Hyperlocal Tokyo

I went to a popular ramen shop a few minutes' walk from Kinshicho Station for dinner around 10 pm. I bought a shoyu ramen with a large portion of noodles (¥1050) from the vending machine and took a seat. Even though it was late, there was a line out the door. The staff always asks, "Do you want extra fat? Or would you like it normal?" I ordered it with less fat and firm noodles. The soup was a little bland, but the medium-thick noodles paired perfectly with it. It was a delicious shoyu ramen.

My long-awaited visit to Naritake. When I'm tired, miso ramen is always the answer. I even splurged on a chashu topping, probably my first time ever. It's crazy how a ramen with toppings can cost over ¥1,000 these days. I'm stuffed! Maybe I'll be back in another six months (laughs). Thanks for the meal! 🍜

【Rich Tsukemen!】 I was craving ramen and decided to visit. I usually go for miso ramen, but it was so hot that day, I knew I'd be sweating buckets. I glanced at the menu and noticed they had tsukemen. I went for the Ajitama Tsukemen. The staff asked if I wanted 200g or 300g of noodles. I thought I might want some rice, so I went with 200g. The soup was rich and flavorful! (Of course, it's tsukemen, so it's expected to be strong, lol.) It had chopped scallions and chashu, and the soup had a Naritake-style richness with a hint of yuzu, making it refreshing. 200g of noodles might have been a little too little! But if I added rice, I'd definitely be stuffed, so I stopped at eight-tenths full. If you want a hearty meal, I recommend going for 300g.

Gita Gita! (A Playful Name for a Ramen Shop) First visit. I was looking for miso ramen and had been to Himuro before, so I came here. You can choose the amount of oil: light, regular, or gita gita. Even though it's called gita gita, the oil droplets are small, so it doesn't look overwhelming. For lunch, you can add 3 dumplings and half a bowl of rice for an extra 200 yen. The flavor is strong, so half a bowl of rice is essential! If you find the flavor too strong, you can also order a soup dilution for your ramen, which is great for customizing the taste to your liking. The counter is shaped like a horseshoe, so the shop isn't that big, but it doesn't feel cramped and is clean. I want to try the bean sprout soy sauce ramen next time!

• Conveniently located near the station, making it easy to find. • I always make sure to eat at Naritake whenever I return to Japan, and the rich, flavorful ramen never disappoints. • The Tsudanuma branch has an oily floor, which makes me hesitant to enter, but this location has a clean interior and air quality, making it suitable for both men and women. • The standard shoyu ramen starts at ¥900, but it's still more than enough to fill you up. • Adding garlic and gochujang for a flavor change makes for a truly enjoyable experience.