I struggled to secure a reservation at this restaurant, ranked 8th in the national Ramen rankings as of August 2023, due to its complete reservation system for only five people per time slot. Despite my efforts during my visit to Tokyo in May during Golden Week, I failed to secure a reservation every night at 9 p.m. When I tried again the following month, all reservations were quickly filled, and I resigned myself to the fact that I wouldn't be able to dine there this time either. However, the next morning, by chance, I opened the website and found that two seats had become available at 4:30 p.m.! I quickly made the reservation and was thrilled to finally visit Mukansan for the first time. Upon arriving at Nakano-sakaue Station, I couldn't easily identify the restaurant from the outside, but I noticed people lining up in chairs, so I joined the queue. Eventually, I spotted the aroma and the signboard, confirming that I was in the right place. Inside, the atmosphere was lively despite the small staff, and I ordered the specialty Oyster Salt Ramen without hesitation. I also chose a Jim Beam highball for only 300 yen, a steal in today's prices. The highball wasn't premixed but meticulously prepared with a whole bottle of soda water and even came with a rare char siu as a snack. As I savored the refreshing highball, the special Oyster Salt Ramen was served. Its appearance differed from the trendy visuals, but it exuded a unique charm. The rich oyster butter-infused soup was clear yet packed with flavor, complemented by fresh oysters. The thick, curly noodles held their own against the intense oyster broth, and the smooth, moist char siu and perfectly boiled egg were delightful. The addition of oyster aioli on the side of the bowl enhanced the oceanic aroma, especially for oyster lovers like myself. The combination with my personal favorite, grapefruit sansho, added a refreshing touch to the richness. The owner was also very humorous and engaging with regular customers. Overall, despite the high hurdle of securing a reservation, Mukansan exceeded my expectations in every aspect, from its atmosphere to its menu offerings. It was truly worth the effort to dine there.

30th visit. Today, I had the Marugamo Salt Ramen for 1200 yen, with duck chashu and flavored egg included. They also gave me an extra 200g of noodles for free (usually 150g). Personally, this is one of my favorite menu items, right after the Oyster Salt and Marugamo Niboshi. The soup is consistently good, and the duck meat is tender and packed with flavor, absolutely delicious. Also, they're giving away eco-bags as a promotion for the next three days. I might get three of them in a row, haha. Considering sticking with this menu for the week, but also thinking about trying the dipping noodles. Thanks for the meal!

29th visit. Today's special: Scallop Salt Ramen 1100 yen with flavored egg, 150g of medium-thin noodles, and a complimentary extra serving of 200g noodles. It's the scallop version of the oyster salt ramen, using plenty of Hokkaido scallops, spreading their flavor throughout. Compared to the oyster salt version, it's lighter, so using the 3 flavor enhancers might be enjoyable. The owner mentioned they won't be serving oyster salt for a while as they don't have oysters in the freezer. Next week, they'll have a series featuring whole duck. Mukan's Menu Ranking: 1st Oyster Salt Truffle Ajillo, 2nd Whole Duck + Dried Fish Ramen, 3rd Whole Duck Salt Ramen, 4th Green Oyster, 5th Hitachi Autumn Soba, 6th Scallop Salt Ramen. Oyster Salt Truffle Ajillo is still the clear favorite!

Located in Nakano, Tokyo, this restaurant is one of the top 100 on the 2022 Tabelog list, known for being extremely difficult to book online. Fortunately, I managed to secure a reservation for the 13:30 slot this time. There's a sign outside indicating it's reservation-only. Although there's only seating for about 5 people outside, they let us in a bit early. The interior is clean with a white color scheme. The menu changes daily, offering only one item. Today's special, as shared by X on Twitter, was Nagoya Cochin whole chicken (20kg) and Hamaguri salt ramen for ¥1000 with a flavored egg and a free upgrade to a larger portion (200g instead of the regular 150g). The soup glistened, looking delicious even at first glance. The salt flavor wasn't overpowering but had a distinct edge to it, impressively balanced. Personally, I find salt-based soups hit or miss, but this one was a definite hit. While checking X's Twitter for today's menu later on (laughs), I realized the depth of flavor, with hints of clam. The noodles were neatly folded and smooth, reminiscent of Nagasaki champon. Eating them with the green onions enhanced the flavor. The thinly sliced rare chashu resembled ham, tender and perfectly cooked throughout. The same could be said for the flavored egg—cooked just right with a slightly sweet center. Though the portion of bamboo shoots was small, they were of good quality. Overall, it's an excellent dish worthy of being in the top tier of the top 100 list, but if I had to nitpick, the noodles didn't perfectly complement the salt soup. It's a matter of personal taste, but a noodle that blends better with the soup would make it a perfect score. The owner was incredibly friendly and approachable. They seem to enjoy chatting, which might not be typical for a busy ramen shop, but since it's reservation-only with limited seating, they might appreciate local customers engaging in conversation. I'd love to make another reservation and try a different ramen dish. Finally, I've conquered the top 100 restaurants in Tokyo! Thank you for the wonderful meal. ■ Details of the online reservation: - Booked via X (Twitter). Failed the first time using a smartphone but succeeded on the second try using a PC. - Almost all slots were filled within 1 minute after reservations opened at 10:00. Googled "Mukann reservation tips" to find others' strategies. Opted for a slightly later time like 13:00 or 13:30 as they tend to have more availability. - Personal tips include registering a Recruit ID in advance to expedite the input process and using a PC instead of a smartphone for faster internet. Reload immediately if things seem dicey. Encountered a "This webpage does not exist" error once but quickly refreshed and went back to the beginning of X's page without overthinking it. - Decide on potential reservation times beforehand to avoid hesitation during the booking process.

【Top Salt Ramen in Tokyo】⚪️Name: Mukkan⚪️Location: Just 1 minute walk from Nakano-Sakaue Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and others.⚪️Ordered Menu & Prices: Nagoya Cochin Maru Chicken (20 kg) and Hamaguri (clam) Salt Ramen (¥1,000).⚪️Soup Taste: This time, it's a soup made with Nagoya Cochin chicken and Hamaguri clam. It's incredibly delicious! (Changes periodically)⚪️Noodles: Straight, thin noodles that pair well with the flavorful soup.⚪️Chashu (Roast Pork): Rare, ham-like chashu.⚪️Other Toppings: The flavored egg was also delicious.⚪️Rice Dishes: Not available.⚪️Ordering: It's a ticket system, and seating is only at the counter. Water is self-service on the table. Reservations are mandatory. For details, check their official Twitter. #Mukkan #NakanoSakaue #Tokyo #NagoyaCochinMaruChickenAndHamaguriSaltRamen #Delicious #Ramen #RamenLover #NoodleGram #JapaneseRamen #Foodie #InstaFood #TokyoRamen #SaltRamen #NagoyaCochin #FoodLover

I visited the restaurant for the first time during the afternoon session at 14:30. It was a special day featuring Nagoya Cochin chicken and clam salt ramen, and after several attempts, I finally made it. The depth of the soup was amazing; the first sip made me exclaim, "This is incredible!" You can instantly taste the attention to detail in the egg and meat. Is it really okay to eat something this delicious for 1000 yen? The quality is so good that I truly want to go again. The difficulty of visiting is incredibly high, but the ramen is the pinnacle that justifies its value.

28th visit. Today's special is Nagoya Cochin marinated chicken-based ramen with 5 types of dried sardines for 1000 yen. Free flavored boiled egg and 150g extra noodles. The soup in this marinated duck series is the strongest in dried sardine flavor. Personally, it's my favorite taste. Even with the extra noodles, it was quickly finished, and the soup was also consumed entirely. It was delicious enough to make me want another serving. Thank you for the meal.

Ramen with irregular visits turned into the second visit. This time, it's a chicken-based ramen with five types of boiled sardines, priced at 1000 yen with a free flavored egg. They also provide 150g of noodles with a free medium serving of 200g. With the rich aroma of chicken and firm, smooth noodles, it slides smoothly into your mouth. Then, savoring the chashu in one bite—it's a sublime moment! Once again, it's a satisfying bowl. As an aside, I prefer my chashu rare, so I try to avoid soaking it too much in the broth to keep it from getting too hot. Also, the service (consideration) and highball were excellent. Planning to join the reservation war next time to taste the oysters!

It's necessary to make a reservation on weekdays at 8 p.m. Reservation starts at 9 a.m. on the same day. Even after entering the necessary information for reservation, I couldn't secure one, so I created a Recruit ID. I tried about 10 times on the day of reservation and finally got it! The menu consists of only one item, which costs 1200 yen. I also ordered a beer for 500 yen (500ml, quite a generous amount!). It's a green curry-flavored ramen with coriander, oyster paste, and seaweed. I wasn't particularly interested in curry, but the soup was exquisite! The ramen was even more delicious than I imagined. The coriander, oyster paste, and seaweed all contributed to a well-balanced, excellent taste. The ethnic curry ramen is easy to eat with medium-thin straight noodles, moist boiled eggs, and tender chashu. The toppings are also perfectly delicious. The ethnic flavor goes well with the beer, and I had a wonderful time discovering new tastes. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal. I would definitely like to try salt or soy sauce-based ramen next time. It seems many people are repeat customers, and I understand why!

Closed on Wednesdays, open only at night. The Green Oyster Curry Flavor was truly surprising. Seeing "last" on the menu, I felt compelled to go. Managed to secure a reservation this time, arrived 15 minutes early as scheduled. Straight to our table upon arrival. Once again, it was delicious. They even gave extra coriander, making it a very satisfying meal. Starting tomorrow, they'll have Nagoya Cochin Week, which I missed last time. It's a long-awaited classic, so I expect reservations will be hard to come by. Definitely a dish worth trying.

On September 6, 2023, I accessed Nakano-sakaue Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and Toei Oedo Line, and walked one minute from Exit A2 to "Mukan," which I hadn't visited in a while. Lately, I've been trying to make reservations but haven't been successful, so it was a long-awaited visit. I'm not a fan of cilantro, but after seeing a tweet from the owner saying, "We make the soup to complement cilantro. When cilantro doesn't match, it's subtle, but when it's spot on, it becomes the main ingredient," I made a reservation. It was the last day for their special Green Oyster Ramen, priced at 1200 yen. After taking a sip of the soup, I could taste the flavor of green curry with cilantro adding a nice accent. This was my first time trying such an innovative ramen. I also love the noodles here, especially today, they were perfectly cooked. I struggled a bit with the cilantro towards the end, but couldn't quite conquer it. Nevertheless, I enjoyed a high-quality bowl of ramen. The taste was top-notch, and I particularly enjoy the owner's excellent customer service and humorous conversation. This is my favorite type of dining experience, and I look forward to continuing to visit this restaurant. Thank you for the delicious meal!

On September 4, 2023, after the match between Ventforet Kofu and Sendai ended, I made a stop on my way back to Kofu. Luckily, I managed to snag the last available reservation slot for the day at the 5th-ranked ramen restaurant in Tokyo according to Tabelog, a popular reservation-only spot. Upon entering, I was the second customer to arrive for the 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM reservation slot. I purchased a ¥1,200 ticket from the ticket machine, which offered only one menu item for the day: the special Green Oyster Ramen. Although the noodles could be upsized for free, I opted for the regular portion. After about a 10-minute wait, my bowl of ramen arrived. The noodles were thin and straight, and the toppings included rare pork loin chashu, seasoned egg, dried seaweed, bamboo shoots, cilantro, and oyster in garlic butter sauce. As I enjoyed the noodles, toppings, and soup, I mixed in the oyster garlic butter sauce halfway through, resulting in a delicious and satisfying meal. It was a delightful dining experience, and I would definitely like to revisit this restaurant if given the chance. "Mukun Special Green Oyster Ramen" priced at ¥1,200. Located at 1F, Oedo Building, 2-2-24 Chuou, Nakano-ku, Tokyo.

Mukan's new frontier. Green curry... It's delicious. It's such a surprising experience. The balance is incredible. It works as ramen while maintaining the flavor of green curry. The base is still Mukan's oyster curry. For first-timers, I'd recommend trying the regular one first!

27th visit. Today, just like last week, I ordered the Green Oyster Ramen for 1200 yen with an extra flavored egg and 150g noodles, and got the free large serving upgrade to 225g with negi instead of cilantro. Just changing from cilantro to negi made it feel like a completely different dish. With cilantro, it's all about the cilantro, but with negi, the green curry takes the spotlight. Personally, I prefer it with negi. Next week, they're planning to serve it with Nagoya Cochin chicken and niboshi broth. Thanks for the meal!

I visited the restaurant for a reservation I made on a weekday night in September 2023. This time, I tried the special Green Oyster Ramen priced at 1200 yen. I opted for the free large serving, increasing it to 225g. The soup has a spicy kick from spices and a fragrance of coconut milk. It turns out it's a Green Curry flavor. Moving on to the noodles, they are white, medium-thick, and have a delightful slurping texture. The soup complements them well, likely due to being infused before serving. The texture is chewy and fluffy. I debated how to handle the cilantro, and my recommendation is to place a pinch on the noodles and slurp it all at once. This method allows the Green Curry, coconut milk, and cilantro flavors to linger, followed by a solid taste of the noodles and soup when chewed. It's a fantastic combination! I awarded it my highest rating. I also had a brief chat with Mr. Komatsuzaki this time. I had the chance to see the creatively designed restroom, and given its uniqueness, using it adds another layer of enjoyment to the experience.

At 8:58 a.m., still uncertain about the visit time, I decided to make a reservation at exactly 9:00 on a whim. It seemed like I hit the jackpot as the reservation went through. With evening-only business hours resulting in high demand, timing is crucial, but this time I struck gold. My last visit was a few days ago for duck broth ramen. Before that, I enjoyed a variety of specialty ramen including shrimp, truffle sea urchin, but today it's green oyster. With anticipation fueled by information shared by the owner before opening, I arrived a bit early and was warmly welcomed despite the time. The bowl that arrived surpassed all expectations, offering an exquisite ramen experience unlike any other I've had. The aroma and depth of flavor created by the owner's hometown coriander and green oyster curry-style soup were outstanding. Paired with straight medium-fine noodles, every ingredient came together perfectly. Despite the large serving, I finished it in an instant. I deeply respect the owner's exceptional creativity and unwavering spirit. I'm eagerly looking forward to the next specialty. Thank you for the wonderful meal.

【Top 100 Restaurants】This place is said to be difficult to reserve, but I had a stroke of luck when I tried at 9 am on a day when I had business in Shinjuku, thanks to the information provided by MyレビC. This was possible because I was prepared in advance. Grateful! The system allows for reservations the night before or on the morning of the day. Moreover, there are no handling fees or cancellation fees (perhaps the consideration of the restaurant). Unlike the popular registration system where you have to line up in the morning, this one is very convenient for me. I arrived on a weekday at 11:55. As the person in front went in, I also entered. After confirming the time, I purchased a meal ticket. The menu is a single choice, and there are three types of alcohol. I ordered the special Green Oyster Ramen for 1200 yen. When asked if I wanted a large serving, I said yes! It turns out that the large serving is free and weighs 225g. After a short wait, the ramen was served. It has a visually distinctive presentation. The soup is green curry, but the main focus is on cilantro. Even when slurping the soup from a distance from cilantro, you can still smell it. Cilantro > Green Curry > Oyster. I had never eaten ramen with green curry before, but it was delicious! During a conversation with regular customers, I overheard the story of why this was created: "I (the owner) really love green curry and cilantro ♡." Well, that makes sense (laughs). The noodles are medium-thin, slightly flat, and cooked to a soft texture. They paired well with the soup. Although 225g is on the larger side, it was so delicious that it disappeared in no time. In the second half, I enjoyed changing the flavor by adding table grapes, Sansho pepper, garlic, and apple vinegar. A creative ramen that allows you to enjoy the unique combination of green curry and oysters. Considering the ingredients in the soup and toppings, I sincerely thought it was amazing that they could make this for 1200 yen. Since the menu changes frequently, if I have the opportunity to go to Tokyo again, I would like to visit. Thank you for the meal!

Mukan's Special Green Oyster Curry Ramen ¥1200★★★. Located in Nakano-Sakaue, "Mukan" fills up reservations in just 1 minute. It's my first visit despite having reserved before. The turnover is limited, and if the chef isn't feeling well or the bowl isn't satisfactory, they'll close shop gracefully. Even before experiencing their dedication, I could sense it. After devouring this bowl, I felt a strange sense of fulfillment, grateful for being able to savor it now, though I'm not sure what I've truly achieved. It's not just about feeling their dedication; it's a soulful bowl. As I sipped water after finishing, the chef engaged in conversation. I realized he genuinely cares about each bowl and customer. Lovely experience. #Mukan #NakanoSakaue #PopularSpot #ReservationOnly #GreenOysterRamen #Top100RamenShops #Ramen #Noodles #RamenLovers #FoodDiary #RamenEnthusiasts #GourmetLovers #RamenCommunity #RamenLife #RamenPatrol #TokyoRamenScene

26th visit. Today I tried the challenge menu: Green Oyster Ramen for 1200 yen, with a seasoned egg and 150g of noodles. Large serving for free, 225g. I'm actually not a fan of cilantro... But if it's made by Komatsuzaki-san, I'll give it a try! Hmm, it's not bad, haha. Even if you're not a cilantro fan, definitely give it a go! Thanks for the meal.

I went to a friend's workplace that has been talked about since its opening. Another friend made a reservation for us today, and it was my long-awaited first visit! Reservations seem to change every morning at 9 am. It's located in a quiet alley near Nakano-Sakaue, with a beautifully renovated exterior and interior. The menu changes frequently, and today there was only one option! I purchased it from the ticket machine: - Marutomo Shio Ramen with Ajitama (flavored egg) and Anchovy Garlic Butter Tossed Tamago (half portion 75g) ¥1,200. The polite service boosted my impression, and the order was served in about 7-8 minutes. Wow, what a beautiful bowl of ramen. Both the noodles and the soup stand out with sheer deliciousness. Especially the soup, with a strong broth that feels complex yet magically simple. The duck meat is also well-prepared and tasty! The ajitama looks ordinary at first, but the broth soaked into the yolk adds a delightful flavor. I now want to try the default oyster ramen as well. If they put in this much effort, anything on the menu is probably delicious! I was deeply moved by this satisfying meal. Note: This unique shop has flavor-changing condiments (grape pepper, shichimi, seaweed salt). I tried them, but it's best not to use them with the ramen (they worked really well with side dishes).

After a long absence, I visited the restaurant for a morning reservation after finishing work at night. To my dismay, I saw a post that was uploaded after the lunch hours, stating that the highly praised duck char siu recommended by a friend who visited on the same day couldn't be served due to an accident. However, the essence of this establishment lies in its soup. I regained my composure and arrived 10 minutes before the reservation time, where the owner and assistant members provided the best escort. Starting with alcohol, we enjoyed some appetizers before the main event. The highlight of the day was the salt ramen with round duck broth, which had a wonderful aroma and a rounded sweetness. The noodles were straight and complemented the soup perfectly. The simple ingredients, thin slices of bamboo shoots, and fragrant, crunchy green onions, did not interfere with the soup and noodles, creating an excellent combination. The owner's idea of building a taste in the same bowl that is completely different from the regular oyster salt ramen deserves respect. The side dish, a somewhat subsidiary seasoned egg, had a flavor reminiscent of "anchovy garlic butter," which was unimaginable until tasted. Mixing everything together revealed an unexpected deliciousness with the seasoning and aromatic sensation in the nasal cavity. Chasing it with the remaining duck broth, the simple but delicious taste was enhanced. The owner skillfully manipulates the depth of the soup, offering a rare and exceptional level of satisfaction. This is a place where you can have a wonderful dining experience. Thank you for the delicious meal today. I will visit again.