Thursday, January 18, 2018

かしわぎ (Kashiwagi in Nakai)

かしわぎ

DSCF1023.jpg

Ramen shops come and go, and sometimes a popular shop disappears for no apparent reason. I never made it to 麺処 今川 (Imagawa), but I had heard good things. They closed a while back.

DSCF1013.jpg

Well, their spiritual successor recently opened, and much closer to where I live. Good news.

DSCF1017.jpg

The other good news is the price. 680 yen is a steal these days, especially for a high caliber bowl like this one.

DSCF1016.jpg

The shop has space for larger groups, though you should always eat at a spirited pace and give up your seat for the next customer. Ramen etiquette 101. I was doing a food tour this day, and this is something I tell all of my customers. Some people don't like it, being pressured to stop talking, eat, and get out, but this is the way it is in Japan.

If you want to hang out at a ramen shop for 45 minutes, there are plenty of popular chain shops that will let you do this.

DSCF1026.jpg

Kashiwagi uses a pork and shellfish soup, picking umami-rich clams to give this bowl a nice balance. It is very simple, but each aspect is high quality. I'm not sure why the price is so low.

DSCF1030.jpg

The egg is legit.

Though the shio ramen is what most people want to try, the shoyu uses a blend of three different soy sauces for an aroma and flavor synergy. Love the dark color.

DSCF1031.jpg

Keep in mind that the hours have expanded since their opening in June, 2017.

DSCF1012.jpg



東京都中野区東中野1-36-7
Tokyo, Nakano-ku, Higashi-Nakano 1-36-7
Closest station: Higashi-Nakano

Open 11:30-15:00, 18:00-21:00
Sundays and Mondays 11:30-15:00
Closed Tuesdays

No comments: