Tokyo Nostalgic Ramen – Go Ramen!®

August 10, 2012July 7, 2018

Nostalgic again…

Day 1011:

It’s been awhile since I sat down in front of a bowl of ramen and thought it was amazing from the first sip to the last. Well, that nostalgic feeling was reintroduced today.

Chuuka Tokudai (中華徳大) in Ogikubo opened in 1974 and has been a quiet legend ever since.

Although Tokudai serves many other dishes aside from ramen, this Shoyu Ramen blew my mind.

They don’t make ’em like this anymore. Pure nostalgia in a bowl. I hope the son can learn everything from his dad.

Even though Tokudai’s shoyu ramen was fully satisfying, I wasn’t gonna leave Ogikubo without another bowl. Kikuchi (荻窪ラーメン菊池) is another shop that I’ve always wanted to go to.

Perhaps the impact of the last bowl overwhelmed this one, but this was a decent classic Shoyu Ramen.

With this last bowl, I think I’ve now slurped every relevant bowl of shoyu ramen in Ogikubo.

August 9, 2012July 7, 2018

Tokyo sky tree…

Day 1010:

Summer break!!

Yoroiya (浅草名代らーめん与ろゐ屋) in Asakusa.

Tamago Ramen (玉子らーめん).

Zaru Ramen (ざるらーめん).

Before heading over there, I needed another bowl.

Tsushima (中華そばつし馬) in Asakusa.

Bari Niboshi Soba (バリ煮干しそば).

If you really really like niboshi, then try it. If you don’t, then don’t. It is pretty strong.

Tokyo Sky Tree!!!

70-minute wait???

Tokyo is a remarkable city.

And the Sky Tree is a remarkable structure.

Did I mention this is summer break?

634…

January 5, 2011July 7, 2018

For me, Ogikubo is like a ramen utopia. With so many old-school-Tokyo-style shoyu ramen shops within steps from each other, no matter where you go you can’t go wrong. So referring back to the Tokyo Nostalgic Ramen book, the assistant and I decided to check out Futaba (二葉天沼店). This shop has been around since 1983 and is considered one of Ogikubo’s finest.

Their ramen (Chashu Wontonmen pictured below) is a very rustic-style shoyu ramen. If you know the difference between chuukasoba and shinasoba, I’d say that this was more on the shinasoba side. The shoyu flavor is not as deep and the niboshi flavor is borderline excessive. But all-in-all a great old-school ramen.

The noodles tasted familiar and I’m willing to bet that Mikawaya makes them. Can anybody confirm this?

The tsukemen at Futaba is a completely different animal than their ramen. The soup is much lighter and hints of yuzu-pepper and ichimi brighten the bowl.

The thick hirauchi noodles really grasp and deliver the flavor straight to your taste buds. They definitely must be Mikawaya.

Satisfied.

If only I could eat another bowl. I always feel incomplete leaving Ogikubo after slurping at only one shop, especially since we walked by so many others that I’ve been wanting to try. Oh well. There’s always next time.

October 2, 2010July 7, 2018

A beautiful day…

Day 334:

After waking up with a slight headache, I knew exactly what I needed. The weather was perfect and I felt like taking a train ride…evastyle. I was in the mood for some Kai.

I originally wanted to try the tsukemen this time, but my ramen-filled heart wouldn’t allow it. It went straight for the chashu-men.

I must say that I have fallen in love with this picture. It makes me just want to dive in.

The walk home was fantastic. There’s nothing like walking through my neighborhood on a day like this.

And there’s nothing like ending a day like this at Bassanova.

Beautiful…

September 13, 2010July 7, 2018

Nostalgia returns…

Day 315:

It’s been awhile since I visited a shop from the Tokyo Nostalgic Ramen book. I also started to make a map of all the shops, but I haven’t had time to finish it. Anyway, Matsumaru (マツマル) has been around since 1983.

After a few recent disappointments, this bowl made up for all of them. It’s just a classic shoyu, but it got my heart pumping.

I can’t explain the feeling.

The chahan was pretty impressive too.

As you can tell.

Chinjaorosu! Shuga tried something new and it paid off. This could be his best version yet.

Hideki and Shuichi came by at closing to hang out. This job rocks!

Btw, today was Komuro’s last day. I wish her the best of luck.

August 11, 2010July 7, 2018

Surrounded by beauty…

Day 281:

Ramen Manrai (らあめん満来) is another old school ramen shop that’s been around since 1961. They used to be located in Higashi-Koenji, but now they reside in Shinjuku just a few steps from Horiuchi. Speaking of Horiuchi, Manrai’s ramen is curiously similar. One might wonder why they made the move in the first place.

I wasn’t in the mood for pieces of chashu bigger than my fist so I just stuck with the regular ramen. Beautiful.

There’s nothing more arousing than a beautiful bowl of shoyu ramen.

Okay, forget what I said above. haha.

Allow me to introduce you to Ms. Misa Kuroki (黒木美早), one of our best ‘beyond regular’ customers. Unfortunately, she will be moving and may not have much time to come visit anymore so we had to stop shop to take pictures. 美早さんありがとう！グリーンカレーは何時でも待ってるよ！これからも頑張ってね。Wait, there’s something not quite right about this picture.

Okay, now that’s better. lol (sorry Shuga!)

And now…allow me to introduce you to the newest member of Bassanova, Chee-chan.

Calm down…

July 25, 2010July 7, 2018

NOOOOOOOO ramen…

Day 264:

10:53 AM me: moca! so u want to go to the museum?

Moca モカ: wahh

10:54 AM it doesnt matter

its just really hot outside

me: yesh

10:55 AM Moca モカ: no ramen!

haha

tell me an area

and i will find us healthy food

10:56 AM my specialty

me: lets go ride a roller coaster

Moca モカ: where/.?

11:02 AM me: tokyo dome

Moca モカ: ok

ooo lets met in iidabashi

i like it there

for lunch

and then we can go to the dome

11:11 AM me: ok

if the dome doesn’t look worth it we can find something else in the area

and go eat ramen

11:12 AM Moca モカ: NOOOOOOOO ramen

On a hot Tokyo summer day, leave it to moca to steer me away from ramen and find me a healthy washoku 和食 meal instead. This meal was definitely healthy and it tasted much better than those vegan places she’s taken me to in the past. (Not that those vegan places were bad or anything.) Anyway, I had enough ooey-gooey yamakake stickiness. Let’s head to the dome!!

As you saw from our chat above, I wanted to ride a roller coaster. But hanging out in the dome city turned out to be an amusement in itself.

What amused me most was the line of anime-looking girls waiting to take a picture in the latest purikura photo booths. I can’t believe they get all dressed up just to take a sticker picture.

According to the mob of young girls surrounding the dome, KAT-TUN was having a concert tonight. Hey wait, where’d moca go??

moca!!!

After rescuing moca from Doraemon’s belly, we decided to momentarily beat the heat with a green tea soft serve.

Alright, enough stalling. It’s time for some thunder!

The ride was short, but it was just what I needed. Although I’m not sure moca felt the same way. haha.

Okay, let’s get out of this heat!

On my way to work I stopped by Fukuju for their Gomoku Ramen (sorry moca, had to do it).

Sweeter than the regular ramen, it wasn’t what I thought it would be. But it was cheap. Not like that really matters.

Work was the same. I love Bassanova and I hope I can work there for at least another year, but I need a new challenge to take my mind elsewhere. Hmm, I have an idea…

June 25, 2010July 7, 2018

Enjoying the view…

Day 234:

After only a few hours of sleep, I was ready to meet my friends at our usual spot on my night off. Rameniac was back in town and it was time to get down.

My friend moca had other plans and just wanted to munch on my pocket wifi.

Apparently she was hungry so we all went to go get some ramen!

Wakatsuki is one of my faves.

And in case the ramen wasn’t enough.

We ordered some yakisoba. The handmade noodles are awesome!

And now it was time to enjoy the view.

zzzzzzz….

June 24, 2010July 7, 2018

Fresh…

Day 233:

I began the day paying a visit to my nieces and was surprised to see this fresh dog greeting me at the door. Her name was Luna.

Then it was off to get some fresh ramen in Shinjuku before buying my plane ticket home. Oh did I not tell you I’ll be back in LA for a week next month? (well, pending my waiting list status.)

Horiuchi is another nostalgic shop that opened in 1961. The owner is some fresh old dude that has one of the best “irasshaimase’s” that I’ve ever heard. Yes, I observe those things about ramen shops too. haha.

Now this chashu ramen was definitely fresh!

Even the fresh noodles were…well…fresh!

Just look at the size of this fresh ass piece of chashu.

And after a fresh night of work it was time to check out the Japan vs. Denmark soccer game.

Japan won 3-1! Fresh.

The game ended at six in the morning and I was invited to see some fresh models at seven.

Needless to say, I went 26 hours without sleep just to be a part of this. I was not fresh.

So what does ramen have to do with this photo shoot? Absolutely nothing, but I was invited and I wanted to go. haha. Ain’t that fresh enough?

By the way, apparently models like to eat fresh too….

June 20, 2010July 7, 2018

Imagine…

Day 229:

Imagine it was 1949 and you were walking along the banks of the Zenpukuji river from Honancho to Ogikubo in search of a ramen shop named after a strange man.