Hyperlocal Tokyo

Noga Hope is a long-established ramen shop known for its tonkotsu shoyu ramen. While this isn't the Harajuku branch, I've eaten here many times before. That's why I was disappointed with the taste. I wonder if they've switched to a central kitchen, as the broth was thin and the noodles were different. 🥲 The gyoza, however, is not recommended. It goes beyond personal preference, so if you're brave, give it a try. The restaurant has a lot of seats and can get crowded. I could suggest improvements to the taste at the directly managed stores, but that might be presumptuous. I was very disappointed, and I hope it returns to its former glory. It was a delicious meal.

The interior is stylish and spacious. It was lunchtime, but we were able to get a table relatively quickly. The food was delicious, but I wonder if it's different from the main branch in Nogata? It felt different from the main branch I used to frequent, and while it was tasty, it lacked the depth of flavor and punch that made it so special. It seemed like a more universally appealing taste.

This ramen shop is located in Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo. It's a chain operated by Souryuu Co., Ltd., headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. They have locations mainly in Tokyo. I ordered the '濃' lunch set (¥1,000). It's a unique dish featuring Nohgata Hope's triple soup with seafood broth, homemade fragrant oil, and spicy miso. The soup is definitely delicious, but the blend of flavors and broths makes it taste a bit too balanced. The noodles are smooth and easy to eat. The gyoza is standard, and the chashu donburi is decent. Thank you for the meal.

I've known the name for over 30 years, but this was my first time trying anything other than their cup noodles. Their recommended "Kon" (濃) pork bone broth ramen with seafood dashi is delicious. It comes with a topping of chili miso and flavored oil, which adds a nice change of flavor. The broth is flavorful and rich, but still drinkable. When you sit down, they give you a small container of seasoned bean sprouts.

I had the "Kok" (¥950) with a large portion and rice. *Lunch service includes free large noodles and rice.* You can choose the amount of back fat when ordering, so I went for "Kotteri" (rich) and even more so, "Kote Kote" (super rich). It was incredibly delicious. Personally, I didn't find it too greasy at all, and I'd definitely go for "Kote Kote" again next time! The ingredients weren't particularly mind-blowing in terms of flavor, but the seasoning was absolutely fantastic. The soup had a strong seafood flavor. At first, the burnt soy sauce sauce wasn't mixed in, so gradually mixing it in as you eat adds a fantastic aroma and punch. The little bit of spice on top is a great flavor change accent later on. There's free granulated garlic on the table, and you can use a self-service garlic crusher to add it as a topping. It's a perfect match, and you could even add it from the start! Another subtle plus is that the interior is very spacious, with plenty of tables, and the tables themselves are very stylish. When I went for lunch on a Sunday, there were a lot of families with children, and it was a pleasant atmosphere. The price is also a bit cheap for these days? It's rare to find a place that costs under ¥1000, especially in March 2024. This ramen shop might be my go-to spot when I come to Harajuku! Thank you for the meal 🍜