Hyperlocal Tokyo

I was craving a hearty bowl of tonkotsu ramen for breakfast, so I visited this place that opens at 9 am. Even though it was right after opening, there was one customer ahead of me and three more after, filling half the counter. Upon entering, the ticket machine is on the right and the water dispenser is on the left. When I handed over my ticket, I was asked about my preferences, so I requested "firm noodles, light broth, and less noodles." I was also asked if I wanted rice, and I said yes. After a while, they called out, "Firm noodles coming up!" and started serving those who ordered firm noodles. After my ramen arrived, I took a sip of the broth first. It was a bit lukewarm, but it had a strong, delicious pork bone flavor. Then I took a bite of the noodles... they were soft... softer than usual, I think. As I ate, the noodles became even softer... the flavor was good, but it was a real shame. The rice, which was cooked perfectly firm for dipping in the broth, was a big hit with me. The green onions are self-serve from a bowl, and the table condiments are well-stocked, which is good. ...However, the firmness of the noodles today was a real disappointment. The last time I came, they gave me firm noodles, so I guess it depends on the chef. I like the flavor, so I'll try going at a different time or day to see if it's better.

This is a Hakata-style ramen shop located on the first floor of a large restaurant building near the south exit of Kinshicho Station. The interior is spacious and has a different feel than your typical ramen shop, in a good way. You can choose the firmness of your noodles, the richness of the broth, and the amount of oil. Of course, rice comes free with your meal! Definitely check it out if you're in Kinshicho!

First visit! I had definitely checked it out and had been wanting to go for a while, but I just couldn't make it. 😅 Maybe it's my age, but I've been staying away from Jiro and Keio ramen lately. 😅 To be honest, I've been eating Jiro-style and Keio-style ramen for so long that I might have been mentally retired from them. In the midst of all this, I finished my errands and went to Kameido Gyoza 🥟 for the first time in a while, but there was a line... I ended up having a light meal at Gindaco 🐙🍺, but it was unfortunately disappointing and left me feeling unsatisfied. I wasn't in the mood for another place, so I switched to 'closing mode' and finally visited this Keio-style ramen shop that I'd been curious about since it opened (how many years ago was that?!). I knew it had a good reputation from YouTube and bloggers, so I went in without any hesitation.💡 First of all, it's cheap! And the service is great! I ordered the special (regular) with a beer. 🍺☺️ I took a bite... and it was delicious! 😋 The generous toppings, the flavor, the service, and the flavor variations with garlic, vinegar, and chili paste - all of them were perfect and enhanced the original flavor without going overboard. I was completely satisfied. ☺️❤️ Definitely a repeat customer! 👍 This has brought a new light to Keio-style ramen, which I had been avoiding lately. In short, I was completely satisfied!

Ticket vending machine style, water is self-service. Only counter seating for about 11 people. Ladles are available for self-service. It might be difficult if you have large luggage. Rice comes with the ramen. The staff are bright and the atmosphere is good! Ramen (medium) - ¥950 The noodles are medium-thick, square-shaped, straight, and thinner than typical "kake-re" noodles. Even when ordered firm, they have a chewy texture. The soup has a Tokyo "kake-re" style flavor. However, the initial flavor might be a bit mild? The char siu is like thick ham.

📅 February 2024 Before heading into the live house in Kinshicho, I decided to grab some dinner first… I found a ramen shop on the first floor of a building near the station. It was thoughtful of them to let customers choose the firmness of the noodles, the intensity of the flavor, and the amount of oil 🍀 I'm so used to the delicious tonkotsu ramen from Kagoshima that I felt a little underwhelmed, but I was impressed by the female owner (or maybe the chef)? intently preparing the food behind the counter 😊