satoshiiiii
Located a 7.8-minute walk from the bustling Shibuya area, it might be closer from Kamiyama Station. The restaurant is situated along the Tokyu Department Store, with Don Quijote nearby, making it easy to find even if it doesn't show up in search results. This new restaurant opened in January 2022. As soon as you enter the restaurant, you will find a ticket machine on the left side with a wide variety of options. After some hesitation, I decided to go for the "Special Ramen" for ¥980. However, as I was about to press the button, a ¥5 coin fell from my wallet. After picking it up, I looked at the ticket machine again and my eyes landed on the "Fried Rice Set" for ¥1080.
For the past month, my friend and I had been talking about going on a quest for delicious fried rice, so I decided to try it here. The menu offers various options ranging from the cheapest ramen at ¥700 to dishes like Niboshi Ramen for ¥750, Miso Ramen/Spicy Miso Ramen for ¥850, Tsukemen for ¥850, and Abura Soba for ¥880. The prices seemed quite affordable overall.
After handing in my ticket, the staff asked about my preferences:
- Type of noodles: Thin or flat
- Noodle firmness: Firm, regular, or soft
- Amount of lard: None to a lot
I chose thin noodles, firm, and with a lot of lard. It seems you can also add extra lard for an additional ¥50. The restaurant has a counter with about 8 seats and table seating for 2, 4, and 2 people. The place can accommodate around 16 people when fully packed.
After about 5-6 minutes, the ramen was served. The soy-based broth had a subtle aroma, hinting at a Niboshi base without being too overwhelming. The toppings included bamboo shoots, chopped green onions, bean sprouts, low-temperature cooked pork loin, and black pepper. The broth was not as fatty as it appeared, which was a pleasant surprise.
The noodles were just right with a nice chewiness. The chashu had a slightly higher quality than the typical supermarket brand. As I enjoyed the interplay of flavors, the fried rice was served 3-4 minutes later. It was a half portion of about 200g of rice, glistening with lard and generously topped with chopped green onions and pickled ginger. The soy sauce-based flavor of the rice, along with the abundant lard on top, was a delightful surprise. The slightly runny egg added a nice touch.
The fried rice was an absolute winner, exceeding my expectations. The shiny, soy sauce-flavored, generously garnished dish was so delicious that I couldn't help but devour it. It was so good that I quickly finished it before letting the ramen cool down. The balance of flavors was just perfect. Overall, a great dining experience.