Hello, this is Mormor! Today, I came near to try out the "Sakumenjo Burari" in Nippori. I've been wanting to visit for a while now, and finally had the chance to do so. The restaurant is located deep in a narrow alley off the main street. Without the signboard on the main street, I would have definitely missed it. It's a bit nerve-wracking as you can't see the shop from just peeking in from the main street, but with numerous flags saying "ramen," let's gather up the courage and go in. Fortunately, there was no line outside, and I was able to enter right away. I purchased a meal ticket at the ticket machine on the right side of the entrance. Since it was my first visit, I chose the "Chicken Paitan Ramen with Egg" for ¥940 following the rule in the top left corner. The interior has 6 counter seats and 14 seats at 4-person tables. I was guided to a table seat, and since it's just me dining alone, I managed to sit diagonally across from another person. A Michelin shield is displayed above the counter. After a short 10-minute wait, the "Chicken Paitan Ramen with Egg" arrived. It was exceptional in taste, even among chicken paitan ramen. While chicken paitan soup tends to become heavy and overpowering, this soup appeared mild yet rich in flavor, and remarkably not heavy. The medium-thick straight noodles with a high water content had a smooth and chewy texture, complementing the chicken paitan soup well. The toppings like chicken chashu and seasoned egg were intentionally seasoned strongly to add accents, and the mountain jellyfish, serving as a substitute for bamboo shoots, had a texture similar to bamboo shoots without interfering with the flavor of the chicken paitan soup. The toppings were also meticulously prepared. For more details, click here → https://wp.me/pb52jZ-725

"Menshukusho Burari" is a restaurant that was selected for the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2015 and 2016, so I decided to stop by since I was nearby. I arrived around 13:30 and there were about 6 people in line. As it is in Nippori, there were many Chinese and Korean customers. The menu includes creamy soup "Chicken Paitan Ramen," slightly cloudy soup "Chicken Soba," and "Chicken Paitan Tsukemen." The most popular "Chicken Paitan Ramen" was sold out... They mentioned that it would be available after 16:00, but I couldn't wait until then, so I ordered "Spicy Chicken Soba" with "Spicy Chicken Chashu" topping. The "Spicy Chicken Soba" had a light broth with a spicy kick, although the chicken flavor wasn't very prominent. The noodles were smooth and slightly flat, medium thickness. In hindsight, it might have been better to order the regular "Chicken Soba" and enjoy the "Spicy Chicken Chashu" as a flavor enhancement after tasting the soup. Looking at other customers, it seemed like many were opting for the "Chicken Paitan Tsukemen," possibly due to the "Chicken Paitan Ramen" being sold out!? If given the chance, I will try the "Chicken Paitan Ramen" next time.

The sushi restaurant I wanted to go to on Mikawajima was closed today, a holiday. Feeling like a lunch refugee, I wandered around the area and ended up in Nippori. I stumbled upon a ramen shop with a short line of 7-8 people. I quickly got inside and found out that the chicken white broth was sold out. However, I could still get it with the tsukemen, so I ordered that along with the spicy chashu and the chicken ramen. The interior of the shop was dimly lit, and there was a bit of a wait before the food was served. The chicken white broth in the tsukemen was lukewarm, almost intentionally so, and had a slight chicken smell. The other chicken soup had a subtle chicken flavor. It might have been tasty if the soup was warmer. There were some issues, and I probably won't visit again, but the place had a constant flow of customers.

The soup has a delicious taste from the umami of the chicken, fragrant oil, aromatic vegetables, and sweet strong salt from the first bite. The noodles are chewy and well-seasoned, blending perfectly with the clear broth soup to spread deliciousness in the mouth. Thank you for the meal!

A famous ramen shop in the top 5000, located just around the corner from the station known for its Michelin-featured chicken white broth ramen. I sometimes come here because I like it, and today, I was happy to see no line, so I entered. The restaurant was full inside. I ordered the chicken white broth tsukemen with egg for 1100 yen. The smooth and chewy noodles were delicious as always. The rich and thick soup was consistent, but the dipping sauce was lukewarm. The flavored egg remained cold even after being dipped in the sauce. The water was also lukewarm. I feel like the ramen here is tastier, and the staff's manner of speaking and greetings are a bit casual, raising doubts about the quality. By the way, they are currently hiring part-time staff. Furthermore, prices are going up from October. Maintaining a famous restaurant is tough. Thank you for the meal.

【September 7, 2023 revisit】It was a weekday and I took a day off to visit the hospital. Both visits were reserved, and surprisingly quick, so I decided to visit various Japanese and Western sweets shops during the day. Even though I wasn't hungry after all that, I decided to have dinner at this restaurant before heading home. We arrived at 6:30 in the evening. There were two groups of two people each and one group of four waiting outside. It's no surprise for a popular ramen shop that has won a Michelin star. Despite being called a "noodle and sake shop," the turnover was still good, and we were seated after a wait of about 10 minutes. I purchased the same "chicken white broth tsukemen" ticket as my previous visit. It's a very precious menu for me. When the broth is too rich in collagen, it often makes me feel sick, unlike pork bone broth. But here, even though the dipping sauce is supposed to be rich in collagen, I can enjoy it without feeling sick. The dipping sauce was delicious as always! It was smooth and lacked the overwhelming collagen texture, but the extraction of the unique umami components of the chicken white broth was skillfully done, allowing the deliciousness to shine! The generous amount of white leeks and mountain jellyfish sprinkled on top assisted without overpowering the original flavor! The chili pepper was not too spicy when tasted, ensuring that it didn't make the soup too hot... truly a taste you can't find elsewhere. This time, I finished the soup without diluting it! The char siu was also unique in terms of taste. Three slices of chicken char siu, slightly thick and juicy, were served. There didn't seem to be any particular effort put into it, but it paired exceptionally well with the noodles and dipping sauce! The fact that it had the skin on was also a plus! The noodles were also superb that day! The medium-thick noodles with a higher water content maintained their deliciousness without any negative impact on themselves or the soup, thanks to careful draining. The slightly firm texture was just right, not too soft or too hard! This attention to detail is the strength of this restaurant! It's truly an amazing place... The staff mostly seemed to be part-timers, but they were consistent and meticulous in their work. While there wasn't an outstanding taste that stood out, it's a good place to visit regularly. I mentioned earlier that there were families and a high proportion of women at the restaurant. Despite not having an exterior that appeals specifically to women, there's a reason for that! Thank you for the meal.

Chicken Paitan Tsukemen 980 yen. I imagined the dipping sauce to be thick, but it was actually light and smooth. It didn't leave a greasy feeling in the mouth, making it easy to eat in the summer. The addition of rare mountain jelly fungus was a nice touch. The chicken chashu had a good meaty texture and flavor, with a simple seasoning.

Japanese ramen is really popular among foreign tourists. Among the approximately 10 customers waiting in line, about half were foreign tourists. The shop is located in a back alley, making it easy to wait in the shade. Waited for about 15 minutes before entering. Ordered at the ticket machine. The Chicken White Broth Ramen with Egg for 1,050 yen was excellent! It had a high level of completion as a chicken white broth, with no unpleasant smell and very creamy. The thick noodles also had a strength that didn't lose to the soup, making it easy to slurp up with chopsticks. The rich soup made it a taste I'd prefer to have in winter rather than summer. Also, the chicken chashu topping might not have been necessary since it was already included in the ramen, and it wasn't a particularly noteworthy flavor. The ramen itself was satisfying and filling enough. It was my first time, so I tried the popular No.1 Chicken White Broth, but I'd like to try a different menu when I visit again. Thank you for the meal.

I went to Nippori for some errands and decided to visit "Men Sakaba Burari" after a long time. The exterior gives off a traditional Japanese diner vibe. I purchased a ticket for "Chicken Paitan Ramen (with seasoned egg) for 1,050 yen" from the ticket machine. It was my first time having chicken paitan soup in a while, and it was delicious. The noodles were also great. I finished it in no time. It was really delicious to have it after such a long time. Thank you for the meal.

I ordered the Chicken Paitan Ramen for 930 yen. There were two staff members. The restaurant seemed consistently busy with a full house. It seems they received Michelin stars in 2015 and 2016. The food was served in about 10 minutes. The thick noodles had a satisfying chew. The soup was so thick it felt like it could create a film in your mouth. It had a perfect amount of saltiness. The person next to me even finished all their soup.

Egg and fish powder chicken tsukemen! It was my first time trying tsukemen here, and it was delicious. The tsukemen soup also had chewy wood ear mushrooms in it. The crunchy texture was enjoyable. It's lighter than ramen, so it's easy to eat even when feeling sluggish in the summer.

I visited around 14:30 on Saturday. No waiting time. The restaurant was busy. It operates on a ticket system. I ordered the Chicken White Ramen with egg for 1,050 yen, added extra noodles for 130 yen, and topped it with spicy chicken chashu for 150 yen. The soup was rich and thick. The saltiness was a bit mild, with a gentle chicken flavor. The noodles were thick with a lower water content, similar to a home-style ramen. The spicy chicken chashu was quite spicy, with a good meaty texture and delicious taste. However, for first-timers, it's better not to add the spicy chicken chashu as its spiciness overpowers the gentle flavor of the chicken white soup.

I came here for the first time in years at the request of a friend. This time, I ordered chicken white broth ramen with egg and chicken white broth ramen with chicken chashu topping. I also ordered egg rice. The system is to buy meal tickets at the ticket machine, so only cash was accepted. As always, it's delicious.

After finishing up in Nippori, I tried to find this place I had my eye on through Tabelog, but couldn't quite locate it. It was tucked away in a back alley. I had overlooked it. The chicken shio ramen with egg and chicken chashu, as mentioned in other reviews, had a soup with a viscosity like potage, but not too heavy. The noodles were cooked to my liking, slightly firm from the start. I was surprised by the mountain jellyfish topping, which I had never had before. Well, it wasn't bad. It was my first time visiting a restaurant featured in the Michelin Guide. I didn't know ramen shops could be included. Before I knew it, I had finished the soup. It's been a while since I had such delicious chicken shio ramen.

Today, I had lunch near Nippori Station. Although there are interesting shops if you extend your walk to Yanaka Ginza, unfortunately, I didn't have much time on this day. I found a promising ramen shop nearby to quickly grab a meal. It seemed well-regarded, as even Michelin Guide Tokyo recognized it in 2015 and 2016, with a commemorative plaque displayed. The shop is tucked away in a back alley, which might be a bit hard to find for first-timers. Upon entering, despite it being daytime, the lighting was dim and moody. Let's try their most popular dish: "Chicken Paitan Ramen @930 yen" and "Chicken Char Siu @200 yen." The rich chicken broth in the paitan soup was thick and velvety, almost like a potage. The simple soup made only with chicken had a straightforward yet powerful appeal on the palate. The medium-thick straight noodles had a satisfying chewy texture that paired well with the soup. The toppings included chicken thigh char siu, white leeks, mountain jelly fungus, and shredded chili pepper. The traditionally cooked char siu was tender and moist. The addition of mountain jelly fungus was unusual, providing a crunchy texture. White leeks and shredded chili pepper seemed to serve more as garnishes. Overall, it was a delicious meal. By the way, does the name "Burari" refer to the raccoon dog figure displayed at the storefront?

I visited Men Sakejo in Nippori at 13:50 on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. I purchased a 940 yen ticket for the Spicy Chicken Paitan Ramen, which has a current Tabelog rating of 3.72 in the top 5000. The ramen had a creamy chicken paitan soup with a slight kick after mixing in the spice. The flat curly noodles had a smooth texture similar to low-hydration noodles. The chicken meat, which likely replaced the chashu, was pleasantly chewy and delicious. The restaurant seemed to have received Michelin stars in 2015 and 2016, and the interior was clean, although the lighting was a bit dim for some reason. It's nice to have chicken paitan ramen once in a while. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Visiting around 11:45 on a weekday, about half of the seats were filled. While their specialty is chicken white broth ramen, this time I ordered the salt ramen. It's nice that even with an egg, it's priced at under 1000 yen. The salt ramen is light, flavorful, and delicious, but compared to the chicken white broth, it feels slightly lacking. Maybe I'll go for the chicken white broth next time.

This is a hidden gem ramen shop located just a short walk from the station, previously featured in the Michelin guide with consecutive listings. It's one of the top 5000 ramen shops. It was incredibly hot outside, and it seemed like a less crowded day, so I decided to visit. As expected, it was almost fine, and I was seated with only about a 2-minute wait on a weekday at noon. Today, I ordered the chicken paitan tsukemen with egg for 1100 yen for the first time. The chewy noodles were delicious as always. The rich, thick soup was also consistent, but the ramen itself might have a more familiar taste. However, I've been to too many delicious ramen shops recently, so even though this place is very tasty, I feel that they could do better in terms of showcasing their ingredients and flavors. Also, I think the standout dish at this shop is the chicken paitan ramen. Thank you for the meal.

Chicken Paitan Ramen for 930 yen. The soup is thick and unique with yamakurage instead of menma. It's delicious, but not particularly memorable. I arrived just after 1 pm and there was no line, but when I left, there were about 10 people waiting.

I arrived in Nippori after 6 pm feeling a bit hungry, so I casually dropped by a ramen shop for dinner. There were two groups of customers ahead of me, but I was seated immediately. I ordered a chicken spicy white broth ramen for 940 yen and a seasoned egg for 120 yen from the vending machine. I received my order at the counter within about 5 minutes. The soup was delicious, and the noodles were chewy and medium thick. The spicy chicken wasn't too spicy, so I added some chili pepper from the table. I finished the meal quickly and was completely satisfied. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Chicken broth dipping noodles 980 Directly above is the air conditioner, and condensation is dripping on my head. Seems like they haven't done maintenance. What if it falls into the ramen? The noodles are thin and slippery. The soup is quite spicy. I didn't ask for that. It's not that rich. The texture is on the smoother side. Mysterious green crunchy vegetables are eerie. They call it mountain jellyfish. Not tasty.