On the first episode of No Reservations aptly titled "why the french don't suck", Tony Bourdain devotes part of the show to the simple joy of sticking your head into the door of a strange restaurant and finding bliss.
Of course, as it is with all TV shows, this segment was scripted. However, it still explained the point of leaving your culinary comfort zone to try and find new places that can eventually become old places (and part of your comfort zone) and then you can continue the search for new places. It never ends, unless they outlaw good tasting reasonably priced food (like they seem like they're trying to do back home in SF, NYC and other places).
My first visit to Tokyo and my indoctrination into the ramen world took place a few years back at a small ramen shop off of Koshu-Kaido dori, across from a Citibank down the hill from the south exit of JR Shinjuku-eki. The place is still there and I've made my usual visit.
But the other night, I was hungry and decided to expand my horizons. I noticed a small shop across the way from one of the many small computer shops that populate this part of Shinjuku.
There's an a/v shop behind me!
It has the usual flags up, but none of them said "ramen". Looking inside, there were lots of people and it LOOKED like a ramen place, but I wasn't sure. So I continued to walk around, passing the mysterious place every 5 to 10 minutes, sneaking peeks through the wooden slats that cover the windows.
When you see this from the other side, it's intimidating
After 30 minutes of indecision (and stomach grumbling), I walked in and took a seat and tried to figure out the elegant looking menu. Thankfully they had an english menu that was not as elegant looking and I was able to place an order for a bowl of shio ramen.
irrashimasse!
Well, it looks nice...too bad I can only read 6 characters on it!
After the beer and the water, comes the shio!
This is the starter in all true ramen shops!
SHIO!!
It was a delicious broth, light and flavourful with just a touch of oil with the slices of toriniku and negi sitting majestically on the top
And guess what? The thin ramen noodles I lurrve! I hit a gold mine!
So now this is one of my "must go" places now. And they play real jazz inside!
send me the address....going there next time!!!!! =P
Will do!
Am trying to get the address translated correctly. I can show you on a map or I can just show you by walking you there from Shinjuku-eki!