ソラノイロ Salt & Mushroom (Soranoiro Salt and Mushroom in Kojimachi)

ソラノイロ Salt and Mushroom



The 2nd official shop of long-time favorite Soranoiro continues along the same lines as the original. A few solid standards and some unique bowls as well.



Mushrooms are a theme, both in the decor and the bowls.



The chef's station is chock full of bits and pieces. To be specific, the regular menu offers a niboshi shoyu, a shio, a mushroom veggie soba, and a niku soba. That is just the regular menu. Expect limited bowls to be a normal thing.



The bowl of standard shio was, without a doubt, great. I'm, in general, not a huge shio fan, so I'm sure the rest of the menu will impress as well.



For an extra 150 yen, the shop has a fresh fruit smoothie. It was . . . healthy?



Bonus! I managed to go there again before posting.



The mushroom veggie-soba is on the crazy side. In the bowl - tofu, fried cheese, parma ham, chicken chashu, all in a cream of mushroom soup. Interesting. I prefer the original shop's veggie offering, but this one will do, especially if you are a mushroom fan.

Just about two minutes from the original shop.



Expect a couple more visits in the near future.





東京都千代田区麹町3-4-3
Tokyo, Chioda-ku, Kojimachi 3-4-3
Closest Station: Kojimachi

Open 11:00-15:00, 19:00-22:30
Saturday 11:00-15:30
Closed Sundays

アジアン麺 (Asian Noodle in Nishi-Shinjuku)

アジアン麺



I pass by this shop every time I go to the supermarket. Asian Noodle isn't really ramen, per se. More of a thai noodle place.



But with an eclectic mix of Thai and Japanese (harumaki rolls along side fried chicken along side a goya-potato salad) this shop gets a spot on the site.



Awful.



There was a mix of thin rice noodles and thick wheat noodles in my bowl. Not a combination you want to be slurping. And it only got worse, as the noodles dissolved into various states of sogginess.



One and done!





東京都渋谷区本町3-41-12
Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Honmachi 3-41-12
Closest station: Nishi-Shinjuku-Go-Chome

Open 12:00-14:00, 18:00-2:00am
Closed Saturdays

俺の空 (Ore no Sora in Shinjuku)

俺の空新宿店



I wanted to hate this bowl. You see, Ore no Sora (My Sky!) had a bit of a media outbreak a few years back. Instantly, their porky bowl was the latest trend, fueled by TV talents who are paid to love everything. Most of the local ramen nerds, though, weren't impressed. Universally, they agreed that it lacked substance, and overrated was an understatement.



But I totally dug this one. Gone are the hour long lines, and I was slurping away mere minutes after arriving at their Nishi-Shinjuku branch.



I think I would have been unimpressed if I had just waited in a long line. But I didn't, so I wasn't.

The shredded pork is a nice touch. Everything, the pork, the onions, the negi, it all melds into a great, slightly sweet broth.



By the way, the original branch is in Takadanobaba, if that sort of thing is important to you.





東京都新宿区西新宿1-3-13 I＆Kビル1F
Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Nishi-Shinjuku 1-3-13
Closest station: Shinjuku

Open 11:00-22:30