The thing is, I really enjoyed both of these the first time around. Really really liked em. But this time, they were both lackluster. This happens a lot I've found. A shop is great in round one, but round two is a let down. Any theories?
A few shops have been stellar every time. Ones that come to mind are Ippudo, Ivan, and Bankara.
Every Tuesday night I find myself in Futakotamagawa, a station about 20 minutes west of Shibuya. The key here is in the station, as I teach a private English lesson at a cafe inside the station gates. After the hour, I hop back on the train, and since I never technically left the station, I save big on the train fare. But today I left the gates, paying the $4 fare, in search of an adventure in a new part of town and some noodles.
Futakotamagawa is amazingly upscale. Name brand goods only. The streets are cobblestone. The restaurants are... fancy. That goes for ramen too.
Ayu ramen is exactly what it's name suggests, ramen with ayu. Ayu is the name of the Japanese Sweetfish. If you've ever been in the countryside near a river, you'll see it being grilled in abundance, and eaten from a skewer. It's so delicate, that you can eat the whole thing, bones and all, without issue. Be warned, though, that it's often cooked with the innards still inside. You probably don't want to bite into that!
Here, it's been de-gutted. The ayu is given a quick char.
The noodles are given a quick boil.
And the finished product.
The soup is a very simple broth, with almost no flavor, just warmth. The reason is obvious, to bring out the ayu. A strong soup would simply overpower the light fish taste.
I found this shop in my "Girl's Ramen Club" book. Totally a relaxing place.
You can order a fried rice ball to toss in the left over soup, as the chef recommended.
At the end, he brought me a glass of house blended jasmine tea.
I asked the staff what shop they recommended I go to next, and not surprisingly they said MIST. I say not surprising, because Ayu and MIST are two of the most expensive shops in my guidebook. Not crazy expensive, just about double what you'd pay at a more run of the mill place.
Down a busy pedestrian street in the Kanda area of Tokyo, you can expect to find a lot of food. Kanda lies at the edge of the Marounochi area, which means business. Businessmen, offices, and of course food. Simply choosing what to eat after a 14 hour work day can be an adventure. Lucky for me, I've got guidebooks.
Yeah, that sign says they are open from 8 in the morning. It's true, ramen for breakfast is totally cool if you are in a suit. Despite it's location and obvious clientele, Taizan came recommended in my latest ramen guidebook, titled 女子ラーメン... ramen for chicks.
The top billed item is a salt broth topped with fried sakura ebi, cherry blossom shrimp. I've had sakura ebi on a few occasions, and they are wonderful. If you are squemish about eating the whole shrimp, stay away. These guys are so small that there is no other way.
But first, take in the atmosphere. Old baseball memoribilia on all 4 walls.
Here it is. The fried shrimp is excellent. Fried food often tops thicker udon noodle dishes, but seldom ramen. It's good, real good. It adds a very fried flavor to the soup, which I could see being a problem with some people.
Not with me though.
The dark mass on the left is their spice blend. A mix of tumeric, coriander, and garam masala. It's awesome, but a little on the light side. I could have gone with about 3 times the amount to give more of a kick.
Noodles done, you'll be left with a mushy combination of fried batter, tiny shrimps, and soup.
Add rice.
Remember, adding rice once the noodles are gone turns one meal into two.
The place was virtually empty except for Nate and I, and our visitors. Before we left, a lone host, looking fashionable and hungry, slumped into a corner with his cell phone, texting away to god knows who.
