Hyperlocal Tokyo

The ramen had a unique flavor with a strong bonito (katsuobushi) taste. While the price was on the higher side, the delicious taste and generous toppings made it satisfying. I believe the richness of the oil contributed to this unique flavor, but it felt a bit heavy towards the end. They offer a variety of ramen options, including bonito soy sauce, chicken white broth salt, mackerel dried bonito tsukemen, and miso. **Chuka Soba (Chinese-style Ramen) - ¥1100** This was my first visit. It's located about a 5-minute walk from Shibuya Station, a little off Sakurazaka. I arrived around 11:30 am and there were a few customers. I purchased a ticket from the vending machine and sat at an empty seat. There were about 14 counter seats, water was self-service, and the table condiments included pepper, vinegar, chili oil, and spicy miso. The ramen was ready in about 8 minutes. The soy sauce soup was incredibly delicious, with a strong bonito flavor and rich oil that I've never tasted before. The straight, smooth noodles had a good bite and were plentiful, perfectly soaking up the soup. The toppings were generous, including a large amount of green onions, bamboo shoots, seaweed, half an egg, and tender, juicy char siu. Everything was delicious. I finished the entire bowl and was very satisfied. The oil became a bit heavy towards the end, and I was initially worried about the high price, but overall, I was happy with the experience. I'd like to try the other flavors next time.

I arrived at the restaurant at 1 pm on Saturday. There was no line outside, but it was full with people coming in as tables became available. I purchased tickets for the special Chinese-style ramen and an extra soft-boiled egg from the ticket machine that accepts IC cards. The ramen arrived about 7 minutes later. The melt-in-your-mouth pork belly and bamboo shoots were delicious. The soft-boiled egg was just okay; I probably didn't need to add it. The noodles were classic Chinese-style ramen and very tasty. The special ramen comes with a lot of toppings, so it was very filling. However, the broth was a bit too strong for my taste. I added vinegar at the end, but I couldn't finish it all. The staff was very friendly and greeted me warmly, which was great.

Special Chinese-style ramen, large portion, ¥1,450. Transportation IC cards and PayPay accepted. The broth is rich with seafood flavors, especially bonito flakes. It's not as greasy as it looks and is very delicious. The char siu is melt-in-your-mouth, excellent. The egg is average. The chili paste on the table (probably with garlic) enhances the flavor of the soup without ruining it. I'm also curious to try the salt ramen.

I question the high ratings. The taste needs improvement, but the atmosphere was so bad that it was infuriating before even tasting the food. As many others have written in their reviews, the atmosphere was extremely unpleasant due to the way the employees were being instructed, making for a very uncomfortable meal. The owner should reflect on themselves before criticizing others. There were two employees. The male employee was constantly talking to the elderly female employee in a low voice, barely audible from the counter. It sounded like he was giving instructions, but mixed in were things like "Move three times faster" and other criticisms and instructions, which felt like bullying. This continued throughout the meal. The reprimands were frequent and persistent, and he spoke in a low voice so that the customers wouldn't hear, but the employee had to get closer to hear him, making it difficult for her to do her job. It was painful to watch, and I couldn't focus on the food at all. Instructions for coordination are fine, but don't reprimand someone in front of customers. I was furious. As an aside, a good supervisor would wait until after the rush and when the employee is able to listen before giving feedback. Giving random instructions to someone who is already busy is counterproductive. I was worried about the employee. Now, the food. Chuka Soba (Chinese-style ramen) - ¥1,100. Some reviews mentioned that it was similar to "Mochi Mochi no Ki," and it's true that they both use a chicken and pork bone broth with bonito flakes, so they are similar. The surface of the soup had a layer of dark brown oil, which was probably bonito oil. Underneath, the broth was a pale white. The color was somewhere between a milky white and a clear broth, and it had a thin consistency. Some reviews called it "milky," but I think that's an inaccurate description. The flavor was very artificial, and those who found the soup "rich" may be referring to the intensity of the flavor. Personally, I found it intense but lacking in depth. I wouldn't mind it if they used less artificial flavoring. The noodles were straight, thin, and probably medium-hard, and they went well with the soup. There was nothing wrong with them. The best part was the toppings. The chashu was a large, thick piece of pork belly that was tender and flavorful. The menma (bamboo shoots) were crunchy and there were three long pieces, which was a nice touch. It also came with half a soft-boiled egg. This was a bit of a surprise, as I ended up eating 1.5 eggs because I also ordered an extra egg. However, with these toppings, the ¥1,100 price tag was reasonable. By the way, the service was good, with the staff greeting customers and speaking loudly. If I hadn't noticed the situation with the employees, I would have had a good impression. As a child, I didn't enjoy meals where I was being lectured, and I realized again that the atmosphere during a meal is just as important as the taste of the food.

This time, I'd like to introduce you to 'Chuka Soba Sakurazaka'. I only had 4 hours in Tokyo, but I managed to visit this place. Due to an accident on the highway, I lost a lot of time. When I arrived at the restaurant, there were a few people eating ramen, and I was able to enter without waiting. I bought a ticket and sat at the counter. I ordered the 'Chuka Soba'. I thought I should try the most standard menu first. When I entered the restaurant, I noticed a strong seafood aroma. The aroma of dashi was the strongest. The Chuka Soba arrived at the counter. The soup had a very strong seafood aroma. When I took a sip of the soup, the seafood flavor wasn't that strong, it was actually quite light, which surprised me. It's hard to imagine how they can make the flavor so simple with such a strong aroma. The ingredients included a boiled egg, char siu, seaweed, menma, and white onions, without any additional toppings. The texture of the white onions was amazing. They were very juicy and crunchy. You could tell they were fresh. The menma was actually more like bamboo shoots. It felt like a very luxurious lineup. It was great how all the ingredients harmonized with the noodles. It really depends on your personal preference.