中華そば 青葉 - Aoba, Kita Senju

中華そば - Chuuka Soba

 
   I'd heard a few good things about Aoba so it had been on the list for a while. However, I wasn't really planning on heading over to the honten in Nakano and hadn't been out that way for a while, so I figured I'd make do with the branch in Kita Senju. They can't be that different, right?

  Wrong? I don't know - I still haven't been to the honten. But I've gotta say that it was pretty disappointing for a well-known chain. Very soft and doughy noodles left the strongest impression - and it wasn't a good one. I wonder how much the quality varies when these famous stores begin to open new branches and the master hands the reins over to someone else.

  Soup was good though...

Ramen Database

Google Maps

ラーメン屋 トイ ・ ボックス - Toy Box, Minowa

味玉醤油ラーメン - Shoyu Ramen w/ Egg

  Yet another in the series of places-that-I've-eaten-at-before series. And this one is one the possibly more well-known new-ish shops. It used to be Ando, but as we know, the ramen world can be fickle and restaurants generally have a short lifespan. Luckily for the residents of Minowa, they got a hyped shop so they can join lines where they used to be able to come as they pleased, without the soup running out for the day.

   It was actually quite a while ago that I ate here so I can't quite remember it too well. A couple of different varieties of chashu was certainly a plus, and it was easy to see that the master takes a lot of care in how he prepares each bowl, measuring the oil and having a quick taste of each one to make sure the combinations are right. 

Ramen Database

Google Maps

ちょんまげ 九十九ラーメン - Chonmage Tsukumo, IIdabashi

元祖チーズラーメン - Cheese Ramen

    Here's another quick one I don't remember too much about, but the idea of a cheese and miso ramen is too good not to mention, no matter how many times you end up mentioning it. I actually spent a lot of time in Iidabashi in 2013 but didn't spend a lot of time seeking out the local ramen shops since I had an hour to spare from 12PM - Which is the exact time every single office worker is seemingly on their lunch break! I got here at 11:50 on this particular day.

   Every time I see it, my mouth waters. But for some reason it didn't do it for me like it did at the branch in Ebisu. Don't let this turn you off it. I'm sure if I was after another hefty helping of cheese I would indulge.

Ramen Database

Google Maps

麺屋鶴若 - Tsuruwaka, Minowa

背脂中華そば - Seabura Chuka Soba

   All good things must come to an end, as they say, so it's sad to see that the ramen shop that got me through my first winter in Tokyo, Takumiya, is no longer with us. Of course, with all the subsequent ramen that I've eaten, it's safe to say that it wasn't actually that good. Luckily the premises was set up in a such a way that another ramen shop was the obvious choice to be the next tenant. I'm not sure if these holes in the counter were there before, nor their purpose.

    Tsuruwaka is the relatively new kid on the block - actually I'm not quite sure how new as I went there months ago, and it has been there at least a year - but nevertheless, it is now a different places for the residents of Minowa to get their ramen fix.

   There it is! Honestly, I don't remember a lot about this bowl aside from the fact that it wasn't very memorable. Does that count?! It was quite good and definitely an improvement on what used to be available here, but it seemed to be lacking in originality. Not the worst by any stretch, but lacking something that made it unique.

   Obviously I didn't have any problems finishing it though.

Ramen Database

Google Maps 

らーめん 大雅 - Taiga, Saitama

味噌らーめん - Miso Ramen

    Having finally got my Japanese drivers license, one of my first stops in the car had to be a ramen shop. I don't expect anyone to come out this way, but it is certainly refreshing to be able to get out on the road and away from the trains every once in a while... The traffic, however, remains.

    Taiga was a tip from a local who, so far, has been a pretty useful contributor to my travels around these northern reaches of Saitama. 

    The master here at Taiga used to work at a popular Sapporo shop so, wait for it... it's another miso ramen review. I was sure to be on my best behavior too, as he also apparently has a bit of a reputation for being curt with his customers. Understandably so, since he has all these know-nothing ramen nerds coming in and taking photos of his work then posting them on the internet and writing shitty reviews...

    Here 'tis.

    It was definitely a Sapporo-style miso ramen, with a thick layer of oil on top trapping the heat inside. This place does get good reviews, but I wasn't overly impressed, which isn't to say I was unimpressed either. It was, however, a pretty good representation of a miso ramen but just seemed to lack it's own personality. (Remember what I said about shitty reviews earlier?)

   I was still pretty keen to get to the end though. 

Ramen Database

Google Maps

麺処 花田 - Hanada, Ikebukuro

味噌ラーメン - Miso Ramen

    Anytime is a good time to get stuck into some miso ramen, but, let's face it, the winter is always the best and manages to keep you warm on even the coldest of days. So, on this not-so-cold day, it was off to Ikebukuro to join the line outside one of the more popular shops in the neighbourhood.

   Hanada appears to be a pretty well-oiled operation with 4 or 5 people behind the counter with each at their own station all helping to keep the line outside moving along. It has a very rough-around-the-edges feel and appearance isn't the highest priority and feels a little like sitting in a basement. But I hope they aren't thinking of getting rid of the dank.

    The ramen is a very thick, creamy style tonkotsu-miso and does exactly as you'd hope it would. 

   I was there a while ago and don't remember a lot else about it aside from the thick noodles and chashu.

    I wasn't there very long either, as you can imagine.

   A great bowl and definitely worth the visit if you're in the area. While you're lining up you can check the biggest pile of bean sprouts I've ever seen. I'm sure they go through a lot.

Ramen Database

Google Maps

麺屋泳吉・花鳥風月 - Eikichi, Kasai

カリーつけ麺 - Curry Tsukemen

    Noodles and curry aren't the most common combination, but they're also not such an unfamiliar mix and most of the time we can see it in the form of curry udon which uses a soup based on Japanese style curry. However, Eikichi in Kasai, one stop from Nishi Kasai, the biggest Indian area in Tokyo, is doing something a little different and using an Indian style curry for you to dip your noodles into. So it's basically a combination of Chinese, Japanese and Indian cuisine in one dish!

   With a master who has a background in fashion design you would expect Eikichi, which also seems to double as a semi-Izakaya, to be among the more fashionable ramen shops, and it certainly is, with a well-planned interior and a little more attention to detail inside - such as the basket for your belongings being built into the counter stools.

   Here 'tis. I had been hoping to come here for a while since seeing it in a magazine a few years ago but never got around to it, so there was some anticipation... But that was mainly due to uniqueness of the soup than anything else. Overall it was pretty good, but I wasn't a massive fan - the noodles seemed a touch overcooked, and the soup became a little same-y towards the end, although the soup-wari was a nice change. There was a however a nice big chashu hiding at the bottom of the bowl.

   Still got it! Not an amazing bowl, but I certainly recommend it - For those that are either looking for a new tsukemen challenge, or those looking for a curry challenge.

Ramen Database

Google Maps