Nanashi Ramen
Giuseppina Worster
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Nanashi brings Iekei-style ramen to its outlets across Kanagawa and Tokyo, including the heart of Shibuya, and delivers its own signature Iekei experience for ramen-lovers to enjoy. Iekei implies a tonkotsu shōyu base, popular across the Yokohama region from where it originated, but Nanashi's own version is arguably one of the most interesting.
Nanashi's style combines a deep, rich tonkotsu soup using up to 1kg of genkotsu (or pork bones) per 3 servings, a more comfortable dining experience thanks to the removal of the strong tonkatsu smell during the preparation process, and a topping of baisen-dare, or roasted garlic, sesame and chili oil, to top off the experience.
As CEO Hideki Taira-san explains, Nanashi's goal is to ensure their customers can enjoy their food and return home with a smile on their face, partly through their 'omotenashi' principle of exemplary service. This vision has stayed with the brand since its first store opened up near Aobadai Station in Yokohama city back in 1997 and continues to guide the modern-day Nanashi across its 11 outlets in Tokyo (Shibuya and Tama Plaza) and Kanagawa (Kawasaki, Machida, Aobadai, Kamiooka, Mukougaoka, Ookuramayama, Nakayama, Sagamihara and Konandai).
Nanashi is short for "Nanatsu no kokorozashi", or the 7 wills or motives that have guided this store's journey to success, which are to build a store that excites customers, to develop original creations, to maintain a fixed, trusted standard, to continually evolve, both its people, products and stores, to secure its product reputation as one of the safest, to not spare any effort and to become an established pro in the industry. One taste of their Iekei-style tonkotsu shoyuu ramen will more or less convince you they are living up to their commitments and on the right path.
You probably know Tokyo's Shibuya as a popular hotspot for pop culture and fashion, and you would be right! The town is not just about clothing and accessories, though. Bet you didn't know it's also a reputable gourmet spot as well! Truth be told, the ramen competition here is so intense, people are constantly watching this Ramen Battlefield for the latest and greatest in delicious ramen offerings.
With so much ramen variety available, however, it can be difficult to figure out where to start, and that's why we've compiled a list of three must-visit ramen shops with the most exquisite offerings specially for our readers. From classics like shoyu ramen made with carefully selected ingredients to ramen soaked with an unusual tonkotsu broth, or special tsukemen (ramen with the broth served in a separate bowl) noodles that you can't get anywhere else, we're confident these tasty meals are everything the ramen enthusiast inside you could ask for - and more! Let's take a look at the list right away!
The first must-try place on our list is Usagi. The shop is about a 10-minutes' walk from Shibuya Station on the JR Lines. Walk along Dogenzaka, then turn into Urashibuya Street. After walking for a bit more, you'll find the shop as you get nearer to Shinsen Station on the Keio Inokashira Line.
Urashibuya Street, which literally means "Secret Shibuya Street" is a stylish area that has a more sophisticated vibe than the dynamism Shibuya is more commonly known for. Elegantly decorated shops line the streets here, Usagi being one of them. The restaurant's shopfront is covered from head to toe with glass panels so that anyone can peer inside. This design makes it feel warm and inviting, so that even solo travelers can feel free to walk in for a meal at any time.
Inside the shop, there are only counter seats available, which makes it feel more like a bar than a restaurant. When the shop first opened in May of 2007, their main concept was to offer "a daily bowl of healthy ramen" for the masses, so that customers can gain strength to go through the day like an energetic bunny, which is what Usagi, the name of the shop means.
Orders are made via a ticket vending machine at the shopfront. The menu on this machine comes with English labels as well to cater to international visitors. You'll find favorites like shoyu ramen, dan dan noodles, spicy noodles, tsukemen, and other interesting dishes on the menu.
Our top recommendation is the "Special Ramen (1,200 yen, tax included)". The bowl contains shoyu ramen with two pieces of roasted pork and chicken each, topped with a cooked egg and bamboo shoot slices.
The soup broth is boiled with whole chicken as a base, then carefully selected ingredients such as seafood, seaweed, and potherbs are added to enhance its umami flavor. The kaeshi sauce used in the mixture is an exquisite blend of four types of mature fermented soy sauce, made to be extra fragrant. The main base of this sauce mix is the fresh namajoyu soy sauce shipped directly from the storehouse of Inoueshoyuten, a soy sauce specialist in Shimane Prefecture's Izumo city. All of these come together to create a bowl of supremely sumptuous ramen that pleases your sense of taste and smell at the same time.
Much attention has also been given to the smooth, springy ramen noodles that seem to simply slip down your throat. The rare but superior Kitahonami wheat flour from Hokkaido makes up the main bulk of the noodle's dough mix, which contains a few other locally-produced wheat flour as well. This blend is designed to help each wheat flour bring out the best flavor in each other, resulting in noodles that command as much of a presence as the rich soup they are soaked in.
The zesty fragrance and flavor of this shoyu ramen goes extremely well with the char siu toppings, made from Yamanashi's famously tasty Mioudori chicken, seasoned with a number of aromatic herbs, and then prepared confit-style, a departure from the usual methods. This way, the meat's tasty juices stay locked-in until you bite into them!
The roast pork served along with the ramen has gone through a long sous vide cooking period as well, which keeps the meat deliciously soft and moist. This softness means it goes perfectly well with the chewy ramen noodles.
Another popular item on the shop's menu is "Dan Dan Noodles (980 yen, tax included)". Freshly ground Sichuan peppers are used, and the stinging aroma is something fans of spicy food will find irresistible. The shop offers a homemade chili pepper paste of their own invention, made from a special mixture of roasted chili peppers that draws out their taste and aroma to the full. You can't get this kind of "Dan Dan Noodles" anywhere else, so swing by and try it out if spicy food is your kind of thing!
Next on the list is Nanashi Shibuya Dogenzaka, a shop located a very accessible 2-minute walk from Shibuya Station on the JR Lines, right after walking up Dogenzaka. The highlight of this restaurant is its mild yet richly-textured "Tonkotsu (Pork Bone Broth) Ramen", which has even captured the hearts of self-proclaimed tonkotsu haters! Let's take a closer look at what makes this dish click with almost everyone.
When you first step into the shop, you'll notice the stylish and bright interior, which is meant to make it easier for ladies and non-Japanese visitors to venture inside. Most of the customers are in their 20s to 30s. The first floor contains only counter seats, but there are table seats on the second floor available for group visitors. Clearly, everyone is welcome in this shop!
Customers have to order their meals directly from a staff member. Don't worry if you can't speak or read Japanese, because English menus and English-speaking staff are available on hand to help out if needed.
The must-try dish here is "Nanashi Ramen All Toppings (1,155 yen, tax included)". Its soup broth - the cornerstone of all ramen dishes - has been boiled with a strong fire for more than 10 hours to draw out the fullness of all the ingredients, which have had their meticulously scrutinized for impurities. The expert chefs here even control the precise timing to stop the fire, and it really shows in the soup's marvelous taste. Needless to mention, each bowl of ramen is prepared with wholehearted diligence.
The smooth noodles offered here are slightly thicker than the ones most would usually expect to see in a bowl of ramen. They go unusually well with the rich broth that is bereft of the usual pungent aroma that defines tonkotsu soup.
The half-boiled ramen eggs split apart to gooey yolk goodness - another tasty feature that has wide appeal. A wide variety of toppings decorate the delicacy, including crispy sliced leeks, crunchy bamboo shoots, wakame stem, and plenty of others. They add another layer of flavor to the meal, offering an interesting new kind of eating experience.
Other than their signature dish "Nanashi Ramen All Toppings", another popular dish on their menu is "Dan Dan Noodles (979 yen, tax included)", and a vegetarian-friendly ramen that only this particular shop offers out of all the branches under the same restaurant chain. Since everything is carefully prepared by consummate culinary chefs, there's bound to be something worth a try in the shop's menu, no matter what your preference may be!
The final shop on our recommendation list is Dogenzaka Mammoth, another shop that can be reached in 2 minutes on foot from Shibuya Station on the JR Lines. Just after walking up to the end of Dogenzaka, turn left and you'll be able to see the shop. There are no table seats in the restaurant - it's a small and cozy space with 10 counter seats only. Nevertheless, you're likely to feel invigorated as you step in and are warmly greeted by the cheerful voices of the staff here.
Like the first shop on the list, Dogenzaka Mammoth takes orders via a ticket vending machine as well. The menu is split into a ramen section and a tsukemen section. If you're interested in the "Rich Tsukemen" on the menu, consider also its alternate version, the "Spicy Tsukemen" which comes with a hot and zesty soup base for something different.