Hyperlocal Tokyo

This lunch spot on Meiji-dori near Shibuya Stream always has a line, mainly with middle-aged men. Their specialties are dan dan noodles and sets with noodles and rice (a very affordable ¥1,000). I'd been wanting to try it for a while, so I went during off-peak hours to avoid the crowds. Today, I wasn't in the mood for a big meal, so even though it was my first visit, I skipped the famous dan dan noodles and set and ordered the limited-time clam ramen (¥900). It was a rich, salt-based broth, reminiscent of Santouka, with about 10 clams, wakame seaweed, and other toppings. The noodles were slightly low-hydration, medium-thin noodles. They had a good texture and were delicious. Next time, I'll try the set menu...

I visited this popular restaurant on a weekday afternoon in September 2024, around 1 p.m. Usually there's a long line, but luckily I was able to get in with almost no wait. I got my ticket within a couple of minutes of arriving, and my food was served about 10 minutes after I was seated. I ordered the fried rice set, which included a black fried rice with shrimp and corn, and a seasoned salt ramen. I had seen the black fried rice at a neighboring table on my last visit and was really curious about it. The black fried rice was absolutely delicious, just as I expected. It had a bold flavor and the sweet corn was amazing. There were also plenty of shrimp. The seasoned salt ramen was good, but the noodles were a bit soft, which I also noticed with other noodles I've tried here. The set cost exactly 1,000 yen, which I think is a good value for the amount of food and the quality. It's impressive that even with all the customers, the staff are always busy and efficient, but still manage to provide excellent service. They're not overly friendly, but they're not rude either. They treat you with respect and even say goodbye as you leave. I definitely want to go back soon and have that black fried rice again. It was a great visit.

I ordered the Dan Dan noodles and fried rice. The fried rice was perfectly seasoned and fluffy. I ordered the Dan Dan noodles spicy, but it wasn't that spicy compared to the standard level. The taste and portion size were definitely worth the price. The staff was very attentive and provided excellent service. They informed us about the wait time, and even suggested we put our backpacks in front of us while waiting in line. As we left, the kitchen staff made eye contact and thanked us. It's easy to see why this place is so popular.

This was my third visit. It's located about a 2-minute walk from Shibuya Station, on Meiji-dori Street heading towards Ebisu. As usual, there was a wait, and it took about 30 minutes from joining the queue to receiving my food. To minimize the wait time, they encourage you to buy tickets from the vending machine even while waiting in line, and they even take cash payment while you're queuing. **What I ordered:** * Cold Chinese noodles - ¥900 It was incredibly generous for the price! ✨ It felt like a great deal. (^^) A half-portion of rice came free with the order. However, they were so busy that they completely forgot about it, and I had to ask, "Is the half-rice ready yet?" Cold Chinese noodles usually have firm, slightly chewy noodles, but these were soft...(^^; I hadn't been here before because the noodles were overcooked on my previous visit, but maybe this place just serves soft noodles. Still, it was a great deal with all the toppings and the free half-rice.

Nakajima in Shibuya It's been about three years since my last visit... I remember the food being incredibly delicious last time. I had the Five-Flavor Fried Rice and the Pan-Fried Dumplings. I went around 2:30 pm on a weekday... and there was a line (sad). I even had to buy a ticket from the vending machine and then line up at the back. (More people who had already bought tickets came out.) When I got inside, I had to stand in line inside the restaurant too (lol). How popular is this place? Last time I went in the evening, around dusk, and I remember being able to sit down without any problem. Well, I handed in my ticket and waited, and finally got a seat and the food came out quickly (happy). ...It was delicious! It was a little too salty though (lol). I rarely say something is too salty... ...I'm okay with it, but I wonder if anyone would complain about it being too salty? The dumplings were my first time trying them. They were truly the Japanese "The Pan-Fried Dumpling." The skin was crispy and delicious! Thank you for the meal!