The usual manager overflowing with hospitality? Working alone. I ordered fried rice for the first time in a while, and he asked, "Do you want to leave out the celery and onion?" Some people want the onion removed... I love it~ I asked for it and waited for a while, and it came in the usual bowl! A large portion of fried rice. It seems to be getting bigger little by little. The manager also laughed and said, "You can take it home~" and kept recommending takeout. There were small plates of char siu and greens, and he also recommended the chili oil on the table for flavor change, which was not too greasy so I finished it quickly. I loosened my belt a bit. I will visit again!

Located right near Seibu-Shinjuku Station. This Taiwanese ramen restaurant offers generous portions of noodles and delicious flavors. The aroma coming from the restaurant is delightful. You purchase your meal ticket from a vending machine, making the payment process smooth. The large serving option provides plenty of noodles, satisfying your hunger. You can also request to have the celery removed, but the taste and aroma of celery are appetizing. The staff members are very friendly and kind. It is conveniently close to Seibu-Shinjuku Station and also near Okubo Park.

When I asked if they had half-fried rice with a large portion using my meal ticket, they said they didn't have small change and offered me a ramen and fried rice set for 1000 yen. When it arrived, I was sure both the ramen and fried rice were in large portions. I was worried they were being too generous with the service. I struggled to finish it all.

During the Obon holiday from August 11th to 15th, the regular noodle menu was back after a long time. Surprisingly, it was served quite quickly. The portion size seemed to be increased. The lower half of the noodles had crunchy bean sprouts, adding to the value. The noodles were like a cross between Taiwanese noodles and Zhajiangmian. In Taiwan, they are usually smaller, but this version seemed to be tailored for Japan (Kabukicho? Shinsaibashi?). You can adjust the flavor using the condiments on the table. The kind owner always provides great hospitality. I will definitely visit again.

I revisited without much time in between! This time I ordered the Taiwan ramen! The portion of noodles seems to be a lot, or maybe the soup is a bit less? I think it's probably because there are a lot of noodles, as they are overflowing on top of the soup! It's not spicy, but it's a light and delicious type of Taiwan ramen! It includes minced meat, bean sprouts, and a boiled egg, which are all delicious! There are still many other menu items to try, so I want to go back again.

I was drawn to Taiwanese ramen and did some research, which led me to visit for the first time. I walked all the way from Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and was sweating so much that I had to give up on ramen. Instead, I chose Lu Rou Fan, but when I bought the food ticket, I didn't pay much attention or maybe it was a service, I don't know, but I got another dish! However, this dish was spicy and I managed to finish it while panting. When I was leaving, the chef came out of the kitchen to open the door for me. He did the same for other customers too. I was surprised by the hospitality! Next time, I will definitely order the Taiwanese ramen!

I ordered a cold noodle dish that is only available in the summer for the first time. It cost 1,000 yen. The kind owner, who usually runs the place alone, was there. Despite being the only one working, the owner kindly opened the sliding door for me on my way out. I remember that the amount of noodles was not as much as the rice portion, but it seems to have increased in volume every time I visit. The noodles were piled high with lots of toppings, making it a bit of a challenge to mix them together. It was a happy challenge. The gentle taste of peanuts, as indicated on the menu, was the first thing that hit me, followed by the tangy soup-soaked noodles. I look forward to visiting again.

I haven't raised prices yet. The usual kind male staff working alone. I was torn between ordering Luroufan or fried rice, but this time I made the right choice with the fried rice. Because the small plate (which is actually larger than normal) comes with the Luroufan! It also comes with Chin-gen-sai. The fried rice comes in a bowl with a huge amount. If you don't dislike celery (they always ask if it's okay), I recommend it. It's strange that they have Japanese sake (from Yamagata prefecture).

Shinjuku - Shinsaibashi Ajisen We are located along Shokuan Street, right near the north exit of Seibu Shinjuku Station. It is a busy area with lots of foot traffic, especially on weekends when there are many people coming from Shin-Okubo, making it a lively spot filled with young people. Recently, with the opening of Kabukicho Tower, the area has become even more crowded. I didn't have much time this time, so I ordered the fried rice with extra large portion, which I assumed would come out quickly. It seemed a bit slow, perhaps because the place was being run by only one person. As a result, they offered me a boiled and seasoned chicken appetizer as a service. The fried rice had a huge portion, even for someone like me who can eat a lot, it was a bit challenging in terms of quantity. The regular portion would have been enough. The taste was a bit on the strong side, with celery adding a nice accent. I will visit again. Thank you for the meal. Ajisen Shinsaibashi 1F, 2-46-7 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 1 minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station North Exit 7 minutes walk from JR Chuo Line Okubo Station South Exit 7 minutes walk from JR Yamanote Line Shin-Okubo Station 8 minutes walk from Toei Oedo Line Shinjuku Nishiguchi Station 190m from Seibu Shinjuku Station

Celery-filled Taiwanese noodles with a generous amount of soup. Visited around 6pm on a holiday, with about a third of the seats filled. The staff were very considerate, offering paper aprons and suggesting a more comfortable seat if the air conditioning was too strong. Ordered the Taiwanese noodles with celery, which turned out to be quite a large portion. The broth was light yet flavorful, with the celery adding a nice touch. Personally, I found the portion to be too much, as I prefer smaller servings. I think I would enjoy trying a variety of dishes like fried rice or dumplings alongside a smaller portion of the noodles next time. The menu offered a wide selection, so I look forward to exploring more options on my next visit.

Located at the end of Kabukicho. Just across the road is Koreatown in Shin-Okubo! This is a counter-only restaurant. I entered around 7 pm on a weekday Friday, with only two other customers. It's a self-service system where you buy meal tickets. The staff, who speaks fluent Japanese, provides excellent customer service. Even though it's a counter, they come around to serve you instead of reaching out from the front. When leaving, they come out of the kitchen to open the door for you. I am truly impressed. I ordered scallion oil mixed noodles and a mini braised pork rice bowl. It took about 10 minutes for the dishes to arrive. The mixed noodles had bean sprouts laid underneath the noodles, which you mix before eating. The flavor was a bit light, so you can adjust it to your liking with the condiments on the table. The mini braised pork rice bowl was surprisingly generous in portion! Both dishes were delicious. Thank you for the meal.

To uncover the mystery, I revisited the restaurant. Upon checking the sign outside, it was clearly stated that rice dishes come with soup and side dishes! The portion size is definitely bigger than expected. It's a great deal because ordering a single dish costs 500 yen, but if you order fried rice or minced pork rice, it comes as a set!! And the thick slices of char siu make you want to order some alcohol!!! I feel like ordering rice dishes is the right choice over noodles. I want to meet the friendly male owner and try out the noodle menu as well.

I visited the restaurant because fried rice was back on the menu. The staff was working alone, a very friendly man. He asked me if I was okay with celery. He told me to wait a bit, and when the dish came out, it was very generous in portion. It reminded me of my mom's fried rice. I enjoyed changing the flavor with the recommended fish sauce, so it didn't get boring. It came with a celery-filled soup. Then, in the middle of the meal, they brought me pork miso char siu with bean sprouts, which surprised me! Is this a special service? It's not the default, right? I had already paid in advance, and there weren't many other customers. I'll visit again to uncover the truth behind this delightful surprise!

Sichuan noodles for 1,000 yen. Today's noodles are from "Ajisen" in Kabukicho (in the corner). Embarrassingly, I mistakenly thought it was a branch of the "Ajisen" in Nagoya that opened in Shinjuku, but it turns out to be a completely different restaurant. Thanks to a follow-up reviewer's review, I realized this and decided to visit after being intrigued by the content. I visited around 11:30 on a holiday. There were 3 customers already seated and no one else, so it was quite empty. It might be busier on weekdays or at night. Also, even though it's Kabukicho, it's actually closer to Shin-Okubo. Now, onto the order. I quickly decided on the "Sichuan noodles"! I sat at a vacant seat at the counter shaped like the letter "C" and handed over my food ticket. I asked for the lunch special with a half serving of rice. Just before a group of two arrived, so it took a bit of time for the food to be served. First, after about 10 minutes, the half serving of rice was brought to me. ...This is a half serving? It looks more like a regular serving...or even closer to a large serving... And then, 2 minutes later, the Sichuan noodles were served! ...Eh...? The noodles are piled up like a small mountain peeking out of the soup...? Oh no, this might turn into a battle of quantity...I gathered my courage and started eating. The soup: I cautiously took a sip...the level of spiciness is...about 2 or 3 levels below the North Pole in Hokkaido. If you're not sensitive to spicy food, you can enjoy it comfortably. And the umami flavor is perfect♪ The noodles: They are thin, slightly wavy noodles. They have a smooth texture and are very easy to eat. They have a good balance with the flavorful soup. Toppings: There are two slices of pork with a rich sauce, perfect for mixing with the rice. And to my surprise, there are bean sprouts hidden under the noodles! They are crunchy even when submerged in the noodles and soup. The reason for the mountain-like shape of the noodles is partly due to these bean sprouts. And celery! The generous amount of chopped celery, fresh and refreshing, goes perfectly with the flavorful and spicy soup. The egg is a hard-boiled egg, which is fine if it's free. Half serving of rice: It's definitely not a "half" serving in terms of volume! It looks like it's made from old rice...or maybe ancient rice? It's cooked to a firm texture and seasoned generously, which pairs well with the flavorful soup and meat. It was a great match and I ended up finishing it all. Thank you for the meal. The flavorful and spicy soup with refreshing celery! It was a uniquely charming bowl of noodles. It was so delicious that I had no problem finishing the generous portion.

After about 2 years, I revisited a restaurant in Nagoya. The soup was not as impactful as the one from Meisen, but it was still delicious with a refreshing taste and just the right amount of spiciness. This time, I added celery on a separate plate. Celery goes surprisingly well with this soup, doesn't it? It's healthy, so maybe the calories will be zero now? I hope so! 😄

I was craving the taste of Aisen in Nagoya, so I decided to try this restaurant with the same name. I ordered the spicy Szechuan noodles and the chilled chicken and pickled vegetable dish, thinking it would be different from the Nagoya version. To my surprise, the appetizer was free! The minced meat was incredibly delicious, enough to make me want more rice. The beer was ice cold and perfect! The portion of noodles was huge, and the finely chopped celery was a nice touch. The noodles were extremely spicy, so I personally would prefer them to be a bit milder. The flavor was unique and might appeal to those who enjoy bold tastes. The restaurant was run by a calm and friendly man. Thank you for the delicious meal. I'm not sure if I'm hooked yet, but if I am, I will definitely come back!

[Overall Impression] The restaurant "Ajisen" that was in Osaka Shinsaibashi has relocated to Shinjuku (a bit far from the center). They have changed their style of operation from their Osaka days. The super light Taiwanese noodles have transformed into a punchy bowl with a miso meat and celery flavor (^_^;) They also offer dishes that go well with alcohol, creating a good drinking environment. Overall, the flavors are focused on making an impact. The best part is that the prices are still reasonable, just like in Osaka. I think the satisfaction level here is much higher than eating and drinking at a random izakaya (^_^) [Detailed Review] The Ajisen restaurant in Shinsaibashi (unrelated to the Nagoya chain) closed down without me noticing. And now I found out that they have moved to Shinjuku (^_^;) I really liked this place because they offered light Taiwanese noodles at a good price. I must visit this place! The restaurant is located past Seibu Shinjuku Station, where the bustling atmosphere of the city starts to fade away. The sign still says "Shinsaibashi" (^_^) The interior is small, with about 12 counter seats. The background music was unfamiliar, cute pop songs. There is only one Southeast Asian staff member working alone, but they are very efficient. They were handling takeout orders as well. The menu includes six types of ramen, including Taiwanese noodles, as well as fried rice and braised pork rice. They also have five side dishes priced at 500 yen each. While the main focus is on noodles and rice dishes, they also offer a selection of alcohol such as beer, sake, and Shaoxing wine, allowing for a light drinking session (^_^) I will definitely try the Taiwanese noodles, but since I'm here, I'll also order a side dish to go with my highball (400 yen). - Appetizer: Probably complimentary Cold dish of chicken and pickled vegetables... a dish soaked in Chinese broth, with scallions, pickled vegetables, and chicken making a great combination. I think it's pre-made, but the fact that this level of appetizer is served promptly shows their attention to detail (^_^) - Side dish (500 yen): You can choose two items from five standard dishes and two daily specials. I chose pork tongue and century egg tofu. Despite being priced at 500 yen, the portions were quite generous (^_^) The pork tongue had a crunchy texture with a strong flavor of Sichuan pepper. It complemented the mild taste of the pork tongue very well. It was really delicious! The century egg tofu was served with plenty of pickled vegetables and soy sauce. The unique Chinese flavors paired well with the century egg. This side dish was a pleasant surprise, exceeding my initial expectations of what you would get for 500 yen. - Taiwanese Noodles (800 yen): Topped with a generous amount of sweet and spicy meat miso on top of raw celery and bean sprouts. This was completely different from the Taiwanese noodles in the Shinsaibashi days (^_^;) The soup itself is probably chicken-based and quite light, but the flavors of the meat miso and celery gradually intensify. The noodles are thin and curly, with a nostalgic Showa-era feel. Instead of slurping, it's more about savoring each bite by pulling the noodles from the soup. The flavored egg was cooked perfectly, with the egg white breaking with a satisfying crunch. This way of finishing the egg is probably a characteristic of Taiwan or China. - Braised Pork Rice (mini): Complimentary The staff recommended this dish, saying, "This is also one of our main dishes. Please try it!" and served it as a complimentary dish. They are very generous with their service. The slightly intense flavor of soy sauce dominated over sweetness, and the pork was quite substantial. The fatty parts were melt-in-your-mouth tender (^_^) [Final Thoughts] The direction has changed significantly from the Shinsaibashi days. The focus on light flavors has taken a back seat, and they now emphasize impactful flavors. I enjoyed the Ajisen in Shinsaibashi, but I also liked the new style they have adopted in Shinjuku. And the prices are still reasonable (^_^) Today's total bill came to 1,700 yen. Thank you for the meal.

After work, I visited this restaurant that I had been wanting to go to for a while. The staff was working alone but provided very polite service that I really appreciated. The dishes here contain various types of celery, and the staff made sure to ask each person if they were okay with celery being included. Not only was the taste great, but the portion size was also impressive, making it a great value for the price. The smoked flavored egg was absolutely delicious, I would even consider ordering an extra one. I definitely want to visit again.

Today, I drank alcohol until noon, so before going home, I stopped by here for the first time in a while! I ordered the same tantanmen as before! The tantanmen here has a light chicken broth with chopped celery, and the celery accent is amazing! It has minced pork and chili oil on top, so I thought it would be heavy, but thanks to the celery accent, it's very refreshing and easy to eat! I actually want to eat it after finishing drinking, but it's quite difficult due to the business hours haha. I'll ask for it again next time I drink until noon!

Taiwanese noodles 800 yen Mini Lu Rou Fan (Braised Pork Rice) 250 yen Different from Nagoya's famous taste, but also derived from Taiwan's Dandan noodles. The slightly firm and crispy medium-thin straight noodles are served in a light chicken broth. The toppings include finely chopped celery, minced pork, and soy-marinated egg. This ramen is light and refreshing, not heavy on the stomach, with a nostalgic taste that can be found in local eateries or street stalls in Taiwan. The Braised Pork Rice consists of pork belly stewed in a sweet and savory sauce with star anise served over rice. The amount of meat is generous, reminiscent of the flavors from childhood neighborhood diners. Truly nostalgic and moving. The restaurant seems to operate with only one staff member, who appears to be a foreigner (unclear if they are the owner), but despite being extremely busy, they provide excellent service with a smile.