Shinsen is Kanazawa's most famous ramen shop. Highly ranked on the usual ramen lists, they also participate in ramen festivals, furthering their fame.
Many shops present their creed up on the wall. Here it talks of their roots at Ideshoten, one of the country's most important ramen shops.
I learned a new word! 無骨 (bukotsu) means unrefined or boorish. It seems to be a bit negative, so don't call your friend bukotsu. Food, especially ramen, is pretty good when it has an unrefined feeling. The character 無骨 is literally "no bones." Did you know that my cookbook has a recipe for ramen soup that doesn't use any bones? Shameless plug! How bukotsu of me!
Lunch sets are popular, though they were out of the pressed sushi this time. Pressed sushi is an integral part of the Wakayama ramen scene.
Love this "help wanted" sign. Basically, if you come in for an interview you can get a free bowl. In high school, friends and I used to pretend it was one of our birthdays at TGIF to get a free dessert.
Rough tonkotsu soup with strong soy sauce. I'm always surprised that Wakayama-style isn't more prevalent as it is really, really good. If you are serious about ramen, search this style out.
I found this one much heavier than the Wakayama bowls I'd had in Wakayama. Shinzen is near the port, so I think this one might be aimed at fishermen and truck drivers.
Be sure to add a bit of the shop's pickled daikon if that's your thing.
Great shop, though the location is for people with a car or a bit of time on their hands.
The Ramen Rider's hunt never stops!
