Mikawaya Noodle Factory...

Day 1242:

Kenshiro flew into Tokyo last night just so we could go here...

The new Mikawaya Seimen noodle factory. And just like the last time, the only pictures I could take were in the men's restroom. haha. Anyway, this factory is amazing. Amazing!

After a tour and an inspiring meeting with the Mikawaya boss, he took us to Bario (らーめん バリ男 吉祥寺店) in Kichijoji.

"Ramen of the man, by the man, for the man. (Ladies also welcome)"

Bario is another shop that they call Jiro-kei or Jiro-inspired.

It's a beauty.

And for those of you who live in LA, the soon-to-be open Tsujita Annex will feature a ramen based on this one.

A man always finishes the entire bowl. hahah.

The rest of the day was spent at Nakamuraya...

in Ebina...

And after a quick meetup with Jiraigen Boss...

It was back to Bassanova so Kenshiro could sample our noodles.

And then we partied.

Family day...

Day 790:

Although I yearn to be with my family and friends back home, I'm also blessed to have relatives here in Tokyo to spend the holidays with. I almost thought I wouldn't be able to eat osechi this year, but my aunt and uncle didn't let that happen. Arigato!

Lasagna!! My aunts lasagna made me feel like I was at home.

But, of course the day wouldn't be complete without some ramen.

With many shops still closed for the new year, Bubuka (ぶぶか 吉祥寺店) was not.

Once again I skipped the abura soba and stuck with the Tonkotsu Ramen.

Yeah it's been a bit lonely, but at least I still have my ramen.

One two three...

Day 652:

After spending the morning with family in Kichijoji, it was time to have my first bowl of the day. Hifumi (一二三) has long been on my radar because it's practically in every ramen magazine I've ever read, but it just never was a priority until today.

Open since 1987, the infamous Hifumi Soba is a remarkably clean and refreshing bowl that is carefully prepared with only the best ingredients, but many who have tried it think that it shouldn't necessarily be classified as ramen. Sure the name contains soba, but soba is not really soba unless it's found at a soba shop and since Hifumi is a ramen shop soba in this case means soba ramen and not soba soba. So...bah! I guess one should really ask, is Hifumi really a ramen shop?

The soup, as plain as it is, is incredible. The noodles, which contain soba flour, is basically soba. But it's ramen...that looks like soba...that smells like ramen...that tastes like soramenba. Anyway, that was bowl one.

In the afternoon, I took my old commute down to Ebina to meet up with the Nakamuraya crew. A lot seems to have changed since I left (What? Ramen California closed?), but I won't get into it now. It's time for some guts!

Suishoen (酔笑苑) in Atsugi is a famous yakiniku shop that's been around since 1965. Our reserved room was down this narrow alley and up the stairs in the back.

Aw yeah, horumon!

I didn't ask what these were, I just ate them while chugging my beer.

And yes, we grilled everything before eating.

Good times!

Yes! They also have ramen! It was simple and straight out of 1965. haha. Anyway, that was bowl number two.

?????

After a nice walk in the hot, humid, sticky, Atsugi heat, checking out three or four famous ramen shops that were all on vacation, we finally settled on Honmarutei (厚木本丸亭).

Widely known as Nakamuraya's closest rival, Honmarutei also specializes in a Tanrei Shio Ramen.

The soup is primarily chicken (I couldn't taste much pork, if any at all) and worked well at settling my guts. The chashu wasn't as tender as I thought it would be and the noodles, imo, didn't match well with the soup's lightness.

Nakamuraya's rival? Pshh... Anyway, that was bowl number three.

Conserve...

Day 596:

Summer is officially here. And the kitchen is officially a sauna. But as if we didn't sweat enough while working, my coworker and I went to sweat some more for lunch. I was in the mood for San Raa Tan (Hot & Sour Ramen) and a local Chinese Restaurant behind our shop had exactly what I wanted. Bingo...that hit the spot!

Watermelon!!

Although Summer makes me want to drink 11 beers, I decided to conserve. After all, that is the theme.

With Boom at the helm, we wound up eating ramen at Maji (吉祥寺 真風) in Kichijoji.

I ordered the black ramen that wasn't very black.

I remember it being a little fishy, but honestly I can't remember much else. マジです。Nothing about it really stood out.

I'll do my best.

There's also a concern that with the summer heat Tokyo and the surrounding areas will begin having rolling blackouts again. If that is the case, let's all do our best and try to sweat it out.

Bubka...

Day 584:

Bubuka (ぶぶか 吉祥寺店) first boomed onto the scene back in the mid 90's and quickly vaulted into the ramen record books with their popular Abura Soba (ramen without soup). It was during that time that Boom reconnected with his love for ramen and put him on his current path of realizing his dream. No, it wasn't the Abura Soba that impressed him. It was Bubuka's seabura-filled Tonkotsu Ramen that left a lasting impression.

Before I get to the ramen, let me give you a little history. According to this guy, Bubuka is named after the legendary pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka. Is your forehead crinkled? Apparently, like Bubka, who broke the world record 35 times by improving one centimeter at a time, Bubuka vowed to use this strategy to improve and create a world record ramen. I'll leave it up to you to decide if they did. But even with their glory days far, far behind, Bubuka still serves an addictive bowl worthy of a slurp, with or without soup.

It is indeed special.

And as Boom would say: "I know it's not the best but if I never ate their ramen...I would have never loved ramen." Enough said!

Kichijoji is a great little town, but everyone seems to like standing in lines. Like this line for menchi-katsu. Is it really that good?

Next up for the day was Due Italian's newest shop, Lemon and Fromage (らぁめん レモンアンドフロマージュ).

Well, the Fromage was really cheesy and bearable...

But the Lemon was waaaayy too strong. I DUE NOT recommend this one.

Ahh, there's nothing like sittin' in the park on a Sunday afternoon, me and Boom just jammin' the oldie tunes, sippin' on a cold bottle... Wait a minute, it's not Sunday. It's Friday...and we ain't got no s*** to do.

But I bet I can still make your mouth water.

I am surrounded by great people.

People who know the meaning of love.

Love = Unagi!

Thanks mum!