Thursday, February 25, 2016

田なか Second (Tanaka Second in Akihabara)

志奈そば 田なか Second

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Shinasoba Tanaka in Otsuka is a great shop, and I was excited to hear they would open a second brand near Akihabara Station.

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The menu is totally different, focusing on lighter shio styles.  The top of the ticket machine, from left to right, is niboshi shio, anchovy mazesoba, kakesoba, and a shoyu that will come in the future.

I tried a couple bowls, starting with the anchovy mazesoba. Mix it up!

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The anchovy flavor was lighter than what you would expect, and the flat noodles are an uncommon choice for this style of soupless ramen. I'd recommend it if it wasn't for their other menu item.

The real winner here is the kakesoba, ramen with nothing but soup and noodles. Why not include a plethora of tasty toppings? This style of ramen let's the soup speak out for itself.

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And what a soup it is! Made with Japanese abalone and spiny lobster, the kakesoba is pure essence of the sea. I gotta see it again!

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Exploding with umami, and just a splash of the ocean. This is broth at the same level as some at Tokyo's high end kaiseki restaurants. Yes, iseebi, Japanese spiny lobster is very expensive. Yes, awabi, abalone, ain't cheap either. But this bowl is only 1000 yen. Limited to 30 a day.

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Show it again!

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I've grown to love natural umami flavors more and more. Take a sip, and feel the aftertaste as you exhale. It's hard to define umami; is it a meaty taste or just a mouth-feel. Regardless of how you describe the 6th taste sensation, it is pure joy.

Check out the video I made with #TokyoExtra.



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Map of 3 Chome-4-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tōkyō-to 101-0021

東京都千代田区外神田3-4-1
Tokyo, Chioda-ku, Sotokanda 3-4-1
Closest station: Akihabara

Open 11:00-15:30, 17:00-21:00
Closed Mondays



2 comments:

pikanacho said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
pikanacho said...

Second has closed now, at the same spot Tanaka san is making tsukemen now.
And it's very good