神田ラーメンわいず) is an iekei style tonkotsu-shoyu ramen shop in Kanda, as the name suggests. By now, Waizu has grown in fame and opened multiple locations in Japan and outside of Japan, although with varying menus. In Japan, it’s unmistakably an iekei shop with a bit of a twist.Just like other tonkotsu-shoyu iekei ramen shops, you will get a rich and creamy tonkotsu soup, seasoned with a quite salty shoyu sauce based tare. So far so normal for iekei style ramen. What’s different is the noodles. Here you are getting hand massaged curly temomi noodles, which are relatively long and have a very nice bite to them. They’re in my eyes a perfect vehicle to slurp up soup together with them. It’s the first iekei shop I’ve been to that has this type of noodles and it half convinced me that temomi noodles are the superior option, compared to the typical short and medium thickness straight noodles.Soup wise, I really enjoyed what Waizu served. Just a tad of funk, but nothing overwhelming.Location wise, Waizu is super easy to access if you are around the Akihabara or Tokyo station area.Find Kanda Waizu (神田ラーメンわいず) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/KkFSTfLvVyS9HfD37?g_st=ic#ramen #tonkotsu #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapan
Old School Light Ramen at Daisangen in Musashi-Kosugi Nama Japan 2024-03-05 | Daisangen (大三元) is a super classic chuka style Chinese restaurant basically next to Musashi-Kosugi that serves some really old school light ramen with proper fixings for the hungry afterwork crowds.Ramen is just one of the many meals offered at Daisangen. You will find many other Chinese food classics such as gyoza or fried rice. But you will see many people have those flanked with a bowl of ramen. One of the reasons for that is the exceptional lightness of the ramen here. Yes, you might get a different impression from my bowl, but that’s mainly due to the toppings that I voluntarily added. The soup at Daisangen is light and mild, you could call it an everyday bowl. For some, I fear, it might be too light. So please be aware if you come here for a bowl of ramen. If light ramen isn’t your jam, you should probably get the gyoza and fried rice instead, since they looked phenomenal.Find Daisangen (大三元) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/i2z6SQPQf4uUBsPq6?g_st=ic#ramen #shoyuramen #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapan
Over 70 Years or Ramen History at Chukasoba Mitaka Nama Japan 2024-02-25 | Chukasoba Mitaka (中華そば みたか) looks back to an over 70 year old history of ramen making at its current spot. Opened in 1949 as Chukasoba Eguchi, the shop was handed into the second generation, which changed the name, but kept essentially everything else the same.I was accompanied on this ramen adventure by Cody aka Ramenguidejapan, whose ramen reviews you can find at: ramenguidejapan.comThe nostalgia seeps out of everything in this shop. From the shop itself, the interior, the cooking methods and the final ramen itself, everything reminds you of a time that has long gone. But here, it is kept alive.First of all, the ramen here is an absolute steal. 600 Yen for a basic bowl, which currently isn’t even $5 USD. The version with extra wantan and chashu clocks in at 900 Yen. Go with that one, you won’t regret it.The ramen here has all kind of interesting features, even though it looks like a regular old school chukasoba style shoyu ramen bowl. The bowl is seemingly put together in a haphazard way, using renge style ramen spoons to ladle out 1 spoonful of shoyu tare and 2 spoonfuls of aroma oil, which are mixed with a GOOD helping of msg and a clear broth. The result is a quite punching soup that is hard to stop slurping down to the end.The soup is combined with interestingly thick noodles, more akin to what you would find in something like tonkotsu-gyokai tsukemen. The noodles, just as everything else, is boiled in the same pot of boiling water that doesn’t seem to get changed all that often. The noodles are removed quite early and placed into the hot soup, only then the wantan get boiled. For a moment I was worried that I would get soft noodles, but the thickness helped them stay basically al dente when they arrived in front of me. The wantan are the small filling type with quite large dough flaps which provide a welcome texture change to the thick noodles.The chashu is quite classic pork, not very strongly seasoned. It is prepared by frying in lard first and then boiling in shoyu seasoning sauce.Honestly, this is the kind of bowl of ramen I could eat every other day. Luckily this shop isn’t anywhere near where I live, because I probably would show up 1-2 per week in addition to my regular ramen exploits.If you make it here, I can recommend checking out the coffee shop “Lisbon” next door, which is a super old school coffee shop with ridiculously cheap coffee and sandwiches, but made with quality ingredients and experience. Hard to beat in combination with Chukasoba Mitaka. Go try the combo.Find Chukasoba Mitaka (中華そば みたか) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/pMVk5odQ1n3pq9rdA#ramen #shoyuramen #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapan
Sennotori is Noodle Nerd Heaven in Tokyo Nama Japan 2024-02-12 | Sennotori (中華そば 千乃鶏) is the second shop of the legendary Senrigan Jiro inspired ramen shop near Shimo-Kitazawa. You can find Sennotori closer to Shibuya, almost next to Ikejiri-Ohashi station, which is one stop from Shibuya.If you make your way to Sennotori, it’s absolutely because of the noodles, which are the star at this shop. The noodles are thick and flat, very slurpy and overall just super fun to eat. They are so confident in the quality of their noodles that they serve it “kamatama” style, which is popular for udon. For kamatama style, the noodles come hot and steaming out of the boiling pot of water directly into the bowl and get topped with only light seasoning and egg yolk, which you’re supposed to mix thoroughly with the noodles. The result is an almost carbonara like ramen dish that puts the noodles in focus. Be aware that kamatama style mazesoba are only served during dinner service.During the rest of the day, Sennotori serves regular ramen and tsukemen in shoyu and shio ramen variants. Although I would argue that most people go for the shoyu here, so I would recommend doing the same.The ramen soup is a bit on the mirin heavy side, with a distinct sweetness to it. The tsukemen does not have this, which makes me think that they have different tare for the ramen and the tsukemen. Another point for the tsukemen is that they get served as kombusui tsukemen, which means that the noodles come served in kombu water. Allegedly this enhances the umami even further and acts as natural flavor enhancer. I personally don’t think it does much, but it’s also not a negative.Looking at the toppings, you get big slabs of pork chashu which are very tender and well seasoned. The eggs are really well executed. Another highlight at Sennotori are the plump wantan, which are filled to the brim with minced meat.It’s hard not to recommend Sennotori, especially for noodle nerds it is almost a must try, since the noodles are just so good.Find Sennotori (中華そば 千乃鶏) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/qV7Ts1Nr67xwuWF47#ramen #tsukemen #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapan
Tokyos Best Newcomer Miso Ramen: Boku no Miso Ramen Nama Japan 2024-01-24 | Boku no Miso Ramen (ぼくのみそらーめん) is the winner of the newcomer category of the 2023-2024 edition of the TRY "Tokyo Ramen of the Year" ramen magazine which is published once a year, always around October.Boku no Miso Ramen is a curious choice as it is technically not in Tokyo, but in Saitama. Although Saitama is part of the Greater Tokyo Area, usually TRY had sharp boundaries around the Tokyo metropolis. But maybe Boku no Miso Ramen convinced them to change their approach and allow nearby shops as well.The miso ramen at Boku no Miso Ramen is a good representative of the Tokyo style of heavy miso ramen. Compared to the Sapporo style of miso ramen, you will find less of a lard cap on top of the ramen. On the other hand the soup is more viscous and emulsified, closing in on gravy territory. It does trade some punch and sharpness for creaminess. Which one is better, heavily depends on your personal preference.The noodles are definitely on the thicker side for this type of miso ramen. But the chonky noodles fit very well to the rich soup and provide a good counterpart for a great balance.The toppings are also part of the balancing act for the soup. A rather lean pork chashu, which should be dipped into the soup first to juice it up. Blanched sprouts and cabbage bits for crunch and freshness.Overall, I can see that Boku no Miso Ramen might be the best miso ramen in Saitama. For miso ramen in Tokyo, I would see them in the upper miso ramen ranks, but not all the way at the top. However, they are a very strong miso ramen newcomer and deserve their time in the ramen spotlight.You can find Boku no Miso Ramen very close to Takasaka station which is serviced by the Tobu-Tojo Line. The station is easily accessible from most main stations on Tokyo's East side, such as Ikebukuro, Shinjuku or Shibuya.You should also check out Cody's ramen review website for tons of great ramen reviews to plan out your ramen trip to Japan: ► ramenguidejapan.comFind Boku no Miso Ramen (ぼくのみそらーめん) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/5A2LBnbcXCQApW6CA#ramen #misoramen #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapan
Incredible Flat Ramen Noodles at Hinari Ryuo Nama Japan 2024-01-10 | Ramentei Hinari Ryuo (らーめん亭 ひなり竜王) is another great shop in the list of ramen shops by the Waka Group, which runs shops like WAKA Tokyo (和渦TOKYO) and Men Kurai (MENクライ). They are well known for their fantastic noodles, which are also the highlight at Hinari Ryuo.Since the noodles are what you come here for, let's start with them. I am personally a big fan of flat noodles, which Hinari Ryuo delivers in an excellent way. Not only flat, but also extremely slurpable and with a good bite, they are a real treat for all noodle enthusiasts.But the fun does not stop there. I absolutely recommend splurging on the tokusei version, so you get all the 5 (if I counted correctly) types of pork and chicken chashu, as well as plump wantan dumplings and a great ajitama ramen egg, with an incredibly bright orange-red egg yolk. After the noodles, the toppings were definitely a highlight with lots of variety in terms of flavor, texture and preparation style. I was also a big fan of their crunchy small menma. I can recommend getting an extra order of menma with your bowl, at least I will do that during my next visit.The soup was very chicken forward with a good layer of chicken flat floating on top. The chicken broth is combined with a quite raw and impactful shoyu tare which has a bit of a sour twist.One tip if you make your way to Hinari Ryuo is to check their Twitter account (twitter.com/hinariryuou) to learn about the content for their "trinity bowl" (三位一体), which has almost daily changing content and is only made in limited quantity each day.You should also check out Cody's ramen review website for tons of great ramen reviews to plan out your ramen trip to Japan: ► ramenguidejapan.comYou can find Hinari Ryuo a short walk from Umeyashiki Station, which is along the Keikyu Main Line, easily accessible from Shinagawa or Yokohama.Find Ramentei Hinari Ryuo (らーめん亭 ひなり竜王) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/g9WA2wdi6VQhXCBBA#ramen #shoyuramen #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapan
Earth Tokyo in Stuttgart - The New Ramen King in Germany? Nama Japan 2023-12-31 | Earth Tokyo is the newest ramen shop in Stuttgart, Germany. Owned and operated by Japanese people, this shop created quite some hype and high hopes for the ramen scene in Stuttgart.Earth Tokyo has quite an extensive menu of ramen, which includes shoyu ramen, miso ramen and tantanmen, plus all ramen are also available in a vegetarian friendly version. Meat and veggie gyoza are also available plus some other small side dishes..Find Earth Tokyo on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/CPv2zfMwKqHcF1om8?g_st=ic#ramen #stuttgart #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Junk Style Mazesoba in Saitama at JUMP Nama Japan 2023-12-24 | Jump (ジャンプ) is a Jiro inspired ramen shop in Saitama that specializes in junk style mazesoba, heavy hitting and rich bowls of ramen. Jump has a direct lineage to Junk Garage, an almost legendary junk style mazesoba shop, which has spawned half a location with its own brand by now.If you are a fan of Jiro style mazesoba and junk style mazesoba, then Jump near Kasukaba station is a must visit for you.Find Jump (ジャンプ) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/UaPjX5rTfsAVLnxj9?g_st=ic#ramen #mazesoba #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapan
Spicy Miso Ramen at Tokyo Hanasancho Nama Japan 2023-12-04 | Tokyo Hanasansho (tokyo花さんしょう) is a new ramen shop in Nakameguro, serving spicy miso ramen and curry ramen.The soup base is a mix of pork, chicken and niboshi, mixed with a strong miso tare. It comes topped with a healthy amount of chili oil and ground chili powder, enough to make even spice lovers break a sweat. The soup is combined with noodles that reminded me of Sapporo style yellow ramen noodles, thick and slightly curly. The noodles work really well together with the heavy miso ramen soup. As you can see, I went for extra chashu, which comes as thick slices of sous vide lean pork. Well prepared, but I’m not sure if it is the best combination for this kind of soup.The shop itself is almost next to the famous pizza place Seirinkan, which was featured in Ugly Delicious. The location of the shop was previously filled by a short lived ramen shop called Ippondo and before that, it was Emoto Masahiro. 2 minutes from Nakameguro station, it’s easily accessible from Shibuya by train.Find Tokyo Hanasansho (tokyo花さんしょう) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/SR7dw3JXLH5dcgcQ8?g_st=ic#ramen #nakameguro #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
From Disciple to Ramen Master - Ramen FeeL is a Masterwork Near the Mountains of Tokyo Nama Japan 2023-11-26 | Ramen Feel is a ramen shop by master Watanabe Daisuke (渡邊大介), who has trained under Ida Shota of the legendary ramen shop Ida Shoten, which is widely considered to be either the best or at least among the best ramen shops in Japan.Opened in 2021, Ramen FeeL is located near the mountains to the West of Tokyo, which is technically still Tokyo in an administrative sense, but is very much de facto outside of Tokyo. The closest major station is Ome and the closest station to the shop is Hinatawada.The ramen shop itself is oozing "kodawari" out of literally everything, of course starting from the ingredients and techniques used, but also the setup and decor of the shop. So many things have the Ramen FeeL name on it and must have been either specifically made for this shop or hand-modified, it is quite dazzling. While you can just walk up to Ramen FeeL and eat there during the week, it is recommended to shop up early in the morning to secure your timeslot. The waiting time can be passed by hiking in the nearby mountains, Mitake-san is nearby and a beautiful hike, back around Ome station, which has a number of coffee shops. Or you just stay above Ramen FeeL at "Yaneura FeeL", which a lovely set up waiting room with very comfy chairs, free coffee, free soft drinks and lots of ramen related reading material. You can use this space for a small fee.Once your time to order has come, you are confronted by the choice between shio ramen, shoyu ramen, shio tsukemen and shoyu tsukemen. While the shio and shoyu tsukemen are classic ramen bowls, the tsukemen are quite elaborate and come with many different little components that make your meal exciting. If you cannot decide for a soup for your tsukemen, they also have a double soup option, which gives you both the shio and the shoyu dipping soup, so you can enjoy both.I went for the shio ramen and the double soup tsukemen, which I would recommend to anyone going to Ramen FeeL for the first time. The shio ramen is made with lots of high quality chicken and scallops. The bowl hits you with the strong and yet refined chicken aroma from the start. The deeper you dig into the bowl, the more the scallop comes out of the background. Overall the soup is extremely refined and light, yet has a distinct aromatic punch to it. The noodles are perfectly matched to the soup, very thin, almost somen-like. They are made inhouse by master Watanabe Daisuke himself. I can recommend going for the Tokujo (特上) version to get pork wantan, shrimp wantan and extra chashu. The chashu was excellent, but the wantan were absolutely outstanding, probably the best wantan I had so far.The tsukemen comes with 2 types of noodles. One with long and very slippery, made from white refined flour, with a very good bite and chew. The other with a darker whole grain flour with visible specks of grain, which has a light nutty aroma and very different texture from the first white one, much more gritty. Both top notch and made inhouse. To show off the noodle making excellence, there is a square piece of noodle, which is topped with some wasabi and meant to be eaten "sashimi style" just as is. The soups are both way more punchy and aggressive in flavor and salinity than the ramen soup. I want to say that the shoyu soup has some duck elements and some nice roasty sweetness to it, which reminded me of roasted duck drippings. The shio dipping soup seemed to be the same as the ramen soup, but way more intense and concentrated. The recommended way to approach the noodles and soup is to first sprinkle some provided soup over some of the noodles and eat the noodles just with the salt. Then start dipping the noodles into the soup and slurp them out of the soup. In between you can add some sudachi citrus juice to the noodles. Last but not least, you add the provided dashi in the side to the noodles, which adds another umami boost to the whole slurping experience.Check out the other people you have seen in this video:Dries aka. Nordicramen: instagram.com/nordicramenHung aka. Ramen Addict: instagram.com/ramen__addictLogan aka. Ramenbae: instagram.com/ramenbae11Ramen FeeL has done a number of international collaborations and pop-ups in the past. The latest ones were the collaboration with Pickerel from Providence, Rhode Island, as well as with Cafe Mochiko from Cincinatti. I talked about the latter with the co-owner of Cafe Mochiko in episode 16 of the Ramen in Japan podcast, so maybe go and check that out.Find Ramen FeeL on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/qKAMcpRVuygNxycD6#ramen #ome #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
A ramen shop with a simple message: There is ramen Nama Japan 2023-11-19 | There is ramen is the name and the whole vibe of this ramen shop. Their self-declared mission is to bring ramen back to basics, bo information overflow, no unnecessary bells and whistles. There is ramen, isn’t that enough?I was accompanied by James Steward, the owner of the ramen shop "Tomo no Ramen" in Bristol, Wales. If you are in or around the UK, you absolutely have to check out his ramen shop, which is allegedly one of the best on the British Isles:► maps.app.goo.gl/YEGFgVbxqm8Tykhv6There is ramen is near Ogikubo station, a really amazing ramen hunting spot with lots of other great food and drinking spots all around. Foodies can easily spend the whole day here, bouncing between ramen spots, great coffee shops, bars and izakayas. Noteworthy other ramen shops around Ogikubo station are Harukiya, Neiroya, Goryokaku and Hook, just to name a few.The menu at there is ramen is purposely kept simple. One bowl of ramen is served with some ways to modify in terms of adding chashu, adding eggs, more noodles and adding wantan wrappers (no filling!). That’s it, no other styles, no alternatives. You get what you get. And what you get is a beautiful bowl of shio ramen.The soup consists mainly of chicken and niboshi, probably also some pork elements. It is mainly chicken forward, but does have nice niboshi complexities without feeling like a niboshi heavy soup, despite the pot in the background being filled over the brim with dried sardines. There’s basically no bitterness, so it should be enjoyable even if you’re not a niboshi fan. I personally was really convinced by the soup, its aroma lingered even hours after finishing the bowl. Good stuff. The seasoning, I would call it shio ramen even though it probably has some shoyu in it due to the complexity in the background.The noodles are great too, medium thickness with a really good bite and chew, good slurpiness too. It’s basically THE noodle I would think of, when I’m thinking about a ramen noodle, a perfect standard that would probably fit with most bowls out there.Find There is ramen on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/YU9e6L19rCRta3Z97#ramen #misoramen #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Creative White Miso Ramen at Tasakaya in Ikebukuro Nama Japan 2023-11-11 | Misomendokoro Tasakaya (味噌麺処田坂屋) is one of the newest additions to the ramen scene in Ikebukuro. The ramen shop opened in April of 2023 and has been making waves with their a bit unconventional miso ramen. They just won second place in the miso category of the new TRY magazine, so their miso ramen is definitely worth checking out, if you’re a miso ramen fan. They also serve spicy and ultra spicy versions, therefore worth checking out if you’re looking for spicy ramen in Tokyo.The broth base is made with chicken and pork, which is then mixed with a white miso based tare that has fresh garlic and raw pork mixed into it in small batches. The clearly visible topping of sprouts is wok fried with a spoonful of lard, which gives the whole bowl a slightly charred aromatic touch.The resulting soup is super thick and rich, very impactful. It really benefits from the crunch and freshness that the sprouts provide. I recommend mixing the sprouts with the noodles to get a few sprouts with every slurp of noodles. I can also heavily recommend adding some fresh garlic after the first couple of slurps of the soup.The noodles are medium thick substantial noodles with a yellow hue, supplied by Shinjuku Daruma. You can see the boxes with the noodles just behind the counter.The toppings are the aforementioned fried sprouts and massive pieces of lean pork chashu. Beware, the chashu ramen gives you A LOT of meat. We all got caught off guard by the amount of chashu, so just know what you’re going for. If you want to make this the only meal of the day, a bowl of rice on the side is highly recommended to finish the leftover soup with it.Find Misomendokoro Tasakaya (味噌麺処 田坂屋) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/NRnyozVW4cbMp4uo8#ramen #misoramen #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
The King of Iekei Ramen: Yoshimuraya Nama Japan 2023-10-31 | Yoshimuraya (吉村家) is the ramen shop where iekei style tonkotsu-shoyu ramen was invented. Opened in 1974 near Shinsugita station, the shop relocated close to Yokohama station in 1999 and since then has risen to living legend status. In 2023, they moved to their second location, which is just a street down from the old location and much much bigger, including a second floor that shields you somewhat from the scowls of the ramen chefs at work.As you see in the video, no review is really necessary. How can you review the original? This is how iekei ramen is and maybe how it should be, according to some.A thick, rich, deep tonkotsu broth is combined with a sharp and salty shoyu tare, chicken fat ladled on top of the bowl so it almost forms a fat layer on top of the soup. In other shops, it does indeed form its own layer. Classic lean chashu is used instead of the pork belly which you might see at other shops. Blanched spinach is another topping that still is quite uniquely an iekei ramen topping. A healthy amount of nori sheets adorns the side of the bowl, waiting to be dipped into the soup and to be eaten either wrapped around some noodles or placed on top of the rice on the side. Oh yes, this heavy meal has to be accompanied by a bowl of rice. It costs extra but is essentially mandatory. The last and important ingredient is a whole barrage of additional toppings and flavor changers on the counter, from pickled ginger to sesame to black pepper, lots of things to choose from. A must do, in my opinion, is a healthily heaped spoon of freshly grated garlic into the soup after a couple of sips. That makes this literally the best food in the world.Yoshimuraya has spawned a list of renowned disciple shops which, some argue, might even have surpassed Yoshimuraya in some aspects. The ones I know of are:Hajimeya (Toyama)Suehiroya (Hakuraku)Sugitaya (Shinsugita)Sugitaya (Chiba)Atsugiya (Atsugi)Joetsuya (Joetsu)Takamatsuya (Takamatsu)Not only has Yoshimuraya literally created the iekei ramen category, it has also become the de facto regional ramen for Kanagawa prefecture. No other prefecture has as many iekei ramen shops as Kanagawa and you can find a ramen shop serving some variant of this tonkotsu-shoyu ramen style at literally every train station.Yoshimuraya is a ramen shop that has to be on the itinerary of literally every ramen shop enthusiast, even if some think it was surpassed by other iekei shops, the historic value alone makes this a must-visit.Visit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Sugitaya Might Serve the Best Yoshimuraya Lineage Iekei Tonkotsu Ramen! Nama Japan 2023-10-22 | Sugitaya (杉田家) is an iekei ramen shop in Kanagawa, just a bit to the South of Yokohama. Iekei is the face of Kanagawa's ramen scene, a tonkotsu-shoyu ramen with copious amounts of chicken fat, spinach and lean pork chashu as toppings and an almost mandatory bowl of rice on the side.Sugitaya is a direct lineage shop of Yoshimuraya, the shop where iekei ramen was invented. Compared to Yoshimuraya, Sugitaya serves a more rich, punchy and salty variant that has way more impact in my opinion. Compared to other iekei shops, Sugitaya is definitely on the less funky side, one could even say that their ramen has no pork funk at all.The ultra heavy and salty soup is combined with relatively short and medium thick noodles with a yellow hue, which are supplied by the famous Sakai Seimen noodle factory. You find a heap of lightly blanched spinach flanked by slices of great lean pork chashu. A few sheets of nori are tucked away on the far side of the bowl, waiting to be soaked in the soup, either to be slurped up together with the noodles or to be used as a topping for the rice.A few words about the rice. The rice is not free at Sugitaya, unlike at many other iekei ramen shops. You get a good amount of very delicious rice for 150 Yen and I think it is absolutely worth it. If it is your third bowl of the day, maybe let them know that you want a small portion, which would be called "sho raisu", just yell that at the staff when you hand over the ordering chips.For me personally, Sugitaya was one of the best Yoshimuraya lineage iekei ramen I had so far, maybe sharing the top spot with Suehiroya. In absolute iekei terms, I still think the Odoya lineage shops are a bit better, since I am a fan of having some funk in my iekei ramen bowls. But that's a personal preference and I understand if other people are turned off by that.You can find Sugitaya basically next to Shinsugita station, which is served by the JR Negishi Line that brings you here from Yokohama. Or you can use Sugita station, which is a few minutes of walking from the ramen shop, but allows you to use the Keikyu Main Line, which connects all the way to Shinagawa in central Tokyo. There is also a second Sugitaya in Chiba, which some people claim is the superior one. I have not yet made my way there to verify, but for sure some day I will.Find Sugitaya (杉田家) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/J1oYrW7nup243fkq8#ramen #tonkotsu #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Powerful Niboshi Ramen at Chigonoki in Tokyo Nama Japan 2023-10-08 | Chukasoba Chigonoki is a big name in the niboshi Ramen game in Tokyo and has been a consistent mention in the Tabelog top 100 ramen shop list. Chigonoki is particularly famous for their 100% pure niboshi soup, which is a dream for niboshi ramen lovers.Find Chukasoba Chigonoki (中華そば 稚ノ木) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/nKBc7f87a9hqLUk7A#ramen #niboshi #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Rairaiken, the oldest ramen shop in Japan, recreated in the Yokohama Ramen Museum Nama Japan 2023-09-24 | Asakusa Rairaiken (淺草 來々軒) is generally considered to be the first ramen shop in Japan, opening its doors in 1910 (or 1909, depending on the source). I went to check out the present day Rairaiken with Mike Satinover aka Ramen Lord, who was in Japan at the time. Make sure to check out his ramen shop Akahoshi in Chicago, once its doors open in October 2023!Ramen Lord's Instagram:► instagram.com/ramen__lordThe Rairaiken iteration is a collaboration between the Yokohama Ramen Museum, the legendary ramen shop Shinasobaya and the descendants of Rairaiken. The goal is to recreate the original recipe as closely as possible, without actually having the real recipe available. How they did that is worthy of a documentary, but in short, they collected all the information they could from newspapers and other accounts at the time, as well as the first-hand experiences from people like the still living grandson of the original Rairaiken owner Ozaki Kuniichi, who is allegedly the only still living relative to have tasted the original bowl of ramen, when Ozaki-san was around. But they did not stop there. They even used the same flour for the noodles as it was used back in the day and used the same old school techniques for things like the menma and the chashu.While it is debatable, if every nuance is exactly as it was in 1910, it is probably as close as we are ever going to get in modern times.The ramen itself is very nostalgic and reminds me of shops like Eifukucho Taishoken and Aoshima Shokudo, with strong and bold soy sauce flavors, as well as ginger and dried seafood elements. I would describe it as more intense and punchy than Taishoken, but milder than the very wild Aoshima Shokudo, probably somewhere in the middle between those two shops.For the noodles, you have to choices. While Ramen Lord went with the classic thin noodles, I went with the "aodake" bamboo kneaded noodles. The aodake noodles are somewhat thicker and have a very dense consistency, almost like some udon I had. The chew of those is super enjoyable and the thick noodles fit well to the intense soup.The chashu was a great highlight as well, lean cuts of pork, roasted and with the typical red ring on the outside. Smoky, tender and very fitting to this classic bowl of ramen. The menma were also very good, super nice chew and crunch to them, also very plentiful. I like it, when I can have some menma with almost every slurp of noodles.Find Asakusa Rairaiken (淺草 來々軒) in the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/bkuK6ZHFTRhAWGcG6#ramen #rairaiken #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Kamatama Style Mazesoba Ramen at Napoleon-ken Nama Japan 2023-09-17 | Kamatama Chukasoba Napoleon-ken (釜玉中華そば ナポレオン軒) is a rising star in the Tokyo ramen scene and has just won the second place in the top newcomer shop in the latest Ramen Walker 2024 edition. Opened in 2022, Napoleon-ken serves a style of ramen called Kamatama that is quite unique and resembles more a udon dish than any ramen dish. The basic dish consists of noodles, a shoyu tare and an egg or egg yolk. You are supposed to mix it all together mazesoba style, which then turns it into an almost pasta style dish.What really makes this dish is the absolutely incredible noodles. They are thick, wavy, chewy and overall just an absolute pleasure to eat. They somewhat remind me of Jiro style noodles, but a bit more flat and wavy. After mixing the egg and the shoyu tare, they are very nicely coated with a flavorful sauce, which can then be modified with the more than ten different things on the counter, including fresh ginger, garlic, pepper, shiitake vinegar, katsuobushi powder, chili oil, super spicy nira garlic chives and much much more. They even offer cheese as free topping, but you need to ask the staff for it, since they keep it in the fridge.Another must get is their kaedama, which is another serving of noodles that is served together with an impactful niboshi soup. These noodles are completely different, more similar to Hakata style thin and low hydration noodles that are served al dente. You are supposed to add this to the "leftovers" of your main bowl, once you are done with you noodles, but you can also enjoy it as it is.With its versatility, I can see myself coming back again and again to this ramen shop to try various topping mixes. I will definitely be back and I can understand how this shop made it into the top rankings right from the start.In the meantime, there are 4 locations of Napoleon-ken, so it has become quite easy to try their incredible mazesoba.Find Kamatama Chukasoba Napoleon-ken (釜玉中華そば ナポレオン軒) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/AHbq7Ek77bWqgkvr6#ramen #mazesoba #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Massive Jiro Style Tonkotsu at Senrigan in Tokyo Nama Japan 2023-09-12 | Senrigan (千里眼) is a Jiro inspired ramen shop near Yoyogi-Uehara station. While they served their standard massive Jiro style tonkotsu-shoyu hot ramen bowl all year round, they are probably most famous for their summer ramen which is served cold. Unfortunately I could not get it this time, but I’ll cover that gentei ramen bowl for sure in the future.Senrigan has a system that you will recognize as similar to most Jiro style ramen shops with garlic, extra tare and chunky pork back fat being offered as free additions. However Senrigan also offers fresh garlic and spicy tenkasu (fry drippings) as additional free toppings. Beyond those topping additions, you can also modify the amount of veggies that you want piled on top, as well as the amount of noodles and meat that you want. However the meat and noodle additions are decided via tickets from the vending machine. Going down in noodle size is possible by yelling “sukuname” for less noodles or even “hanbun” for half size of noodles, which is equivalent to a regular bowl of ramen at other ramen shops.What makes Senrigan special is the massive amount of sprouts and cabbage which you receive even with an unmodified standard order, although it is mostly blanched sprouts with little cabbage in between. Another highlight was the chashu which was basically falling apart, super tender.The soup at Senrigan was a quite emulsified tonkotsu when I went, which was alright, but I would have wished for a bit more punch and sharpness. The noodles were good standard Jiro style fare, maybe a bit on the thinner side for Jiro noodles.Overall, Senrigan is a pretty decent Jiro style ramen shop, which can be a “must do” for Jirokei ramen lovers for the summer gentei, but doesn’t necessarily need to be in the to-do list for regular ramen heads, until they dive deep into the Jiro rabbit hole.In any case, I’ll be back to Senrigan to try their cold bowl one day!Find Senrigan(千里眼) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/VjrzYG5Cq9Nz4FCp6?g_st=ic#ramen #tonkotsu #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Summer Sudachi Tsukemen at Chukasoba Nishino Nama Japan 2023-09-04 | Chukasoba Nishino (中華蕎麦 にし乃) is a top level ramen shop near Hongo-Sanchome station, just to the West of Ueno and Akihabara. Normally, Nishino is well known for their light and yet rich shio ramen. But it is summer and I was enticed by their summer gentei special, which they called Sudachi Hiya Hiya Tsukemen. Another thing that Nishino is famous for is their plump wantan, don’t miss out on those.I made my way to Chukasoba Nishino together with Lindsay and Jesse, the co-owners of Neighborhood Ramen in Philadelphia. Go and check out their Instagram accounts for their ramen exploits in Japan:► Lindsay: instagram.com/gyozakween► Jesse: instagram.com/neighborhoodjesseThe cold tsukemen was presented really beautifully, extremely visually pleasing. The extremely long noodles are draped into a bowl that is filled with the umami boosting kombusui, literally “kombu water”, which is made by boiling kombu kelp in water at high temperature for a long time. It has incredible umami qualities to it, but also has the tendency to become slimy. Not so at Nishino, where it has a negligible viscosity and yet retains a good umami kick. As just mentioned, the noodles themselves are extremely long, which makes them fun but also a bit cumbersome to eat, since you oft need to lift them waaaay up, to get them into your dipping soup. They are thin and have a snappy and firm quality to them, giving them a really good bite.The soup is, from what I would guess, a chicken base with a niboshi kick. Lots of green onion and the sudachi citrus slices give it a fresh and tangy feel, that fits well to the overall refreshing theme of the dish. With cold broths, it is quite difficult to hit the right balance between flavor, salinity and freshness. Simply said, cold broths often taste quite boring since a lot of flavors a way more subdued, especially extracts of meats and bones. Somehow they managed to keep those flavors punching in this dipping soup.The chashu is, typical for Ramen Koike group shops, prepared sous vide. Hard to find anything to complain here, they know what they’re doing. The result is a perfectly tender and pink piece of pork. But the real stars are actually served on the side. The plump meat and shrimp wantan are a hit and can’t be missed when visiting Nishino. They are quite the mouthful, if you want to one-bite them. Well seasoned, stuffed with fresh ingredients, I could go there just to eat more of those wantan.As mentioned in the video, the cold tsukemen comes with a set of instructions. First, they ask you to try the noodles as they are, without adding anything. Then, they ask you to just add a bit of sea salt that is given to you on the counter. Already here, I would have been perfectly happy just slurping those kombusui noodles with this delicious salt, that’s how great they were. From then on, they ask you to start using the dipping soup. Next step, once you feel like the soup is getting a bit “weak” or your flavor receptors are worn out, you can add tare seasoning to the soup, which is also given to you. Lastly, once you are done with the noodles, you can ask for “soup wari”. An employee will take your bowl and add hot kombu dashi and dilute your soup, to make it more drinkable, so you can enjoy drinking the whole soup without struggling with the saltiness of the soup. One last advice is to chomp on the sudachi slices, which can be eaten whole, to get the maximum zing and impact from them. I would at least give it a try and find out if you like it, because they also bring a bit of bitterness to the table. Maybe not everyone’s thing.Overall, I can really recommend Chukasoba Nishino as one of the top shops in Tokyo that ramen nerds should put on their to do list.Find Chukasoba Nishino (中華蕎麦 にし乃) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/ffhkCErFhhSs2tec9#ramen #tsukemen #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Hiyoshi Taishoken OG style ramen by Eifukucho Taishoken disciple Nama Japan 2023-08-26 | Hiyoshi Taishoken is serving old school style shoyu ramen, similar to what is served at the legendary Eifukucho Taishoken. Which isn’t a surprise, since the owner has trained at Eifukucho Taishoken.The ramen at Hiyoshi Taishoken is quite big, as you would expect. The regular (並)size ramen warns you that you will get roughly 2 times the amount of noodles you would get at a regular ramen restaurant, clocking in at 300 grams of noodles. I would only recommend this option if you’re really hungry. Otherwise go for the small (小) option, which will put 150 grams of ramen noodles of front of you, which is similar to other ramen shop normal bowls.I can’t recommend this place for ramen beginners who might be looking for more punching and rich bowls. But if you’re a bit interested in the more classic styles of ramen and you find yourself between Tokyo and Yokohama, then Hiyoshi Taishoken is a super convenient choice for ramen.Find Hiyoshi Taishoken (日吉 大勝軒) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/PpT7Wym5pe155rVe8#ramen #hiyoshi #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Old School Wok Fried Veggie Ramen at Dairyuken in Ebisu Nama Japan 2023-08-13 | Ebisu Dairyuken (恵比寿大龍軒) is an old school machichuka style Chinese restaurant that specializes in various types of ramen and Japanese-Chinese style dishes like gyoza, shumai and chahan. Their original ramen style is called Chantanmen, which is a bastardized mix of Nagasaki Chanpon and Tanmen.You can find Ebisu Dairyuken roughly 5 minutes away from Ebisu station towards Nakameguro, just around the corner from the main street. It is really hard to miss with the yellow old school ramen shop design that most likely has not changed in 30 years.Find Ebisu Dairyuken (恵比寿大龍軒) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/YPvzn7yc8SopcG2h8#ramen #enoshima #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Family Run Ramen Shop Yamakiya near Enoshima Nama Japan 2023-07-30 | Yamakiya (やまき屋) is a family run ramen shop close to the beaches of Enoshima, basically next to Kugenuma-Kaigan station.Yamakiya serves a variety of ramen, made with both chicken and pork base broths, but all of them with a dried fish element consisting of niboshi and various bushi. For people who visit Yamakiya for the first time, the very friendly owners recommended their shoyu ramen with a tonkotsu-seafood broth base. Other options include tsukemen, mazesoba and regularly changing specials, such as cold ramen dishes in summer.Yamakiya gets their ramen noodles from Mikawaya Seimen, which is a top ramen noodles supplier. Naturally, the noodles are excellent and fit the more home style of ramen bowls that is served at this ramen shop.The shop itself fits perfectly into the area, which has a great mix of super old, family run shops and restaurants, as well as new and hip businesses, which aim more for the surfer clientele that inhabits and visits the area.Find Yamakiya (やまき屋) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/PwWcDuvmKNDN3w518#ramen #enoshima #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Great Shio Ramen for Beach Goers at Menshin Ashimaru in Fujisawa Nama Japan 2023-07-23 | Menshin Ashimaru (麺心 あしまる) is a shio ramen specialty shop in Fujisawa, a short distance from the famous beaches of Enoshima to the south of Tokyo. Fujisawa is a transfer spot for almost everyone going towards the Enoshima beaches, which makes Menshin Ashimaru a great ramen shop for the beginning or the end of a beach day.At Ashimaru, the ramen is made with a complex broth, made with chicken, pork and fried fish elements. Chicken bones, chicken feet and pork bones build the foundation, niboshi and various types of bushi bring nuance and complexity, as well as an umami boost.The recommended seasoning is their shio tare, but they also offer shoyu tare versions of their bowls. The shio tare is great, because it enhances the great broth, without covering up any of the complex and delicate aromas.The noodles are a joy as well. Medium thickness with a bit of a hand massaged temomi wave.For the tokusei version, you get a couple of nice wantan with a firm and well seasoned minced meat filling, as well as some great pork chashu. The ajitama ramen egg is also on point and well seasoned. Furthermore, you’ll find a dollop of ground ginger paste on top of one of the pieces of chashu, which you can mix in right away or during your meal, to reset your tastebuds and give the ramen bowl a whole new spin.Talking about “ajihen” flavor changes for your ramen, there’s some stuff on the counter you should know about. The black pepper is quite standard and never a wrong choice. Next to it, you will find some vinegar with a piece of kombu floating in it, which adds acidity and umami to your bowl. The next one is quite interesting, since it is rarely used for ramen. Next to the vinegar, you will find koregusu, which is awamori rum with some chili floating in it. Koregusu is usually used to spice up Okinawa soba. I did like the combination here at Ashimaru, but I have to warn you, since koregusu has a quite intense flavor. If you add too much, it can easily ruin your bowl. But in the right amount, it gives a certain difficult to describe quality to the bowl. If you know you know, kinda. Use at your own risk.Find Menshin Ashimaru (麺心 あしまる) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/2UNzYAroCu1WP8kk7?g_st=ic#ramen #fujisawa #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Ramen at Orizuru in Heidelberg, Germany Nama Japan 2023-07-09 | Ramen in Germany has not been very convincing so far, but I thought that maybe Orizuru Ramenbar in Heidelberg could finally put a proper bowl of ramen in front of me.Orizuru serves a colorful mix of broth based and seasonings, which makes me directly wonder how they prep that much stuff. The place did not seem overrun, so the question of freshness of their broths comes to mind.I went for their miso tonkotsu ramen and my buddy Kev went for their chicken shoyu. While the visual of their bowls is quite good, the flavor cannot convince. It’s unfortunately another bowl in the long list of bowls in Germany, where the owner does not know what ramen can or should taste like. Rather, they make ramen based on what they see online. At least that’s the feeling I was left with.The search for good ramen in Germany continues…Find Orizuru Ramenbar on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/NWNJTQtuFcABCtft6?g_st=ic#ramen #heidelberg #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
The Kitakata Style Ramen Legend in Tokyo: Shokudo Shichisai Nama Japan 2023-07-02 | Shokudo Shichisai is a legendary ramen shop that has influenced the ramen scene in Tokyo in a significant way over the last years. Shichisai serves Kitakata style ramen, an incredibly popular style of ramen from Kitakata city. Shokudo Shichisai serves the closest rendition of this style of ramen, only beat by actually making the journey to Kitakata and eating there.Shokudo Shichisai serves their Kitakata style ramen in different variations and with different seasonings like shio, shoyu and niboshi tare. They also have an everchanging menu of additional ramen bowls and specials that probably would be obsolete by the time I list it up here.I have previously been to be newer location of Shichisai, called Menya Shichisai, which is close to Tokyo Station and a recommendation for all ramen heads who find themselves near there. Check out the video:► youtube.com/watch?v=dbBNWospB7QCompared to Menya Shichisai, the biggest difference is that the noodles are not made to order at Shokudo Shichisai, which does not mean that they are of a lower quality or anything, they are just more traditional Kitakata style wavy noodles.Find Shokudo Shichisai (食堂 七彩) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/kKd2r5UvnjBzBwns8#ramen #Tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Pork Fat Overflow Ramen in Shibuya at Tokyo Seabura Ramen Menou Nama Japan 2023-06-25 | Tokyo Seabura Ramen Menou Shibuya Honten (東京背脂らーめん 麺王 渋谷本店) is a tonkotsu and seabura pork back fat ramen shop.Their main feature is the amount of pork back fat that is sprinkled on top of the ramen bowl in various levels. The highest levels make the ramen bowl look completely white from the massive amount of pork back fat.If you’re a fan of light tonkotsu with an addition of buttery pork back fat, this ramen shop in Shibuya might be a great and easy access ramen shop choice for you. For this type of “Shaka Shaka” style ramen, Menou might be the best ramen shop in Shibuya.Find Tokyo Seabura Ramen Menou Shibuya Honten (東京背脂らーめん 麺王 渋谷本店) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/NsornwV9zGzU26Lz5#ramen #shibuya #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Incredible Iekei Tonkotsu-Shoyu Ramen at Suehiroya in Yokohama Nama Japan 2023-06-17 | Ramen Suehiroya (ラーメン 末廣家) served incredible iekei style tonkotsu-shoyu ramen in the north of Yokohama. Suehiroya has a strong link to the OG iekei shop Yoshimuraya and proudly displays this all over the shop.The broth is a deep, rich and aromatic tonkotsu pork broth with a slight funk, but not as funky as some of the recent iekei spots I’ve been to, or the nearby Torakichiya which also serves fantastic iekei style ramen. It’s one of these bowls where you just know that you will see the bottom of the bowl, once you try your first sip. It is combined with a strong and flavorful shoyu tare. All of it is topped with a healthy helping of chicken oil. I honestly could drink this resulting soup every single day.Typical for iekei ramen, you can modify the amount of tare, the amount of chicken oil and the hardness of your noodles. I went with extra tare, extra oil and hard noodles. I have to write an article sometime to explain the intricacies of the modifications.The noodles were another highlight for me. Very short, even for iekei standards, but such a nice bite and firmness to them. I saw myself wanting a larger amount of noodles, even though I know that you would have to roll me out of the place if I’d go for that. Especially since I also opted for an almost mandatory side of white rice to polish my bowl of ramen. I heavily recommended you splurge and get the rice as well, which costs 150 Yen here.The most apparent feature is the slabs of pork chashu. I went with their chashumen, which explains the large amount of meat on the bowl. I saw on Twitter that they also sell whole blocks of their chashu for several thousand Yen, but I didn’t explore that option further this time. But I probably will bring a block home next time.The last thing to note is the incredible amount of stuff on the counter, which you can use to modify your bowl. Grated garlic, minced garlic, fried garlic chips, pickled ginger, doubanjan, pepper, vinegar and I’m probably forgetting a few more things. Together with the choice to modify your bowl at ordering, you could come here dozens of times and still never eat the same bowl. And I think that’s part of the fun of iekei, everyone likes it a bit different.Find Ramen Suehiroya (ラーメン 末廣家) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/7hq8YTWNppRdHXMW7#ramen #yokohama #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Best Miso Ramen of Tokyo at San Tora Nama Japan 2023-06-11 | San Tora serves one of the best, if not the best miso ramen in Tokyo. Descending from the legendary miso ramen shop Sumire, San Tora serves a Sapporo style miso ramen that has few equals in and around Tokyo. The probably only shop that can really compete in this style is the ramen shop Oshima in the East of Tokyo, which is also a Sumire disciple.I went to check out San Tora with my good friend Isaac Butts, who plays professional basketball for the Koshigaya Alphas. If you are interested in getting some deep knowledge about Japanese basketball, make sure to check out his video podcast on YouTube: youtube.com/@IKEMAXThe ramen at San Tora is based on a rich pork broth with some dried fish elements, which are not really forward, but bring a lot of umami to the table. The broth is combined with in lard sautéed moyashi bean sprouts and miso, which really unlocks the flavors of the miso and is a key element to making a great miso ramen that does not just taste like miso shiru.The fantastic miso soup is combined with the classic Sapporo style yellow, medium thick and curly noodles that are so iconic and perfectly match this type of soup. The noodles are an absolute joy to eat, so be aware that there are options on the menu to get extra noodles.Topping wise, you get incredibly tender chashu, the aforementioned wok fried bean sprouts, a dollop of freshly grated ginger and some negi green onion. I can really recommend getting extra chashu, since it was really juicy and tender when I went, plus it complemented the soup exceptionally. The ginger adds a fantastic flavor changer mid meal. I like to hold off to add it into the soup until I am halfway into the bowl. You can also add an ajitama egg, which was alright, but nothing special in my opinion.Find San Tora (三ん寅) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/DYZC6AeRnNVvyHt38#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Shio Butter Ramen with Shirasu near the Beaches of Enoshima at Ando Nama Japan 2023-06-04 | Kaidashi Jidori Chukasoba Ando (貝だし地鶏中華そば あん藤) is one of the most recent additions to the line up of ramen shops near the incredibly popular beach destination Enoshima. As the name promises, you will find ramen that uses both clams and jidori chicken. Beyond those already great ingredients in their broth, this shop also offers the local specialty "shirasu", which is a type of whitebait fish, as well as Hokkaido butter as a topping.I went for their "Iso Shio Butter Ramen", which comes with a dollop of butter in the middle, a small heap of whitebait fish as well as a healthy helping of dried frizzy nori seaweed. The soup was incredibly fragrant with both chicken and clams distinctly being recognizable. The butter slowly melts and starts giving extra richness to the soup after a few slurps and mixing things up, without pushing too far in the center in terms of taste. It is not really overpowering the soup, as it was the case with some other ramen that have butter as topping. The chashu was incredibly tender and I recommend going for a bit extra. I can also recommend getting their truffle ajitama egg, which definitely has a strong truffle taste to it, without being too extreme. The nori really adds just an extra layer of umami and flavor, as you start mixing it into your bites. The whitebait fish don't have a strong taste of their own, but add a bit of texture to the bowl.What I really liked about this bowl is the different ajihen flavor change aspects, which keep every bite interesting and fresh. I can also recommend getting their shirasu butter rice bowl, if you are really hungry and are a fan of whitebait. I thoroughly enjoyed it.Beyond offering their clam and chicken broth with shio and shoyu seasoning, Ando also offers tantanmen style ramen, which looked delicious and will be on my to do list for the next time I am at the beach.Find Kaidashi Jidori Chukasoba Ando (貝だし地鶏中華そば あん藤) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/5HLqGhXHGofuSzR68?g_st=ic#ramen #enoshima #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Tamari Shoyu Niboshi Ramen at Menya Berabou in Central Tokyo Nama Japan 2023-05-28 | Menya Berabou (麺や べらぼう) is a niboshi ramen specialty shop in Iidabashi, one of the central districts of Tokyo. The shop is located within the Sakura Terrace shopping mall right next to Iidabashi station. A shopping mall is a quite unusual place for a good ramen shop, yet here we are.The ramen at Menya Berabou uses a niboshi broth base with either a light shoyu seasoning or a dark and strong tamari shoyu seasoning. The light one is combined with thin and straight low hydration noodles, the tamari one with temomi noodles. I went for the tamari shoyu option, which gave it the expected smoky and almost bbq-ish notes one would expect from a tamari heavy seasoning. Besides the ramen, Menya Berabou also serves mazesoba style mixing ramen, which are also worth trying from what I have heard.The toppings at Berabou are top notch in my opinion and quite plentiful if you go for the chashu and wantan option. This bowl definitely delivers for 1400 Yen and you will walk out quite full if you order it. If you are still looking at more bowls for the day, I recommend getting the regular bowl for just 950 Yen, which also comes with wantan and chashu, but just not as much.From looking at the chashu, you would not expect it to be perfectly tender. I was really really surprised, there is some awesome sous vide magic at work here. The wantan had really nice dough flaps and a quite dense filling. The pairing with some dried frizzy nori and red onions works pretty well for this bowl and gives every bite a bit of a different flavor.One thing to note, while Menya Berabou was opened in 2020 in a different location in Ginza, they moved to the current location in 2021 and changed owners in 2022. It seems like none of that had any negative effects on the quality of the ramen served here, so I can definitely recommend Find Menya Berabou (麺や べらぼう) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/WyQTBRZfoCZL9BR3A?coh=178573&entry=tt#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Neighborhood Ramen Pop-Up in Shibuya at Menya Nukaji Nama Japan 2023-05-21 | I had the pleasure to be a guest at the pop-up of Neighborhood Ramen at Menya Nukaji in Shibuya, where they served a great bowl of ramen to a long line of ramen heads. Neighborhood Ramen is normally based in Philadelphia and its owners Lindsay and Jesse made it all the way to Japan for this unique collaboration. Menya Nukaji is for me probably one of the best ramen shops in Shibuya and serves great tsukemen and ramen. I have covered Menya Nukaji in the past in a video, where I got their tsukemen, which you can check out below:► youtu.be/AfTtQf299QUThe ramen served was called niboshi soba, which included a mix of several types of niboshi, crab, chicken, toribushi and pork bones. This created an incredibly complex broth that made it difficult to pinpoint any specific ingredient and kept you guessing while you are eating. The broth was combined with a not too overpowering shoyu tare, which let the broth shine. The noodle pairing was a medium thick temomi noodle, hand massaged just before serving. The noodle was a real treat and if I did see it correctly, supplied by Mikawaya Seimen.Find Neighborhood Ramen on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/LmenxPf5C2z21XTW9?coh=178573&entry=ttFind Menya Nukaji (麺屋ぬかじ) on Google Maps:► https://g.page/menyanukaji#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Great Ramen Inside of JR Tokyo Station: Nippon Ramen Rin Nama Japan 2023-05-14 | Nippon Ramen Rin Tokyo (ニッポン ラーメン 凛 トウキョウ) is a ramen shop inside the gates of JR Tokyo Station, which means it is easily accessible for all people traveling through Tokyo station with local JR trains or with the Shinkansen. The clear advantage of this shop is that you don’t have to leave the gates of the JR station, which can potentially save you quite some money, if you are only transferring at Tokyo station.The ramen shop is part of the Gransta shopping area, which offers a variety of shops and restaurants. Nippon Ramen Rin itself is situated near the Yaesu Central exit at basement level.The shop offers a variety of ramen, but their shoyu ramen is clearly the most popular here and I recommend that you also go for it, if you make a visit to Nippon Ramen Rin.The soup is made with a light chicken broth, that is fragrant but not too heavy, ideal if you still have some travel ahead of you. The soy sauce seasoning is elegant and decadent, but not overpowering. I really liked the seasoning here, a well balanced soy sauce flavor that is probably made with a mix of soy sauces.The noodles are a clear highlight for me, perfectly matched to the delicate soup. They have a really good bite and slurp, overall really enjoyable to eat.On the topping side, you can see some quite uncommon menegi, some menma and a huge slice of chashu floating on top of the noodles. The additional egg is served on the side. While the egg was a pleasant surprise, I found the chashu to be the weakest point of the bowl. It was basically falling apart from the moment you picked it up. Not sure why they did not go for something more elevated for their chashu, because their current choice was a poor pick and not well executed in my eyes.Nippon Ramen Rin Tokyo is apparently produced by the same people as Japanese Ramen Noodle Lab Q in Sapporo. So if you like the one in Tokyo, you might want to give the other one in Sapporo a try as well, if you find yourself in both cities at some point.Find Nippon Ramen Rin (ニッポン ラーメン 凛 トウキョウ) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/ja6vLkP6aV3WoNcN6?coh=178573&entry=tt#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Truffle Tori Paitan Ramen at Maikagura Nama Japan 2023-05-06 | Maikagura is a ramen shop in Tokyo, famous for its tori paitan creamy chicken ramen, topped with luxurious truffle oil. Maikagura opened its doors in 2018 to ramen lovers and has since then managed to gain quite the reputation and daily long lines. Originally, this ramen shop started with a focus on clear shoyu and shio ramen, but gradually the popularity of their tori paitan special bowls increased and overtook their other bowls. Nowadays, most people come for their creamy chicken bowls, of which three variations are offered. However, I’ve been told that the other bowls are also fantastic, which means you’re not making a mistake with them, if you get dragged to Maikagura but you’re not a paitan fan.The main attraction of Maikagura is their truffle tori paitan ramen bowl. However, you can also order this bowl without the truffle oil if you’re not a fan. I think most people will make this decision instinctively correct after entering the shop, since the whole shop smells like truffles. The third option is called “CREMA” which is an extremely foamed up version of the tori paitan bowl. I heard that it’s also worth trying and maybe the bowl to go for, if you don’t like truffles.The soup at Maikagura is intensely strong in chicken flavor. Rich and creamy, but not too much. Sometimes bowls like these lean too heavy into gelatin for creaminess, but that isn’t the case here. It’s a great balance of good flavor and lip smacking creaminess that will cover the inside of your mouth. The truffle oil is white intense if slurped up as complete droplets on spoonfuls of soup, but it becomes a background flavor once a bit mire mixed into the soup. The truffle oil is earthy and rich, but not completely overpowering, which I found to be a nice surprise. The toppings are geared towards you focusing on the creamy chicken soup. You will find thinly sliced pieces of pork chashu topped by a few cuttings of negi green onion. Next to that, there’s a onsen tamaga style poached egg floating on the side of your bowl. I personally recommend opening it up about halfway into your bowl and get it to cover your noodles while you slurp them up. It dramatically amps up the richness and the flavor one more time. I wish the bowl had a few more flavor change moments like this. The black pepper on the counter helps to break up the monotony a bit, but I was left wanting a bit more zing and ajihen.The noodles are quite interesting as well. Very thin and low in kansui, one would maybe wonder if they pair well with this rich and heavy soup. I found them to do their job quite well, the soup managed to cling to them for good slurps.For some, Maikagura is the best tori paitan ramen in Tokyo. The long lines would certainly suggest this, although I got lucky with a quite short line. For me, it’s certainly one of the top tori Paitan ramen I have had so far, beating some other creamy chicken ramen I had in the past. If you’re looking for creamy chicken ramen in Tokyo and a truffle adventure, then Maikagura might be the ramen shop for you.Find Maikagura on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/t6dJv4d9wtmXDEJFA?coh=178573&entry=tt#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Tokyo Miso Ramen Heaven at Misokko Hook Nama Japan 2023-04-29 | Misokko Hook (味噌っ子ふっく) has been making waves in the Tokyo ramen scene with their Tokyo miso ramen since 2018. Some ramen heads even go so far and call it the best miso ramen in Tokyo, which is reflected by the shops high rankings in all kinds of ramen rakings and ramen magazines. There is no doubt that Misokko Hook is serving at least one of the best Tokyo style miso ramen.Tokyo miso ramen is a less well known version of the more legendary Sapporo miso ramen. Looking at the rendition of the Tokyo miso ramen of Hook, we can see a more emulsified and rich soup, with an overall more mellow flavor profile compared to Sapporo miso ramen. There is also no lard fat cap on top of the ramen bowl and the noodles are not curly and somewhat thicker.The soup is made with a mix of pork and chicken, notably missing any seafood elements. But the mix of miso makes more than up for it in terms of complexity and aroma. There is also a good amount of ginger and garlic in the soup, which brings some zing to the table.The real kicker is the spicy rayu oil that is added, if you get the spicy karamiso version. I really liked the way they add it, so it gives the bowl an almost ying and yang kind of appearance, with half of the bowl not covered by the oil. This also gives you a chance to try the regular soup, before you mix in the rayu. While it’s not really up there in terms of spiciness, it adds a ton of kick and depth to the bowl, which kicks everything into overdrive.The noodles are pretty substantial and thick, with a nice bite to them. Due to them being on the quite hefty side, they pair well with the really rich and thick miso ramen soup. The noodles are not made inhouse, but supplied by Mikawaya Seimen, who also supply many other great ramen shops in and around Tokyo.Find Misokko Hook (味噌っ子ふっく) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/VuqehedESPbUGB5K9#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Epic Tonkotsu Ramen at Butanohoshi in Amagasaki Nama Japan 2023-04-22 | Butanohoshi, or pork star in English, is a tonkotsu ramen specialty shop in Amagasaki. This tonkotsu ramen shop was opened in 2018 by Takada-san, who has previously worked at Muteppo. And you can definitely see the Muteppo heritage in the thick and intense tonkotsu ramen that is served at Butanohoshi.Thick, rich, almost muddy, the broth is prepared in a three step process that involves moving broth into three different pots with different bones. In the last pot, the Takada-san is consistently adding fresh pork femur bones, which he breaks skillfully with a hammer, before throwing them into the pot. That’s also the pot from which he serves, so can expect an intensely fresh porky flavor in the final soup. Truly a unique experience and a must try if you like tonkotsu ramen.Find Butanohoshi (ぶたのほし) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/2eiVwPdvpdzJs3FLA#ramen #tonkotsu #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Thick Ramen Noodles and Chunky Menma Heaven at Kamei Nama Japan 2023-04-15 | Teuchimensai Kamei or just Kamei, is a ramen shop in Tokyo that specializes in thick, made to order ramen noodles in a rich chicken and niboshi based shoyu ramen soup. The other clearly visible features are their branded eggs and the absolute units of chunky menma that come with every bowl.Kamei was opened by a disciple of Miyamoto, a famous tsukemen ramen shop near Kamata station. Since opening of the shop in 2022, it has drawn a steady swarm of ramen nerds that make the trip here for the unforgettable thick noodles.The noodles are probably the first thing that catch your eye at Kamei, since the noodle cutting station is prominently placed at the front of the shop, surrounded by windows, so you check out the noodle preparation while you wait. The noodles are prepared and cut very similar to udon, but they also get a hand massage at the end to make them somewhat curly and wavy. They’re a slurpy and chewy delight and their memory will cling to your mind like the soup clings to these noodles.The second obvious feature are the blocky square menma bamboo shoots. They’re probably the chunkiest menma I have ever seen, potentially the chunkiest in the ramen world. I got some extra, since they looked too enticing and I wasn’t disappointed. They fit perfectly to the thick noodles, with a good crunch and strong seasoning. I could eat a whole bucket of those to be honest.The third feature, maybe for the insta crowd, is the branded egg. But it doesn’t only look good from the outside, it’s also perfectly prepared on the inside, gooey and with a good seasoning.The soup is made with a chicken and niboshi broth plus copious amounts of chiyu chicken fat, combined with a strong and smoky shoyu tare. Overall, Kamei serves an incredible shoyu ramen that has a lot of interesting elements. Which element will make you personally come back is up to you, but it’s hard to argue against a second visit at Kamei.Find Teuchimensai Kamei (手打麺祭 かめ囲) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/QpCVBubWzxShvDR5A#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Best Tsukemen in Gifu Prefecture: Ramen Rikido #japanesefood #ramen #gifu Nama Japan 2023-04-13 | You can find the full video review of Ramen Rikido here: youtu.be/256A2HqG-CEListen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
The best shio ramen of 2023? - Checking out Sakurajosui Funakoshi Nama Japan 2023-04-08 | Sakurajosui Funakoshi, or just Funakoshi, has been one of the hottest new shio ramen shops in Tokyo in 2023. Opened in January of 2023, they have created quite the buzz around their incredible shio ramen, which some ramen nerds even call the best shio ramen they ever had.Funakoshi is run by a disciple of the legendary Watanabe near Takadanobaba station, which is famous for not only their regular menu, but also their always changing gentei special bowls. Lots of creativity and ramen knowledge in that lineage, although the regular bowls at both shops are very different.While both shio and shoyu ramen options are available, I didn’t see a single person go for the shoyu ramen when I went and you have to search for a long time to find pictures of their shoyu ramen online. It’s safe to say that you are not making a mistake with the shio ramen here.The broth base is a mix of chicken, pork and, more curiously, beef. It’s hard to pick any of them out of the resulting soup, which just shows how balanced it all is. The soup is opaque and you could call it a creamy paitan, without having a full emulsion to the extent that some paitans have. Overall super aromatic and rich, definitely something different compared to many clear chintan shio ramen out there.The noodles remind me very much of Kitakata style noodles, thin, flat and hand massaged, which gives them a wavy, almost curly texture. They are perfect to slurp up a great amount of soup, which clings very nicely to the noodles. I am personally a big fan of this type of noodles.If you’re into trying something different in terms of shio ramen and see what else it can be, then Funakoshi is a must try from now on.Find Sakurajosui Funakoshi (桜上水 船越) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/MBWoVDg5AC1AwVnFA#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Tsukemen with 3 Noodle Styles at Rikido - The Best Ramen Shop in Gifu Nama Japan 2023-04-02 | Rikido is a tsukemen style ramen shop in Gifu city, which is famous for their various types of noodles that are served with their tsukemen dipping soup, especially their flat and thick noodles called “hirauchimen”.I went with my good buddy Cody from Ramenguidejapan.com - make sure to check out his website for in-depth written ramen reviews!Generally considered to be the best ramen shop in Gifu city and even Gifu prefecture, Rikido flashes across every ramen nerd’s social media from time to time and makes everyone pause, because of the unusual noodles that are served there.Rikido standard tsukemen comes with 2 types of thin and flat noodles, one standard type with refined wheat and one made with whole wheat, which gives it a dark color and some clearly visible specks. As an addition, you can order their so called hirauchimen, which are super wide flat noodles. This way, you end up with 3 types of noodles next to your bowl of tsukemen dipping soup.The dipping soup itself is another highlight. It is a clear style of dipping soup, loosely related to the Taishoken style of tsukemen soups. However, the flavor is way more concentrated, sharp and rich. It's as if you cross a Taishoken style tsukemen soup in terms of flavor with the wild and over the top punch of a Jiro style soup.One last thing to note is that you should absolutely get extra chashu. Again, the chashu reminds me more of a Jiro style chashu than anything else. Think cut chunks of almost overbraised, close to falling apart when you try to pick it up, and strongly seasoned to be enjoyable just by itself.All in all, every single element of this dish is extraordinary and justifies a visit. But all three combined, probably make it one of my favorite ramen dishes in Japan.Find Ramen Rikido (らぁめん りきどう) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/jJtaXke932K1PeCaA#ramen #gifu #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
The New King of Niboshi Ramen in Tokyo: Niboshimania Nama Japan 2023-03-25 | There is a new contender for the king of niboshi ramen title in Tokyo and the name of the shop is Niboshimania. The name itself makes it absolutely clear what this shop is all about: Great niboshi ramen. Niboshimania opened its doors in September of 2022 and is almost daily reinventing itself with an always changing menu of niboshi ramen and aedama add ons.Find NIBOSHIMANIA on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/SRbJxb3BU6Pxq2Cw9#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Award Winning Ramen at Chukasoba Ranchu Nama Japan 2023-03-18 | Chukasoba Ranchu has been an award winning ramen shop, ever since they first opened their doors. However they are not on the map as much anymore for ramen hunters these days and i think that’s a damn shame.Find Chukasoba Ranchu (中華蕎麦 蘭鋳) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/BDQa5qdNkT1yJD6u8?g_st=ic#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTVh
2 Hours Wait! Nagoya Cochin Chicken Ramen at Asuka in Nagoya Nama Japan 2023-03-11 | Ramen Asuka (らぁ麺 飛鶏)is a top ranked ramen shop in Nagoya famous for serving chicken ramen made with Nagoya Cochin chicken.You will find Ramen Asuka a bit to the North of Nagoya, in a sort of semi-residential and semi-industrial area. Most likely you will already see a line snaking around the parking lot in front of the ramen shop. When I went with Cody from Ramenguidejapan.com we had to wait for 2 hours. But the wait itself isn’t the worst part. There is a bread factory on the other side of the street, from where the smell of freshly baked bread wafts over into your nostrils while you wait for your ramen. That wait really was a bit of torture, but the ramen we got for it was worth the wait.The ramen at Asuka is made with the famous Nagoya Cochin chicken, which some describe almost as a cheat code, because allegedly everyone can make a tasty ramen soup with it. Asuka manages to elevate the Nagoya chicken flavor to its perfection in ramen form. The soup is so rich and yet light, packs a punch and is still elegant. Simply said, it’s very very good if you’re into chicken ramen. The noodles were well matched with the soup, having a great slurp and bite. The toppings were similarly on a high level.When it comes to ramen shops specializing in Nagoya Cochin chicken ramen, I think Asuka has been my favorite so far. But bring some time when you go and comfortable shoes, because you’re very likely going to stand in line with fresh bread aroma in your nose.Find Ramen Asuka (らぁ麺 飛鶏) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/UTfi61vLwF518nyX7?g_st=ic#ramen #nagoya #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Spicy 🔥 Taiwan Ramen at Misen in Nagoya Nama Japan 2023-03-04 | Misen (味仙) is an absolute must try for ramen heads and regular people alike, if you are visiting the city of Nagoya. Their Taiwan ramen has been a category creating dish of "Taiwan style" ramen, which curiously have not much to do with any dishes served in Taiwan, or at least there is no direct equivalent there.Taiwan ramen features a broth made from chicken bones, topped with minced meat that has been fried with plenty of hot and numbing peppers, as well as garlic chives.Find Misen Imaike Honten (味仙 今池本店) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/BgqTG5vSa57F58Ug9#ramen #nagoya #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Local Ramen Favorite Tokugawacho Josui in Nagoya Nama Japan 2023-02-25 | Tokugawacho Josui Honten is one of the highest ranked ramen shops in Nagoya and has been that way for quite some time. When you get to the shop, you can easily see that it’s not only loved by the reviewers, but also by the locals. Long lines form in front and inside of the shop, which move quite fast due to the spacious size of the shop and the fast working kitchen.Their most popular items are their shio and shoyu ramen, which use a quite niboshi heavy classic chukasoba style broth as base. But the menu is quite extensive and you see many people going for their Taiwan style ramen and tsukemen, as well as the shirunashi tantanmen. All of them looked excellent and warrant making multiple trips to Josui to try all of their ramen.Find Tokugawacho Josui (徳川町 如水) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/BgqTG5vSa57F58Ug9#ramen #nagoya #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Unapologetic Dried Fish Ramen at Niboshi Ramen 88 in Nagoya Nama Japan 2023-02-18 | Niboshi Ramen 88 in Nagoya is a niboshi ramen specialty shop, which serves ramen with a broth made from mainly dried fish called niboshi. If you are a niboshi ramen lover, this ramen shop probably should end up on your to-do list when you visit Nagoya.The ramen shop next to Nagoya station is the second shop of Niboshi Ramen 88, with the first shop being situated next to Kanayama station, a major train stop in the South of Nagoya. If you're curious, the 88 is actually reads as "PAPA", which you can see written on the Kanayama location.Ramen Find Niboshi Ramen 88 (にぼしらーめん88 名駅本店) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/jdDE33Xaroj3NS7T8#ramen #niboshi #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" PODCAST for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Beef Shoyu Ramen at Ramen Bros in Nagoya Nama Japan 2023-02-11 | Ramen Bros is a ramen shop near Nagoya that dedicates itself to new and creative recipes, as well as ingredients that aren't used that often in the ramen world. This can easily be seen by looking at the menu, which features quite a few surprising and rare ramen items.Ramen Bros has only opened in July 2021, but has since then managed to secure a loyal following of ramen slurpers, which translates into long lines on most days.One of the main items on the menu at Ramen Bros are their Kaishiosoba, which features a double soup of Nagoya Cochin chicken and shellfish. The other main item is their Gyushoyusoba, which is a is a Nagoya Cochin chicken base broth, infused with the flavor of beef, by preparing their grandiose beef chashu in the broth. Additionally, you will find flavored beef fat sprinkled all over the top of your bowl, which makes it really rich and fragrant.Another interesting item at Ramen Bros is their biangbiang noodles, of which they only make 10 a day. If you want to try them, make sure you come early to get a chance. Overall, if you are looking for the best ramen in Nagoya, Ramen Bros might be the right place to check out during your visit.Make sure to check out their Instagram for their latest special bowls and irregular opening times:► instagram.com/ramen_bros_kyouwaFind RAMEN BROS (RAMENぶろす) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/5MjHkSFjDnMPB1SM6#ramen #nagoya #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
The Internet Famous Ramen Rotas Nama Japan 2023-02-04 | Ramen Rotas is a ramen shop and a ramen internet sensation with over 200.000 subscribers on their YouTube channel. On their channel, they show the world how to make ramen, from simple home recipes and instant ramen hacks, all the way to ramen shop recipes and how to run a ramen shop. Their channel is an absolute treasure trove for all ramen enthusiasts and is often part of my research as well, if I look into specific styles.Make sure to check out their ramen YouTube channel: youtube.com/@ramenrotasBut Ramen Rotas is not only a YouTube channel but also a real ramen shop you can go to. Most people don't actually go to this shop though, for the simple reason that the location of the ramen shop is very much "out there" in Mishima city, which itself is at least 1.5 hours from central Tokyo with no apparent other touristic value.If you do make it anywhere near Mishima city, then you absolutely have to make a trip to Ramen Rotas. They are the absolutely dominating ramen force in the area, delivering a wide selection of bowls on a high level that could easily compete with very good shops in Tokyo. Their menu is incredibly varied, which helps in providing tasty ramen for everyone in this more rural area. You could probably go there once a day for a whole week and always have a completely different style of ramen.This time, I went for their niboshi ramen, since I think it is one of the more difficult ramen to pull off well and also because I felt like a good niboshi bowl on that day, after having had chicken based shoyu and shio ramen before on that day (check out the Ishikawaya and Momonoya videos for those!).The niboshi ramen I got at Ramen Rotas was on the more mellow side and easily enjoyable, without the harsh niboshi punch which you get from niboshi ramen specialty shops. And yet, it was quite fragrant and enjoyable. I will have to see if they might have this recipe on their YouTube channel! The noodles were well matched to the style. Compared to other niboshi ramen shops, they paired it with a more hydrated and slurpy noodle, while other shops often go for low hydration and quite hard noodles with more bite. I did enjoy the combination, but I also think it's a bit of a concession, since these low hydration noodles don't pair well with many other styles. The toppings were very well executed, from the rosy and tender pork chashu to the on point ajitama egg. Really hard to find anything to complain about this bowl, that's why I left Ramen Rotas fully satisfied and happy to have seen the other side of the kitchen, which you can see in almost all of their ramen shop cooking videos.Ramen Find Ramen Rotas (ラーメン ろたす) on Google Maps:► goo.gl/maps/4NCG3K2SKvagBNEQ9#ramen #rotas #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
Kebab Flavor Mixing Ramen at Mazesoba Chururu Nama Japan 2023-01-28 | Mazesoba Chururu is a mazesoba specialty shop which serves a Jiro ramen inspired bowls of mixing ramen. Chururu offers a great variety of condiments and toppings to add to your ramen including a garlic mayonnaise which turns your bowl into an almost kebab or shawarma like experience that will have you lick bowl clean.Mazesoba mixing ramen are a style of ramen with either no soup (just seasoning) at all or a very concentrated soup at the bottom of the bowl. The common denominator is that you need to mix the noodles, the topping and the seasoning or soup at the bottom all together until everyone is well mixed together.Find Mazesoba Chururu (まぜそば ちゅるる) on Google Maps:► maps.app.goo.gl/Gvz4wQN3aQ5ibWE99?g_st=ic#ramen #tokyo #japanesefood Listen to the "Ramen in Japan" podcast for lots of information about all the ramen shops in Japan:► https://anchor.fm/rameninjapanVisit me on:► NAMAJAPAN.TV: namajapan.tv► INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/namajapantv► FACEBOOK: facebook.com/namajapanTV► TWITTER: twitter.com/NamaJapanTV
