宝来軒 (Horaiken in Nagasaki)

宝来軒



Exactly one year ago, I was randomly lucky enough to have work during Nagasaki's annual lantern festival. I also learned that you should avoid the restaurants and go for street food. It seems like everyone and their obasans make their way to Nagasaki for this event. Expect a wait!



This year was a repeat of last, with a little less free time. Just enough time for my staff and I to gab dinner before heading to nearby Saga Prefecture.



I recommended Kosanro for their excellent champon, but we were told that during the event, only $50 courses were on offer. That, and an hour wait.

It might surprise you, but the average Japanese person despises long lines for food just as much as the average American. I made a vow years ago to keep my elitist foodie opinions to myself, and accepted that we were now going to the only place in Nagasaki without a line.



This is in the heart of Nagasaki's Chinatown. Being a San Francisco native, I can tell you one piece of advice; don't eat at empty Chinese restaurants!

But like I said, when I'm with a group of coworkers, I keep the opinions to myself.



Just smile politely, drink a lot of beer, and eat.



But this is Ramen Adventures, so I can be frank. Just accept your fate and wait for the good stuff. Otherwise, this will happen. Horaiken was garbage, and probably survives simply on the fact that it is next door to Kosanro, an excellent spot that always has a wait.

Good business model!





長崎市新地町13-15
Nagasaki-ken, Nagasaki-shi, Shinchimachi 13-15
Closest station: Nishihamanomachi

Open 11:00-16:00, 17:00-21:00

うえだ (Ueda in Shiki)

麺家 うえだ



I waited in line at a ramen event years ago to sample Ueda's ramen. After over three hours, with non-ramen obligations on my schedule, I left, vowing to someday make it out to the regular shop in Shiki. As luck would have it, the TV shooting on this day would take us there.



Ms. Ueda is a bit of a draw. She has been likened to the kindly, yet stern Yubaba from Spirited Away, the magical Ghibili movie from 2001.



Tough as nails, it is fitting that this bowl gets the treatment it does.



The burning is a two part process. First, the shoyu tare is fried up in the bowls. Tare is the essence of ramen's flavor, so you can imagine how burning it to a crisp would make this an intense bowl. Second, the broth is added with a bit more oil than average on top. Again, you are witness to an intense pyrotechnics show.



The result is flavorful, deep, and smoky. Also, burning oil is hot. Take care!

Shiki isn't far from Tokyo proper; just about 20 minutes from Ikebukuro. Ramen fans could easily have a day of ramen hunting up this way. Kawagoe is also nearby, with plenty of great shops like Ganja.



Official Site Here



埼玉県新座市東北2-12-7
Saitama-ken, Niza-shi, Tohoku 2-12-7
Closest station: Shiki

Open 11:00-16:30
Closed Mondays

鳥空海 (Torikukai in Kawaguchi)

麺屋 鳥空海



Another bowl with the girls of idol group X21. Today we were filming at shops in Saitama, Tokyo's neighboring prefecture to the north.



On air March 14th. Check it out on Asahi TV at 1:30am!



Anyways, Torikukai is a yakitori spot in the middle of the Saitama urban sprawl. Yakitori, those little skewers of tasty chicken bits, are pretty much delegated to the evening.



Chicken skewers in the evening, chicken soup during the day. Torikukai serves up a rather simple bowl, topped with chicken chashu and chicken meatballs. The regular, clear soup version is good, but go for the limited-to-a-few bowl of paitan. Cooked for hours and hours on their day off, this bowl is creamy and rich.



As with most shops in Saitama, driving might be the way to go.





埼玉県川口市戸塚6-26-9
Saitama-ken, Kawaguchi-shi, Tozuka 6-26-9
Closest station: Tozukangyo

Open 11:30-14:00
Closed Tuesdays