Exploring Tokyo gourmet! Chuo-ku, Ginza edition Tokyo ramen shop visit! / 3352023, Early summer, chilled ramen tour, part 3! Chilled ramen! / 44 Summer limited edition, chilled tantanmen! Popular shop with a line, famous for its spicy dishes, including mapo tofu ramen, sour and spicy soup ramen, popular shop "SHIBIRE NOODLES Rokusouya" revisited after a long time! After a long time, as if going to see a movie, on the way to Hibiya Midtown, first, to satisfy our hunger, we headed to Ginza to try the summer limited edition ramen at a popular spicy shop with a good reputation for lunch in the back alleys of Ginza 3-chome, a prime location with a narrow entrance but a good reputation, opened in October 2017! The aromatic and stimulating sansho pepper noodles are made with a blend of Sichuan pepper and several other types of pepper such as Wakayama pepper, using two types of noodles, medium and thin, from "Mikawa-ya Seimen". They offer four types of noodles: mapo tofu noodles, tantanmen, sour and spicy soup noodles, and soupless tantanmen. The summer limited edition chilled tantanmen @ ¥1300-, and the partner, after some hesitation, ordered the sour and spicy soup noodles @ ¥1300-. These two cannot be made too spicy, unfortunately. My throat was dry, so I quenched it with a bottled beer and waited for a while. After about 10 minutes, the chilled tantanmen with plenty of coarsely ground pork meat sauce topped with fried onions on the side and thinly sliced raw onions on top arrived, with a rich sesame paste soup and a refreshing cold soup. Next, the sour and spicy soup noodles with a rich brown soup arrived. When I tasted the chilled tantanmen soup, the rich white sesame flavor spread throughout my mouth, with the fragrance of sansho pepper and a slight tingling sensation. It was deliciously cold and the thin noodles were excellent. The spiciness and flavor increased with the red pepper and grapefruit sansho oil on the table, enhancing the rich and fragrant white sesame flavor. It was incredibly delicious. I took a bite of my partner's sour and spicy soup noodles, which had a smooth and rich taste. The soup was mild in spiciness and had a subtle sourness. It contained bean sprouts, enoki mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, and bamboo shoots, giving it a good texture. The taste was excellent, but personally, I would have liked a bit more sourness. The chilled tantanmen was outstandingly delicious, and I finished the soup. This summer limited edition refreshing and delicious dish is a masterpiece! I will definitely eat it again! Delicious and exquisite!

Located between Ginza Station and Ginza-itchome Station, SHIBIRE NOODLES Wax Candle Shop Ginza Main Store is a popular spot where people line up even before opening. I arrived 10 minutes before opening on a Saturday and managed to get in on the first round. By the time I left, the line had grown significantly. Next to this shop is Rengaitei, a Western-style restaurant also with a long line before opening. Both are popular spots, which is impressive. In a dark narrow alley next to these restaurants, there is a sign for an eyeglass shop that caught my attention. As soon as the door opens, there is a ticket machine where you can decide on your order while waiting in line. I ordered the Ma Po Mazesoba with less noodles and the Tsukemen without soup, both in regular size. The interior of the shop is simple, with a row of counter seats. The Ma Po Mazesoba had a surprisingly generous amount of noodles even with less. I mixed it all together until it turned bright red and started eating. Around the third bite, a sudden spiciness hit me! I enjoyed the spiciness and umami at first, but towards the end, it became a challenge to eat. You can add more spiciness with the grapefruit sansho oil on the table, which adds a refreshing spiciness. Payment is cash only. Overall, a memorable experience at this shop.

Visited my favorite restaurant again. Arrived around 1 pm on a weekday and was able to enter the restaurant without waiting in line. The ticket machine has been replaced and the menu has expanded. The signature dish, Mapo noodles, is now priced at 1,300 yen, up from 1,000 yen last March. Despite the price increase, I keep coming back. This time, I ordered the Mapo noodles with baked cheese, which came with a side of lunch rice. The dish arrived in about 5 minutes. As expected, it was Mapo noodles topped with melted cheese. The aroma was enticing as it was brought out from the kitchen. However, once I started eating, the cheese flavor was overshadowed by the Mapo. The chewy straight noodles, creamy Mapo soup, and refreshing Sichuan pepper oil were all delicious. What I noticed this time was the deliciousness of the soup itself, which supports the Mapo and spiciness. The Sichuan pepper oil had a unique flavor different from regular pepper, making it worth coming back for. I finished by pouring the remaining soup over the complimentary rice, creating a porridge-like dish. It would be even better with a soft-boiled egg. Personally, I think it's more cost-effective to order the regular Mapo noodles without cheese for 1,300 yen. Next time, I want to try the Mapo mixed noodles.

Solo noodle activity: After giving up on the crowd in front of the ramen shop in Ginza around 11:30, I found myself at the neighboring Rengaitei. The interior lacked the typical ramen shop atmosphere, with only a counter facing the wall. I tried the tantanmen for ¥1,300, with medium spiciness. The sesame-flavored soup was orthodox with a hint of sansho pepper. Adding grape seed oil halfway through changed the flavor. The thin noodles were smooth, and I look forward to trying the mapo tofu noodles next time.

I had been curious about the candle shop for a while and decided to visit around 2pm, so I only had to wait about 10 minutes to get in! Since it was a hot day with lingering summer heat, I ordered the chilled tantanmen, a summer limited item. I got the large size noodles with a complimentary extra serving of rice. First, I took a sip of the soup... I expected it to be spicy and numbing, but instead, a creamy sesame flavor spread in my mouth. When I tried the minced meat and soup again, the perfect level of spiciness and numbing sensation stimulated my appetite. The noodles were firm and chewy, and I felt like I could finish the large portion in no time! I paused for a moment and decided to experiment with the flavors to fully enjoy this tantanmen. I started by adding the grapefruit pepper oil, which was the most intriguing to me as a fan of Sichuan pepper. Just a little bit made the numbing sensation double! Then, I added vinegar to make it milder and mixed the minced meat and soup into the rice for the finishing touch. I couldn't help but notice the mapo tofu noodles that the person next to me was eating, so I must come back to try that next time! This place is definitely worth revisiting!

Arrived around 1 PM on a regular day. There were 3 people waiting outside. I thought I could get in after a short wait, but ended up waiting for 20 minutes. Entered the restaurant and bought a ticket from the machine. When handing over the ticket, I was asked about the level of spiciness (numbness), so I chose "normal". On the table, there were chili peppers, grapefruit sansho oil, and blended vinegar. Soon after, my dish arrived. It was mapo tofu. It was hot and delicious. The thick sauce was mixed with tofu, large pieces of ground meat, and chopped green onions. The noodles were straight and thick. I mixed them with the sauce and started eating. There was a paper apron available, which was reassuring. After a few bites, the numbness kicked in quickly. It was more of a numbness than spiciness. It was addictive. I unconsciously drank some water, and the numbness effect made it feel like carbonated water. It was amazing. During lunchtime, they offer free rice, so I ate some rice while adding grapefruit sansho oil from the table. The amount of sansho was stronger than expected, increasing the numbness even more. The deliciousness also increased. Before I knew it, I was sweating profusely. It was dripping from my chin. I was sweating so much that it reminded me of the sweat I had when eating spicy food at another restaurant. Finished my meal. Drank all the carbonated water. It was delicious. It was worth the wait. I'm curious about the other menu items. Thank you for the meal.

Mapo noodles 1300 yen. The spiciness level is normal, not too spicy that I didn't break a sweat, but my tongue felt numb the whole time. It's a bit of a complex feeling, haha. I prefer the flavor of mapo tofu to be stronger even if it's a bit on the mild side. I went around 2 PM on a Saturday and had to wait for about 30 minutes... I wonder if it's particularly popular among women? There were only women in line. 🍜🌶️

Since eating brunch, I've been hungry by 7:30 pm on a weekday. There was a line, but I was seated in about 10 minutes. I ordered a highball with Black Nikka at 9%, it's strong but goes down well haha. It's still hot in early September. I debated between ordering cold tantanmen or soupless tantanmen. If the air conditioning in the restaurant is strong, I tend to get cold easily, even if I'm drinking a highball. But I couldn't confirm the temperature inside the restaurant with the ticket system. After much consideration, I went with the soupless tantanmen. It turned out to be the right choice since the air conditioning was working well. I love spicy food, especially numbing spiciness, so the soupless tantanmen with normal spiciness plus extra numbing for 100 yen was the best choice for me!!

After visiting the Art Aquarium at Ginza Mitsukoshi, I went to this restaurant. I arrived around 6:15 PM, no line, and the restaurant was about 60% full. I bought a ticket for chilled tantanmen with rice from the vending machine. I waited for about 7-8 minutes for my dish to arrive. First, the soup. It was delicious. It was well chilled, with a perfect balance of sesame flavor, numbness, and spiciness. The noodles were thin and also nicely chilled, with a good chewiness. Really tasty. I've tried their mapo men, tantanmen, and now this chilled tantanmen, and all of them were delicious. The umami, spiciness, and numbness are all perfectly balanced. It's my kind of taste. The main store in Ginza is usually crowded, so I've been going to this Kyobashi branch more often lately. It seems like you can get in without waiting if you go at night.

I went to a place called "Rakusyokuya" because I wanted to eat something spicy. I ordered the mapo noodles and chose the normal level of spiciness. The appearance of the noodles was appetizing and the portion was huge. The mapo noodles were delicious and the spiciness was just right. It was numbing, spicy, and tasty. The table condiments like chili peppers and Sichuan pepper oil were also appealing. I will definitely come back again.

The Sichuan restaurant I visited the other day had a disappointing lack of punch in their mapo tofu. I always find myself coming back to this candlelit restaurant. This time I tried their coriander mapo noodles. I wish they would add more coriander. Also, I've noticed that the interior of the restaurant is quite dirty lately. Not just the tables, but what bothers me the most is the condiment containers. They have oil and dust on them, which makes me hesitate to use them. The flavor is good, but there are a few disappointing points.

I arrived around 1 o'clock. There was no wait, but the restaurant was almost full. I had the mapo men for 1200 yen. It was nice that rice was free during lunchtime. The taste was quite different from what I have had before, with a fresh spiciness that was just right and a strong numbing sensation. I felt that the numbing sensation was stronger than the spiciness.

I wanted to eat King Ken's soupless tantanmen, but they were closed on Saturdays, so I came here instead. It was Saturday night, but I was able to get in right away without waiting in line. There were a lot of solo female diners. I ordered the mapo mixed noodles. I couldn't choose the level of spiciness or numbness. The minced meat was seasoned like mapo tofu, and it went well with the thick and chewy noodles. However, the seasoning was intense, and it became a bit overwhelming towards the end. My friend, who doesn't like spicy food, asked for even less spiciness, but it was still too spicy for them to finish.

I love the mapo men at this restaurant. I have been there about 10 times. While the other menu items are also delicious, I always end up going back to the mapo men. You can adjust the spiciness up to double for free. I recommend starting with the regular spiciness, but once you get used to it, you'll crave the double spiciness. This time, I ordered the mapo men for 1300 yen. As soon as it was brought to me, the nice aroma of mapo with Sichuan pepper stimulated my appetite. When you take a bite, the tingly sensation of the Sichuan pepper is satisfyingly spicy and delicious. The condiments on the table are all high-quality, and I recommend adding them to change the flavor. The grape seed oil with Sichuan pepper has a refreshing scent and adds a tingly sensation to the tongue and lips. It is also available for purchase to take home. The roasted chili pepper is made from spicy chili peppers with a good aroma, perfect for those who want more spiciness. This kind of satisfying spiciness is unique to this restaurant. Be prepared to sweat when eating. During lunchtime, rice is included, so you can also enjoy it as mapo don. The interior is a wooden structure from the Taisho era. Retro music is playing. It only has a counter, so it fills up quickly due to its popularity. I recommend going on a weekday during the day. It's not spacious enough for a group, so it's best to go with a partner who loves spicy food. But be careful, as you will sweat a lot. Recommended for different situations: Date with a girl ☆☆; Having fun with friends ☆

I suddenly crave it... especially when I'm feeling stressed. Maybe my body naturally craves spicy food to calm my mind (lol). The mapo noodles here are not just spicy, they also have a delicious mapo tofu flavor with chewy noodles that are just delicious! You can choose from mild, regular, or double spicy, but I recommend double spicy. There are homemade chili peppers and Sichuan pepper oil on the counter, so you can increase the spiciness and change the flavor. The man next to me was coughing and drinking water, but I never drink water in the middle. It was so delicious.

On a regular weeknight around 6 pm, I visited the restaurant. There were about 20% empty seats, but they quickly filled up. Due to its location, there were many foreign tourists who tended to stay for a long time. Compared to other branches, the turnover rate may be slightly lower. I used to choose the regular spicy level due to my low tolerance for spiciness, but recently I have started to feel a bit unsatisfied with it. I added more spiciness with the Sichuan pepper oil on the table. The oil is more about adding aroma rather than spiciness. Maybe I have built up a tolerance to spiciness... Next time, I want to challenge the double spicy level!

Candle shop's chilled tantanmen. No onions. I really wanted to eat this, so I lined up in the scorching heat. I definitely need a parasol next time. The line moves fast though. Today, I made sure to have the onions, which I don't like, removed, so I was able to eat all the meat with a perforated ladle. It's delicious, I love it! #TokyoGourmet #GinzaGourmet #GinzaLunch #tantanmen #japanesenoodle #dandannoodles #spicy #CandleShopGinza #GinzaCandleShop

Finally visited after hearing that the evening service had started. It had been a while since my last visit. The prices had gone up. I was torn between the summer limited chilled tantanmen and the spicy mapo ramen, but since it had been a while, I went with the large spicy mapo ramen. It was consistent. Thank you for the meal.

During lunchtime, I felt like having something spicy (*´Д｀*)♡ Arrived all sweaty... It's really hot in the middle of summer... Luckily, I didn't have to wait in line and got a table right away ♡ I ordered the Spicy Mala Noodles (comes with rice) for ¥1,300 and chose the normal level of spiciness. Even at normal level, it was enough to make my mouth numb... Tissues were conveniently located under the table! The Mala tofu was delicious as expected, but the noodles were also really tasty. They were just the right thickness, not too thin or too thick, and complemented the Mala tofu well. There was a topping station with grape and Sansho pepper oil. I was curious about the flavor, and it turned out to be a fancy seasoning with a distinct grape taste (๑˃̵ᴗ˂̵) Sansho pepper adds depth to the flavor. It was a delicious meal!

〈Features〉Located a 5-minute walk from Yurakucho Station, this popular ramen shop is known for its numbingly spicy mapo noodles. In addition to the Ginza main store, there are branches in Omotesando, Kyobashi, Osaka, and other locations. Opened on October 11, 2017. 〈Menu〉- Mapo Noodles (1,300 yen) This shop often has lines on holidays. I had always been curious about it whenever I passed by, so I visited when there was a lull. I ordered the shop's signature dish, the mapo noodles. You can choose from mild spiciness (1x), regular spiciness (2x), or double spiciness (4x). I'm not great with spicy food, so I went with mild spiciness. Even so, my tongue still tingled with a slight numbing sensation. It was so spicy, yet I couldn't stop eating. I was completely engrossed in slurping up the noodles (laughs). The meal comes with rice, so I finished with a mapo rice bowl, which was nice because you can enjoy it in two stages, and you can also adjust the flavor with the condiments on the table. Thank you for the delicious meal ♫

I arrived at 1:00 PM. There were about 2 people in line, but I didn't have to wait at all and got in quickly. The cold water in the insulated cup was amazing. The tantanmen was served quickly and it was delicious! When you're about halfway done, adding the extra grape seed oil with mountain pepper keeps it interesting until the end. ★ Tantanmen 1300 yen The spiciness level is 2 out of 4, so it's not very spicy. For those who like spicy food, I recommend getting it at level 4.