Hyperlocal Tokyo

The "Ramen Battle Zone" on the B1F of KITTE Tokyo. This area is packed with popular ramen shops, including Matsutomitamaenban, with lines stretching throughout the day. However, Fuku-mi has relatively shorter queues. After a business meeting at Marunouchi Building, I had some time to spare, so I decided to try this place since the wait wouldn't be too long. ◆Chuka Soba Zeni no Mori / ¥1,280 When in doubt, I always go for the "top left rule" on the vending machine. I chose the shop's recommended all-topping soy sauce ramen. Incidentally, there were about 7 people in line, and the wait was 5-6 minutes, so the turnover seemed good. The ramen arrived with two large, thinly sliced pieces of chicken thigh char siu, two wontons, an ajitama (marinated soft-boiled egg), and hossomenma (thinly sliced bamboo shoots). It was a luxurious lineup, indeed. First, I took a sip of the soup. It was a light and elegant soy sauce broth with a moderate amount of fat, leaving a very refined taste. The noodles were made by "Konanochikara," the noodle factory of the Setagaya Group, and were quite thin. They were a bit soft, which wasn't quite my preference. I prefer them to be a bit more firm. They also stretched quickly, and the portion was quite large, so I ended up leaving about a third of it. The char siu was tender and juicy, and the ajitama was perfectly marinated, incredibly delicious. All the toppings were excellent. For an all-topping ramen, the price wasn't too high for today's standards, and the service was good, so I think it's a decent place.

I visited "Fukumi" in the KITTE Ramen Street after going to Tokyo Station. I had been curious about this place for a while. The interior has a long counter, and it's very clean. I ordered: ◆ Wonton Noodle Soup - ¥1,070 The soup, glistening with chicken oil, looked delicious. It was a dark soy sauce color, but it was light when I tasted it. The chicken broth was flavorful and comforting. It wasn't a sharp, punchy flavor, but a balanced and gentle one. It was delicious. The noodles were thin and smooth. The wontons were thick and the skin was soft and delicious! Overall, it was a very well-balanced bowl of noodles. Thank you for the meal.

This ramen shop is located in KITTE, a complex within Tokyo Station. It's a competitive area with four or five ramen shops lined up, and this time I visited Fukumi. You purchase tickets from a vending machine before ordering. Since it's a shop in the station, I believe it only had counter seats. (Please forgive me if I'm wrong.) I ordered the chicken white broth ramen. The flavor was lighter than I expected. I didn't do it, but you might want to add some pepper from the table. The bamboo shoots were long and interesting. The chicken was tender and delicious. I went back the next day and tried the Chinese-style ramen. This one had a stronger flavor, and the marinated egg was also delicious. The food came out quickly, and the staff were energetic, so the atmosphere was good. It might depend on the time of day, though.

A ramen-loving colleague and I stopped by a ramen hot spot in Tokyo Station for lunch after a business trip! (*´∇｀*) There wasn't a line, but it was almost full. My colleague recommended the "Zei no Mori" (Luxury Set). The soup was a pure soy sauce flavor. The noodles were medium-thin and straight, with a nice chew. (//∇//) The "Zei no Mori" set, as the name suggests, was a feast for the senses, with dumplings, thin-sliced char siu, egg, and bamboo shoots. It was a satisfying meal! Thank you for the delicious food!

I visited Fuku-mi, a Chinese-style noodle shop located in the fiercely competitive ramen district near Tokyo Station, for lunch on a weekday. Compared to other restaurants, it was relatively empty during lunchtime, so I decided to try it. The interior has a calm and sophisticated atmosphere with a Japanese aesthetic. I ordered the Chuka-soba Zei no Mori (¥1,280). The ramen arrived quickly without much waiting. The first sip of the soup revealed a stronger-than-expected soy sauce flavor. While I could detect a faint aroma of chicken broth, the umami was not very pronounced, resulting in a clear but somewhat underwhelming taste. It was a bit different from what I expected. The soup lacked a distinct flavor profile, and I didn't feel compelled to finish it. Additionally, the char siu was dry and tough, which was disappointing. The menu described it as slow-cooked pork loin, so I suspect it might have been overcooked. Perhaps the char siu I had was just an isolated case of being overheated. On the other hand, the noodles were quite delicious. The wheat flavor, the characteristic curl of Chinese-style noodles, and the springiness were all perfect. Overall, I wasn't completely satisfied.