Tokyo Ramen Show 2012...

Day 1092:

It's that time of year again. This year's Ramen Show features 40 booths split into two weeks (20 per week) and today I caught the last day of the first week. Some of the booths were already sold out, but there were still plenty of ramen to be slurped on this Tuesday afternoon.

Without much time and only one stomach, I just set out try a ramen that looked good.

And Hachioji Ramen (八王子ラーメン) from the Tamagumi (多摩組) group stood out the most. 12 shops from around Tokyo collaborated on this ramen. And why did I pick a Tokyo ramen when there were so many others from around Japan?

Well, it looked good.

And it tasted good.

My second bowl was probably one of the more popular bowls of this year's show. Osaka Black (大阪ブラック) from King-emon (金久右衛門).

The line was long and it moved quick...

But the ramen was a little disappointing.

The soup had an interesting bitterness that wasn't necessarily bad, but the noodles didn't feel like they matched.

Alright, that's it for the Tokyo Ramen Show (for this week at least). I have a filming to attend!

And...that's a wrap!

Afterwards I stopped by the 808 Lounge to give Uno-san some gifts.

Then it was off to meet some peeps for dinner.

Thank you Leo (and sparkling wife) from Kirimachi Ramen in SF! Very nice to meet you!!

Meanwhile, back at the lounge...

A bloody mary with liquid smoke.

And more oysters...smoked.

I'm not a smoker, but everything just smells and tastes like smoke now.

Tokyo Ramen Show 2011...

Day 729:

It's back!!

Tokyo Ramen Show 2011!!!

It's getting difficult to count how many shops collaborated with each other within the 28 total booths serving ramen, but I had my eye on one bowl from the start: Saikoro and Fukushima Syndicate (さいころ x 福島シンジケート).

Lovely...

When Boom and Brian finally arrived we all agreed that the Tomita and Muteppo bowl would be the one to try next. Unfortunately, so did a lot of other people.

So while Brian stood in line for the aforementioned bowl, Boom and I decided to split up and maximize our limited time. I decided to get the "dream collabo" between Rokurinsha, Ganja, and Tetsu (大つけ麺博ドリームコラボ).

Now imagine combining the soups from these three big tsukemen shops (because they all taste somewhat similar) and adding thin noodles to make ramen. It was dreamy.

Boom stood in line for the Jun, Touyoko, and Naoji (潤 x 東横 x なおじ) collabo.

It was a sweet bowl with loads of ginger and a mega long piece of chashu, just like it was described.

A few minutes later Brian arrived with two bowls from the Muteppo and Tomita (無鉄砲 x 中華蕎麦 とみ田) collabo.

Now this bowl was straight dirty. The soup was thick and clung to the noodles like mud, as a Muteppo bowl should. But it was a bit difficult to tell what Tomita brought to this collabo.

Ikuta-san!! (from Nagi) Hey Hong Kong peeps, another Nagi aka Butao will be opening up soon!

Chiba-san!!!

Although he is the grandmaster of this event, Chiba-san has always looked more comfortable without the suit and in a booth making ramen as he should. So naturally, Chiba-san had a booth this year too.

Shinkamome Shokudou (新かもめ食堂) from Kesennuma City was a welcome refreshment from the last bowl. A nice, clean blend of tai-dashi and chicken.

Gari Gari Kun!

Once Nobo and Tak finally arrived, we began to sample some more bowls. This all-beef ramen from Tamagumi (多摩組) had to be one of my favorites from this years show. Interestingly, it tasted like a hamburger.

Of the many shops collaborating with tonkotsu this year, this KINGKONG and Hakata Ikkousha (池麺KINGKONG x 博多一幸舎) collabo was an appropriate stinky mess.

But this ramen from the Kouji Group (麺屋こうじグループ), one of the biggest ramen groups that include Tomita, Honda, Ittou, and practically all the Taishoken shops, was definitely one to remember.

Lastly, (there was no way we would be able to try all 28 bowls) Brian brought over the Keisuke and Hakata Shinpuu (けいすけ × 博多新風) collabo. I'm not much of a fan of either so I'll just leave it at that. haha.

So there you have it, Tokyo Ramen Show 2011. My apologies for not posting this sooner. And also one last important thing. Happy Birthday to the lovely assistant!