伊藤 (Ito in Ginza)

自家製麺 伊藤 銀座店



I'd been to Ito years ago, up at their main shop in Akabane. Ito serves a bowl of niboshi ramen, with amazing handmade noodles. Soup and noodles, and nothing else, is the recommended bowl.



My visit to the Akabane store was for a TV shooting, some show that aired at 4:30am on a Tuesday. A show that was seen by no one. I can usually tell if a TV show is popular by the jump in hits to this site. Tuesday morning had no visible spike.



Years later, and Ito has a few more shops around Tokyo. Today's visit to the Ito in Ginza was also for a TV taping. And . . . action!



Niboshi, dried baby sardine, is an amazing ingredient, and niboshi ramen should be tried by everyone at least once. Some people are put off by the bitter, smoky flavor, but the majority of folks fall in love at first slurp. Ito is one of the best, and though the shop has expanded into a bit of a mini-chain, they still keep the quality top-notch.

Very convenient location in the heart of Ginza.

Check out the video!







東京都中央区銀座6-12-2
Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Ginza 6-12-2
Closest station: Ginza

Open 11:00-23:00
Weekends 11:00-20:00

素良 (Sora in Kojimachi)

素良



No photos. No press. No nuthin',



That is the mantra at the latest shop from Miyazaki-san, the master of Soranoiro.



This shop replaces his Salt & Mushroom establishment. The idea is for 100% of their following to be word of mouth. Fans will tell fans, and it will organically become one of Tokyo's most famous shops.

Does it have what it takes?

Absolutely. Every ingredient is premium. Miyazaki-san has been travelling the country, meeting with small-time farms, getting the best-of-the-best chicken and pork. All that hard work pays off.

Should I write more? Should I write in detail about the use of clams to increase the level of umami? Should I discuss the Aomori chicken that is some of the most tender I've tasted? Should I nerd out about the pork, specifically sourced from a farm near the Seto Inland Sea?

You should just go for yourself. This is some next level gourmet ramen. Lunch only. No photos. Enjoy.





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

Open 12:00-15:00
Closed Sunday and Monday

凪 (Nagi in Omiya)

凪



The Nagi we all know and love has expanded with voracity over the past few years.



One of their latest shops is just outside massive Omiya Station, up in Saitama. Omiya is a major transit point, and business is booming.



In case you can't decipher all that Japanese on the storefront, I'll explain. This shop is using an automated iPad ordering system, and delivering your ramen via an air cushion.



I think my explanation makes perfect sense, but I'll break it down.



Get a QR code when you order.



Snap a shot.



Take some selphies.



Wait for the air-cushion-ramen-retrieval system to activate.



And here it is!

Kind of silly, kind of pointless. There were enough staff on hand to make this system unnecessary, but where is the fun in that?

The ramen is typical Nagi. You can get the niboshi or the tonkotsu. Both are fine, though I'm sure I'll never come back here. Everyone should go to their Golden Gai location.



Official site here.



埼玉県さいたま市大宮区大門町1-24-1
Saitama-ken, Saitama-shi, Omiya-ku, Daimoncho 1-24-1
Closest station: Omiya

Open 24/7/365