兎に角 (Tonikaku in Matsudo)

兎に角



If you find yourself in Matsudo, you should really go to Tomita. The tsukemen there is considered by many to be the best in Japan. Who are these many I speak of? For one, Tomita is the number one ranked shop over at the Ramen Database.

But what if you are in the mood for something with a slightly shorter line?



Tonikaku serves three heavy bowls; a ramen, a tsukemen, and a soupless aburasoba.



Intense. And for me, a bit too much. Fans of thick, porky ramen may disagree with me here.

This shop is in the same ramen group as Tomita, if that makes any difference to you.



I was feeling a bit wrecked after this bowl. What to do? Magic tea to the rescue!



からだすこやか茶 - Karada Sukoyaka Cha - Healthy Body Tea

This tea has been a big hit in Japan recently. The tea contains ingredients to battle the adverse effects of all those carbohydrates and fat. I'm not sure if it is just a placebo, but I was feeling great an hour later!





千葉県松戸市根本462
Chiba-ken, Matsudo-shi, Nemoto 462
Closest station: Matsudo

Open 11:00-23:00

四つ葉 (Yotsuba in Saitama)

中華そば 四つ葉



Another edition of Ramen Riders, our gang of ramen-hunting, motorcycle-riding, trouble-causing dudes (and a pretty girl this time!) was much needed. Despite having a list of far-off shops to trek to, Yotsuba was just up the road in Saitama. And Yotsuba commands an insane score of 97.6 at the ramen database. That puts it at #3 in the country for new shops.



We had to go. It isn't even that far. But due to it being the start of a long weekend, the traffic just to get out there made it feel like a trek. Ugh, I can't begin to describe how bad traffic in Japan can get.

We arrived at the spot, somewhere along national route 254, somewhere in the middle of rice paddies and factories.



There it is. We sampled both the ramen and the mazesoba. Both are top notch, with copious amounts of slow-cooked pork and solid noodles.



Both also remind me specifically of Mugitooribu in Ginza. Actually, it reminds me so much of their soup blend (also a mix of chicken and clams) that I would say, unless you are a motorcycle rider with plans to be in the area, you might want to give this one a miss.

I'm conflicted.

If you live in Saitama, this one might be closer.



The shop is also a sushi-ya. I believe the story is that the ramen master's father made sushi here for some years. Keeping with the roots of the shop, there will be a daily nigiri that you can order. The aji - horse mackerel - of the day was excellent.



Good luck, and let me know if you make it out here.





埼玉県比企郡川島町伊草298-20
Saitama-ken, Hiki-gun, Kawajimamachi, Igusa 298-20
Closest station: Kawagoe, though it is quite far

Open 11:00-15:00, 17:00-21:00
Closed Tuesdays

雪風 (Yukikaze in Sapporo, Hokkaido)

麺屋 雪風



We are spoiled in Tokyo. Not only do we have amazing new shops opening weekly, we have superior versions of styles that have their birthplaces far from the capital.

Miso ramen's history dates back to 1955, when a customer asked for noodles in his miso/pork soup. Since then, Sapporo has been synonymous with miso ramen. But, truth be told, my limited excursions into the far north have had less than stellar results. Bowls were mediocre, while the miso ramen joints in Tokyo that I frequent really shine.



Yukikaze is, of course, highly ranked and famous. This is usually a sign of greatness, but my skepticism is high when it comes to miso.



Taking the chance (a business trip sent me up here for the week), I waited in the long line, and ordered the most popular menu item. 濃厚味噌らーめん. Thick miso ramen.



Yes, yes! I wanted to shout out my praises in this silent shop. Silent because everyone is entranced by their bowl of miso perfection.



A secret blend of three misos, topped with just the right amount of high quality toppings. This bowl sits alongside the best of the best.

I dug the sprinkling of fried potato on the top, it added an extra kick of salt and texture that matches with that silky smooth soup.



As this random celebrity agrees!

(Actually, he isn't random, and he said the shio ramen was good. I'll be back to try it.)





北海道札幌市中央区南七条西4-2-6 LC拾壱番館 1F
Hokkaido, Sapporo-shi, Chuo-ku, Minami 7, Nishi 4-2-6
Closest station: Susukino

Open 19:00-2:00am
Closed Sundays