がんこ一徹 (Ganko Ittetsu in Nakano)

がんこ一徹



Another branch of Ganko is just down the street from Ramenate Nate's place in the north of Nakano. Unlike the other two awesome branches I've visited, this one forwent the minimalist black storefront and hanging bone, opting for a totally normal look.



For some totally normal ramen.



I was hoping for something great, but just got something good. The noodles were a bit so-so (and Goramen Keizo's were actually... gasp... clumped together). The soup, though creamy and good at first, left a bad aftertaste in my mouth that required drinking a Chu-hi immediately after.



Then, our shadows rode the Seibu line for a bit.



I found a place to buy noodles.



And of course passed about 20 ramen shops on the way back to the station.



More Shop Info Here

喜奴屋 ( Kidoya in Izu)

喜奴屋



I was on the way home from a motorcycling adventure on the peninsula of Izu when hunger struck. Of course I wanted ramen, but the busy road from Atami to the expressway back to Tokyo is daunting. Sure, there are lots of places to get a bite to eat, but they all cater to people on their way home. People who need to eat and have no choice. Tourists.



I saw ramen and stopped. Something in the back of my mind told me to just keep driving. Only a couple hours left on my ride until I would arrive at my doorstep.



When I sat down, something more towards the front of my mind told me to get out. This shop was massive, and completely empty. But the ramen topped with an entire ise ebi, Japanese spiny lobster, looked worthy of a spot on this site. So I forked out the whopping 1800 yen for this specialty of the area.



Looks ok, and the lobster was delicious, but the ramen was garbage. I don't even want to dignify it with an analysis. It goes up there with the ramen I had at the sumo stadium cafeteria and Tokyo Big Site convention hall.

As always, stay away from ramen out in the countryside without a little research. Have I ever had an awesome bowl by randomly stopping off in the middle of nowhere? I can't think of any. Sure, good ramen can be found, but every time it was recommended by a friend, colleague, or crazy Japanese television show.

がんこラーメン (Ganko in Takadanobaba)

がんこラーメン



Just look at that storefront. A mass of black tarp, with only a bone hanging by a chain to let you know that anything could possibly exist there. Deja vu, but more on that later.



Nate from www.ramenate.com had written about this place before, but I had never really given it a second thought. Takadanobaba has upwards of 100 ramen shops, so finding the gems can be tough.

But, if you are reading this, you have been told. You need to go here.

Push back the black tarp door, and have a seat at one of the 5 stools in the shop. Did I mention that this shop is sometimes closed because "the soup isn't perfect today." This is serious ramen.



Perfection. It's a shio soup. I had the one flavored with a little shrimp oil. Deja vu... more on that later.

There are some other options, like one topped with gyoza instead of the pork. Get the pork. Eat half your bowl, then add some spice.



Minced green chilies. It's a perfect match. I want to go back tomorrow.



On the wall is a photo of the founder of this family of shops. Speaking of family, there is a family tree type chart of all the shops.



Most are in the Tokyo area (apparently at one the staff wear Mexican wrestling masks). But one is in Osaka. Hmmm, I went to Osaka once. About two and a half years ago. Let me search out my trip.



Sure enough, I had been to the Osaka branch. Who could forget that giant bone hanging in front.



And who could forget the simple, amazing soup.

I thought about it some more, and realized it. This was the shop that inspired me. I was alone in Osaka, sitting in my cheap business hotel room, watching TV. A local celebrity eating food type show came on, and they ate at a ramen shop with a crazy facade, the bone hanging out front a black shop. I literally had nothing to do, why not find this place. It would be good for a photo at lease. I recognized a nearby building and spent about 4 hours the next day trying to find it based on visuals only. Something only an obsessed ramen fanatic would do. Something I had never done before. Something I would do many many times in the future.

More Shop Info Here