Original Chachacha-style ramen restaurant "Ramen Kotsuki" opened in Yoyogi Park on November 30th. The original chachacha-style ramen is a clear soup base made from a blend of chicken and pork bones, with back fat sprinkled on top. Ramen Kotsuki is also located in Ikejiri-Ohashi, and there is one more store in Okinawa. The location is a 5-minute walk from Yoyogi Park Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line. The opening hours are from 11:30 to 15:00 and from 17:00 to 22:00 (last order). No regular holidays. I visited alone around 17:20. There is a ticket machine near the entrance where you can place your order. The menu includes soy sauce ramen (900 yen), miso ramen (900 yen), salt ramen (900 yen), spicy soy sauce ramen (990 yen), and spicy miso ramen (990 yen). There are also various toppings available. On this day, there was a limited special of rich sardine ramen (950 yen) and a rice dish of chashu rice (300 yen). I purchased the soy sauce ramen (900 yen). There are only counter seats, about 10 in total. The interior of the restaurant is slightly spacious for a ramen shop. I was guided to the counter at the back. Despite being newly opened, the restaurant was almost full. When handing over the ticket to the staff, they asked for preferences regarding noodle firmness, flavor, and oiliness. I ordered everything as normal. There are vinegar, chili oil, and other condiments available on the counter. It took about 7-8 minutes to wait. The soy sauce ramen arrived. It looks delicious with back fat floating on top, giving it a creamy appearance similar to tonkotsu ramen. It somewhat resembles Ramen Kagetsu. In the middle, there is a soft and fatty pork belly chashu that looks delicious. The taste is delicious, lighter than it looks, slightly rich but easy to eat. Personally, I would prefer it to be richer, but it is still delicious. The chashu is tender and tasty. The noodles are slightly curly thin noodles that go well with the soup, quite delicious. Finally, I added chili oil, put too much, and it was spicy, but very tasty. I recommend the chili oil. Thank you for the meal.

■ Access: 2 minutes walk from Yoyogi Park Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line ■ Visit: 4th time ■ Purpose: Dinner for one ■ Overview: This ramen restaurant opened near Yoyogi Park Station on November 30, 2022. It is said to be the originator of the chachacha-style ramen with back fat, and is a popular shop with a strong fan base. The shop features a beautiful interior that doesn't look like a typical ramen restaurant. ■ Menu: The shop's specialty is ramen with a soup base made from pork bones and chicken bones, topped with back fat. They also offer limited-time menu items, including creative ramen that appears regularly. On this day, I had the Saba Shoyu Ramen (950 yen), ordered with firm noodles, strong flavor, and extra fat. ■ Impression: This ramen restaurant near my home is visited regularly because it offers delicious ramen in a clean interior. The staff are friendly, making it a very comfortable place to dine. I usually try the limited-time menu items, but this time I ordered the regular menu item, Saba Shoyu Ramen. The soup has a distinctive aroma from the mackerel, complemented by the richness of the back fat, resulting in an addictive flavor. There are condiments like bonito vinegar, normal vinegar, and chili oil on the table, and you can also order garlic and grated onion for free to customize to your liking. I especially recommend trying the bonito vinegar for an enhanced seafood flavor. I look forward to visiting regularly in the future, both for the regular ramen and the special items. Thank you for the meal. ■ Rating at the time of visit: 3.09

After finishing a meeting in Kamiyama-cho, Shibuya, I decided to walk around the area since I came from Shibuya Station and planned to head back to Yoyogi Park Station. There are many stylish cafes and bistros in the area! Since I was alone, I decided against going to those places and instead, I stumbled upon a ramen shop called Kozuki just before entering the station. It seemed quite new! Inside, there was a ticket machine on the right side where you could select your order. It was a hot day, so I decided to go for the cold ramen, plate of wontons, and a highball. I paid with my card as I wasn't sure what QR payment options were available. I was seated at the counter and ordered a single serving of cold ramen. The highball and a complimentary appetizer of green onion and char siu were served first. The highball was strong and refreshing, and at a discounted price until the end of August. It tasted like Black Nikka whiskey. The green onion and char siu appetizer was savory and went well with the drink. Next came the plate of wontons, which were served hot and had a vinegar soy sauce for dipping. The wonton skin was chewy, and the filling had a hint of ginger, resembling dumplings. Lastly, the cold ramen was served with toppings such as chicken ham, tamagoyaki, cucumber, menma, kaiware, and wasabi. The thick noodles had a great texture and were slightly seasoned with a soba-like sauce. The toppings complemented the dish well, with the tamagoyaki being slightly sweet, and the chicken ham having a peppery flavor. I enjoyed mixing the wasabi into the noodles for a refreshing kick. Overall, the experience was enjoyable with various appetizers available to accompany your meal. The shop also offered table-side payment options, and the owner was very friendly. I would definitely become a regular if this shop was nearby!

I had cold noodles and they were good, but not enough to make me want to go back. If I happen to be nearby, I might consider going again. Also, the way the staff placed the dishes seemed a bit careless. Maybe I feel this way because I usually go to popular restaurants.

Visited around 2 pm on the weekend, thought it might be crowded but it was full. Waited for about 10 minutes and then got a table. There were still a few groups waiting, but after 2:30 pm, there were empty seats in the restaurant. Many families with children, and they even give out small toys for kids. The restaurant has counter seats and 6 table seats in the back. You purchase a meal ticket when you enter, and then you are seated. Once seated, you can customize your ramen by specifying the firmness and richness of the noodles. This time, I ordered miso ramen and my partner ordered the limited edition mackerel soy sauce ramen. During lunchtime, you can also request a half portion of rice for free. The miso ramen had slightly thicker noodles that were delicious with the soup. The tender chashu pork, seasoned egg, bean sprouts, and onions added to the satisfaction. The mackerel soy sauce ramen was light yet flavorful with a rich pork fat taste. The noodles were thinner than the miso ramen. Both were delicious.

【Kazuki @ Yoyogi Park】Black ramen with back fat and shiitake mushrooms! I ordered it firm, normal, with extra oil, and topped with fresh seaweed. The soup was a bit too sweet for my taste, so I added black pepper to balance it out. It was piping hot and delicious until the last bite. I personally prefer thicker noodles. The chic interior and pleasant service were big pluses. They also have a great selection of appetizers, making it a good spot for evening drinks. I'd love to drop by again!

I had the salt ramen at Ramen Kagetsu for lunch today, and the sweat afterwards was intense! ★ Store Information ★ - "Ramen Kagetsu" - Location: 1-8-8 Tomigaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo - Access: 15 seconds walk from Yoyogi Park Station - Business Hours: 11:30-15:00, 17:00-22:00 #RamenKagetsu #YoyogiParkGourmet #Ramen #YoyogiParkLunch #ShibuyaGourmet #Gourmet #TokyoLunch #TokyoDinner #Bistro #French #WineBar #WantToConnectWithGourmetPeople #GourmetReport #food #foodie #instafood #TokyoGourmetReport #tokyo_gourmet_report

Speaking of Kogetsu, I used to love their rich and fatty ramen near Ebisu Station when I was younger. Since then, the ramen scene in Tokyo has improved a lot, and without realizing it, the Ebisu location closed down. Kogetsu reopened near Yoyogi Park Station, and I have visited a few times. The interior has a stylish traditional Japanese atmosphere. In fact, you can also use it as an izakaya at night. Today, I tried the Saba Dashi Shoyu ramen for ¥950. I added extra wood ear mushrooms for ¥100. They offer regular shoyu, shio, and miso ramen, as well as a special ramen with different flavors every week. The Saba Dashi ramen was promoted from special to regular. When you hand in your ticket, they ask for your preferences on flavor, fat, and noodle firmness. I kept everything normal. When I took a sip of the soup, the Saba Dashi flavor really stood out and it was delicious. The noodles were medium-thin and curly, which paired well with the soup. Oh, and they offer a small bowl of rice for lunch. My recent favorite is making my own Chashu Don. I lay the chashu on top of the rice, drizzle some special soy sauce, and add homemade chili oil. It's the best! I finished the soup and left the restaurant feeling very satisfied with my lunch.

It was delicious. The atmosphere of this restaurant is nice, and the staff are all very kind, so you can enjoy your meal comfortably. I ordered a dish that satisfied my taste preferences, which I like rich flavors. I happened to visit during the spring noodle festival event, where they offered free extra noodles, so I left feeling full and satisfied! Thank you for the meal.

■ Access: 2 minutes walk from Yoyogi Park Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line ■ Visit: 3rd time ■ Purpose: Dinner for one ■ Overview: This ramen shop opened near Yoyogi Park Station on November 30, 2022. It is known as the originator of the Chatcha-style ramen with back fat, and has a strong following of fans. The shop features a surprisingly clean interior that doesn't look like a typical ramen shop. ■ Menu: The shop's specialty is a ramen with a broth made from pork bones and chicken bones, topped with back fat. They also offer limited-time menu items and creative ramen dishes. On this day, I tried the limited-time Back Fat Shiitake Black Ramen (1,000 yen). I ordered it with firm noodles, rich flavor, and extra fat. ■ Impression: Not only is the ramen delicious, but the clean interior and warm service make this ramen shop a comfortable place to visit regularly. I was intrigued by the interesting limited menu item I saw when passing by the shop on this day. The Back Fat Shiitake Black Ramen combines the richness of back fat with the depth of flavor from shiitake mushrooms, creating an impressive bowl of ramen. The back fat complements the shiitake well, adding extra umami. They provide options like bonito vinegar, normal vinegar, and chili oil on the table, and you can also order garlic or grated onion for free. With the ability to customize and enjoy until the end, including their regular ramen, I will continue to visit regularly. Thank you for the meal. ■ Score at the time of visit: 3.06

I didn't notice the new ramen shop that had opened, but as a ramen hunter, I couldn't resist stopping by without entering. I ordered the soy sauce ramen, but it was from Kotsuki. The Kotsuki. As someone who likes strong flavors, it was a bit lacking for me... I might try other flavors next time.

■Access: 2 minutes walk from Yoyogi Koen Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line ■Visit: 2nd time ■Purpose: Dinner alone ■Overview: This ramen restaurant opened near Yoyogi Koen Station on November 30, 2022. It is said to be the originator of the Chatcha-style ramen with plenty of back fat, and has a strong following of fans. The restaurant's interior is so clean and beautiful that it doesn't feel like a typical ramen shop. ■Menu: The restaurant's specialty is a ramen with a broth made from pork bones and chicken carcasses, topped with back fat. They also offer limited-time menu items and creative ramen dishes. On this day, I ordered the large size of the limited-time oyster dashi ramen (1,100 yen) with cabbage topping (100 yen). I requested the noodles to be firm, the flavor to be rich, and the fat to be plentiful. ■Impression: I was impressed by the rich back fat broth of the ramen during my previous visit, so I decided to revisit the restaurant as I was in the mood for a hearty meal. The beautiful interior and attentive service of the restaurant remained impressive as always. The oyster dashi ramen, which was a new challenge for me, had a strong mineral taste of oysters in the soup without any unpleasant fishy smell. The balance with the back fat was excellent, adding richness to the soup. There were dried fish vinegar, regular vinegar, and chili oil on the table, and garlic and grated onion were also available for free, allowing for customization and enjoyment until the end without getting bored. The mackerel soy sauce ramen is also popular, so I plan to try that next time. Thank you for the meal. ■Rating at the time of visit: 3.06

The broth is rich but surprisingly light with a deep flavor, and the noodles and chashu are delicious. It's a ramen shop where you can also enjoy alcohol, and everything you eat is tasty. The elegant taste stands out among other similar places, making you feel luxurious. If this place was nearby, I would definitely become a regular. I savored every last drop of the soup. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

On Sunday, a little after 1:00 PM, I went to the restaurant with my father for a ramen lunch! My father has been a big fan of this ramen shop, Ramen Kotsuki, since it was in Ebisu, and he recommended it to me. We ordered as follows: - Miso Ramen: Firm noodles, normal taste, extra oil, topped with bean sprouts and flavored egg. - Shoyu Ramen: Firm noodles, normal taste, normal amount of oil. It was delicious. The shoyu ramen didn't taste like typical shoyu ramen, and the miso ramen wasn't too overpowering. It's hard to explain, but it's addictive. The noodles were thin and had a nice chewiness. I love thin noodles, so it was fantastic! ❤️

■ Access: 2 minutes walk from Yoyogi Park Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line ■ Number of visits: First time ■ Purpose: Dinner alone ■ Overview: A ramen shop that opened near Yoyogi Park Station on November 30, 2022. Known as the originator of the Chatcha-style ramen with back fat, it is a popular chain with a strong fan base. The shop features a surprisingly clean interior that doesn't look like a typical ramen shop. ■ Menu: The shop's specialty is ramen with a soup base made from pork bones and chicken bones, topped with back fat. They also offer limited edition menu items and creative ramen dishes. On this day, I ordered the largest serving of the most basic soy sauce ramen (1,000 yen). You can adjust the firmness of the noodles, the richness of the flavor, and the amount of fat, so I ordered mine firm, rich, and with extra fat. ■ Impressions: I had visited the Ikejiri Ohashi branch before, but this was my first visit to the Yoyogi Park branch, which is closer to my home. I felt like having a rich ramen on a cold day, so I went to eat late. The very clean interior and polite service made a very good impression, and it's a shop that doesn't feel like a typical ramen shop in a good way. The soy sauce ramen I ordered was a rich bowl with plenty of back fat on top. It has a strong richness from the fat, but it's not overwhelming, and you can also taste the elegant umami from the carefully extracted pork bones and chicken bones. There are dried fish vinegar, normal vinegar, and chili oil on the table, and you can also order garlic and grated onions for free. You can enjoy customizing while eating, and you won't get tired of it until the end. I'm curious about the limited edition menu items, so I would like to visit again soon. Thank you for the meal. ■ Score at the time of visit: 3.0

I have been to a restaurant called "Katsuki" before, I think it was in Ebisu. They also had a characteristic of using back fat in their ramen. I'm not sure if this restaurant is related to that one. I ordered soy sauce flavor with firm noodles, normal flavor, and normal amount. The noodles were just right. The chashu was thick and filling. The soup was too salty for me. I think they could use less back fat. So, I prefer firm noodles, light flavor, and less back fat.

The day after the grand opening, I visited for the third time following New Year's. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. It was nice that they asked about the richness of the soup and the firmness of the noodles. The unlimited finely chopped onions helped balance out the richness of the lard-based soup.

Renowned ramen shop revival! Rich pork broth style! Personally, this is one of my favorite shops. Shop Name: Ramen Kotsuki Yoyogi Park Branch Nearest Station: 2 minutes walk from Yoyogi Park Station Lunch: Up to 1,000 yen Opened on 11/30/22! A shop where you buy from a ticket machine and then line up. There were a few counter seats and table seats as well. The staff are full of energy and provide great service! Ramen may be a matter of personal preference, but for me, it was just right - not too rich (I'm not a fan of heavy flavors). The chashu was delicious, and the soup was satisfying too! The line never seemed to end, so it looks like it's becoming a popular shop. I'll definitely go again!

◆ Ramen registration number 5517th • 985th bowl in 2022 ◆ Kougetsu Yoyogi Park branch (Shibuya-ku, Tokyo) ◆ Soy sauce ramen ¥900 ● Instagram tsukasan's Ramen tsukasan777 ● Twitter tsukasan2010

I ordered the Spicy Miso Ramen. It was delicious with just the right amount of spiciness! They had a variety of condiments available, which allowed for different flavor combinations. The service was also good.

I had soy sauce ramen. I ordered it with firm noodles, strong flavor, and extra oil. The sweet soy sauce broth was flavorful and delicious. The thin straight noodles were easy to slurp and mixed well with the soup. Thank you for the meal.