I visited a ramen restaurant in Nishi-Shinjuku on Kotaki Bridge Street that opened on July 21st. This place is a sister store of Tomochin Ramen in Koenji, known as Nakano Kun-chan Ramen, the third branch. It is located a 1.2-minute walk from Shinjuku Nishiguchi Station on the Toei Oedo Line, a 5.6-minute walk from Shinjuku Station West Exit, a 10-minute walk from Nishi-Shinjuku Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, and a 5.6-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. The opening hours are from 10:00 to 15:00 and 17:00 to 20:00, closed on Sundays. I visited alone at 18:00. There is a ticket machine outside the entrance where you can place your order. For first-time visitors, the menu includes options such as Chinese soba (750 yen), large Chinese soba (950 yen), chashu noodles (950 yen), large chashu noodles (1,150 yen), mori Chinese regular (900 yen), mori Chinese large (950 yen), and mori Chinese extra-large (1,000 yen). I chose the Chinese soba (750 yen). The seating consists of around 15 counter seats. It was almost full, but I was seated near the entrance. I waited for about 5-6 minutes. The Chinese soba (750 yen) arrived, and for the price, the amount of chashu, noodles, and soup was impressive. The taste was delicious, with slightly richly seasoned chashu and exquisite soup. The noodles were smooth with a soft texture, medium thickness, and flat shape, which was very tasty. The service was also excellent. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience.

I'm completely hooked on Chan-style ramen. I visited this restaurant for the first time after work. I had the Morichuka large serving for 950 yen, extra 100g of chashu for 200 yen, boiled egg for 100 yen, and complimentary rice. Even though I ordered a raw egg, I received a boiled egg, but I was too shy to say anything, so I just ate it. The Morichashu here seemed like a better deal compared to other Chan-style ramen places. They also give you a generous amount of green onions. The soup is a salty soy-based broth that pairs well with the flat noodles, and it's still delicious as always. The chashu and menma are tasty, and even the boiled egg, instead of a flavored egg, goes well with this tsukemen. After finishing the noodles, pouring the soup over the rice is amazing. It would have been even better with a raw egg. I enjoyed every last drop of the soup. I still haven't visited the Chan-style ramen places in Shimokitazawa and the soon-to-open one in Shinbashi.

I visited a ramen shop after seeing a picture of it on my first visit to BM. The shop opens at 10 am, which is great for me as I like to have lunch early. I arrived around 10:30 am and purchased a ticket from the ticket machine outside the shop. I ordered the "Chuka Soba" for 750 yen. I didn't need rice, so I just took the ticket and entered the shop. I got some water from the water dispenser inside and sat down. The ramen arrived in about 3-4 minutes, and it was just like the picture - lots of chashu, similar to the Chashu ramen at another shop I had been to before. The soup looked clear but had a strong pork bone flavor with a good amount of oil floating on top, giving it a robust taste. The saltiness was also quite pronounced, similar to the other shop I had been to. The noodles were medium-thick and straight, with a smooth texture and a nice chewy bite. The thinly sliced chashu had little fat and a meaty texture, which I enjoyed. The recommended way to eat the Chuka Soba is to add pepper and garlic, but I preferred just pepper. The soup, which I initially found slightly salty, became addictively tasty towards the end. It reminded me of the salty soy sauce ramen from my hometown in Niigata. I heard that there are sister shops in Koenji and Nakano, so I'm looking forward to visiting them soon. I will definitely come back to this shop as well.

Visit time food log rating: 3.16 Previously, there was another "chan series" called "Hiro-chan Ramen" at this location, but it has been replaced by a different "chan series." It seems like there are different affiliations within the "chan series." I visited on a Saturday around 1 pm and was able to enter without waiting. [Soup] The pork clear soup has a slightly salty taste. It gives an impression close to Kitakata Ramen. It was delicious, but it lacked a strong flavor, possibly due to being lukewarm. [Noodles] The medium-thick noodles are flat. They were boiled slightly soft. [Chashu] The thinly sliced part seems to be pork thigh, and the thicker, random cut part appears to be pork loin. Both gave a dry impression. [Ajitama] Not provided (boiled egg available). [Other] The menma is thin and has a hard texture. Green onions. [Paper apron] Available (small size). I have visited the "chan series" in Ikebukuro North Exit and Kabukicho, and compared to those two, the prices here are cheaper. I remember the Chashu Ramen was 1,200 yen at the other places, so this one is more than 200 yen cheaper and has good value for money! However, I felt that the quality of the meat was inferior. This could be due to pre-cutting or the use of a slicer, but the lack of juiciness and flavor was noticeable. The soup lacked a strong flavor, and I didn't feel the addictive nature typical of the "chan series." It's tasty for the price, so it's okay, but personally, I think I'll go to Ikebukuro or Kabukicho. It's convenient to use electronic money at the ticket machine.

Shinjuku Kotakibashi Kuma-chan Ramen-chan style ramen is top-notch in taste and among the rising stars, it stands out with its high quality. A new ramen that can be recommended has exploded onto the scene in Shinjuku! The awakened ramen is incredibly delicious. Even on the third bowl, it was enjoyable to eat. Thank you for the meal. #ramen #ramen #ramenlover #rameninstagrammer #Shinjuku #Tokyo #Kanto #ramenloverswanted #ramenlove #ramenshop #chan-style ramen

I was drawn in by the sign saying "Freshly sliced char siu is delicious" and visited for the first time. I ordered the char siu ramen (950 yen). I heard that this type of ramen is called "chan-kei" in Kanda. The soup was poured generously with plenty of char siu, pepper, garlic, shichimi togarashi, and vinegar. I enjoyed it while changing the taste with free rice.

Around 19:30, I stopped by after work and the shop closed promptly at 20:00. They gave me a complimentary side of rice with my ramen, and the portion of chashu was generous. I've been into the trendy "chan" style ramen lately, and I prefer it without garlic. I also want to visit the main store in Koenji.

Chuka soba for 750 yen. Today's noodles are from "Kuma-chan Ramen" in Shinjuku. This is the third store in the same "chan series" following "Tomochin Ramen" in Koenji and "Kuni-chan Ramen" in Nakano. The interior has been completely changed, so it seems like they are doing well financially. The cost performance of this series is excellent. I visited the store early and ordered the "Chuka soba" from the ticket machine at the entrance. The restaurant was not crowded, and I got my food quickly. The soup was a flavorful pork broth with a strong salty taste and a bit oily. The thick, flat noodles had a chewy texture and paired well with the soup. The generous amount of tender meat and thinly sliced green onions were perfect toppings. The rice and pickles were also good. I added some black pepper and garlic to change the flavor a bit. Overall, the meal was delicious and satisfying. The cost of 750 yen for such a filling and tasty meal with free rice and pickles is truly amazing. This place stands out among other "chan series" ramen shops.

After finishing a business meeting near Odoribaashi Street and running a bit late past 12 o'clock, I found that there were long lines at most restaurants, but I decided to visit Kumachan Ramen, which seemed relatively easy to get into! It was almost 12:30, and there were about 3 people lined up at the ticket machine outside! I chose the Chashu Ramen, and payment was easy with QR codes or transportation cards, so all you need is your phone! I found a seat inside as soon as I entered, and I grabbed a cup of water from the water cooler on the left side before sitting down! It seems like you have to hand in your food ticket at the counter! They were making orders in order, and I received mine after about 7 minutes! The chashu was amazing! It was quite a generous portion, unlike the last time I had it at a different store! And all this for 950 yen is quite impressive! I started with the broth, which was rich and seemed quite salty, but actually quite mild! It was nice to see lots of green onions in the bowl too! I lifted the noodles from in between the chashu slices - the noodles were firm and had a nice chew to them! They were slightly thin on the wheat flavor, but that was not necessary here! Slurping up the noodles with the soup, and occasionally with the chashu, was just fantastic ( ^ω^ ) The chashu was tender and had a good bite to it! There was so much meat that even after eating a lot, there was still more left! You have to eat it with the noodles every time, otherwise, you'll end up with extra chashu! The meat had a strong flavor, a bit sweet, and was firm, which balanced well with the salty broth, making it so easy to keep eating! There were thinly sliced bamboo shoots hidden under the chashu. They had a strong texture, balanced well with the noodles and chashu, and I really liked them! I finished it in no time! The portion of noodles was not that large, so maybe others were also having rice with their meal! It was just right for me, leaving me comfortably full! The turnover was good, and although it's a bit of a walk from the station, I think it's a convenient option for a refreshing soy sauce ramen!

It looks simple, but the flavor is rich and satisfying. I recently learned about the term "chan series" and I'm not sure what it means, but after eating this ramen, I can see how it's similar to the popular Ecchan Ramen in Kabukicho. It's a bit lacking in soy sauce flavor. The noodles are especially delicious. I devoured it all.

I passed by this place before and saw that it was open, so I decided to give it a try. It was a little past noon. Surprisingly, the place I originally planned to go to was closed, so I headed to Kumachan Ramen. The line at Ryunoie was as long as ever, so I passed by and went to Kumachan Ramen. I remembered there was a ramen place with a similar name before, but it seems to be popular now. I used the ticket machine to order for the first time. I ordered ramen with a raw egg and a beer because it was hot outside. I hoped that the raw egg would come with the ramen. The interior of the restaurant had completely changed from the previous one, and it was very clean and nice. I liked the hooks under the counter where I could hang my belongings. I poured my own beer, and then a piece of char siu came with it. I was happy. The ramen was delicious, especially the meat. I also ordered some rice halfway through the meal, even though I was already quite full. I mixed the remaining char siu with the rice and the leftover raw egg, and it was delicious. Recently, ramen has been getting more expensive, but this place was affordable. I felt satisfied but hungry again later in the day. On my way back, I noticed the unique shape of the building against the blue sky and took a photo. Next time, I will try ordering from the ticket machine for a repeat visit. Oh, and be careful with the "Mouretsu HOT" because it's really spicy!

Kuma-chan Ramen, which opened in July, was quite busy with customers, so I decided to try it even though I didn't know about Tomochin Ramen or Naochan Ramen. I ordered the beer set for 1300 yen, which includes ramen and a bottle of beer. You have to get the beer yourself from the fridge along with a cup. Water is also self-serve. As a bonus, I received a small dish of char siu and menma. It was a nice gesture. The ramen had a soy sauce-based broth with a clear broth on top, creating a two-layered effect. It was light and delicious. There were plenty of green onions and char siu. The menma was thin and had a slightly stronger flavor. It was tasty. I added some spicy condiments to change the flavor, but the soup's umami still shined through and was delicious. I hope it doesn't get too crowded.

Shinjuku is located on Kotakibashi Street, and it is home to Kuma-chan Ramen. This ramen shop is part of the growing trend of "chan" ramen in the Shinjuku area of Tokyo. Similar to the proliferation of Strong Machines in the past, these ramen shops are becoming more and more prevalent, with some standing out due to their excessive features like a protruding chin or a towering height. Rumors suggest that a certain shop in Golden Gai is behind the scenes pulling the strings, but regardless of the truth, this particular shop is the third branch of Tomochin Ramen in Koenji. The ramen here is priced at 750 yen for a bowl of Chuka Soba, with an additional 100 yen for a raw egg. Rice is served limitlessly as a service, which is quite a deal considering the location in Shinjuku. The raw egg also comes with menma, adding to the excellent service. As for the ramen itself, "chan" ramen tends to have a broth that is hard to identify, but the saltiness is what brings out the flavor. It has a pleasant saltiness that pairs well with the pepper, vinegar, and garlic on the table, creating a multitude of flavors. The noodles are made by Shinjuku Daruma Seimen, with flat and chewy noodles. The standout feature is the generous amount of chashu, making it a must-try when paired with the complimentary rice. This "chan" ramen is something to crave and remember, not just a nostalgic dish from the past, but a ramen for those living in the present.

Closed on Sundays, with afternoon breaks and closing at 8pm, making it a more employee-friendly operating schedule compared to "Ecchan Ramen" across the tracks, which is open almost 24 hours. When I visited, there were two female staff members. They had a new touch screen ticket machine that accepted not only high denomination bills, but also credit cards, QR codes, and electronic money (I think they only accepted cash when they first opened). The interior had a unique L-shaped counter, and self-service water. When I went in the early evening around 5pm, it was about 60-70% full. The seating space was surprisingly narrow, but not too difficult to move around. They offered free rice in small bowls, and you could request larger or smaller portions. Other customers were adding extra chashu by weight, although the regular portion was already generous. The menma was darker and thinner compared to Ecchan Ramen, with a slightly oilier impression. The fact that it was cheaper than Ecchan Ramen and included rice was appealing. The cashless payment option was also convenient.

Shinjuku Kotakibashi - Kumachan Ramen @ Shinjuku Chuka Soba - Extra Large [¥950] - Raw Egg [¥100] - Visit Date: August 15, 2023, Tuesday, 19:39~ - Nearest Station: Shinjuku Station on all lines - Business Hours: 10:00-15:00, 17:00-20:00 - Closed on Sundays This time, I visited Kumachan Ramen, which opened on July 21, 2023, at the location where Hirochan Ramen used to be. It is located along Kotakibashi Street, past places like Musashi, Ryunoie, and Jiro. I thought it would have a simple and nostalgic vibe being a "chan" style ramen, but it was different. It reminded me of Haruchan Ramen in Shinbashi. There are various styles even within the "chan" category, and Kumachan seems to be related to Tomochin Ramen in Koenji. I visited in the evening, and there was no line, so I could enter right away. It was nice to have a ticket machine at the storefront, allowing me to choose at my own pace. I added a raw egg as a topping! First, the raw egg came on a separate plate, and then the bowl arrived. It was filled to the brim with piping hot soup, and since I ordered the extra-large size, I was surprised by the sheer size of the bowl. It was like a washbasin! The soup seemed to be about twice the usual amount. It's hard to convey in the pictures, right? *Please note that these are just personal impressions. #KumachanRamen #ChukaSoba #KotakibashiStreet #ShinjukuGourmet #ShinjukuRamen #SeibuShinjuku #ChanStyle #Ramen #RamenGram #RamenTour #WantToConnectWithRamenLovers

"Attracted by the signboard saying 'Freshly sliced char siu is excellent!' I entered the shop. I selected 'Chinese noodles' at the ticket machine outside. Lunchtime special: for 750 yen, the rice is free with a pink-colored bill not to forget. The interior has only counter seats. Besides the owner, there are three female staff members. One of them is in charge of slicing the char siu with a meat slicer. The Chinese noodles look quite simple and visually appealing. The char siu has less fat than expected and is a bit dry. I prefer the fatty char siu like the one from Sakauichi in Kitakata. The noodles are straight. The soup seems to have an oil film, so it is hotter than it looks, and it doesn't cool down to an easy-to-eat temperature even after some time. It might be a bit spicy for those with a sensitive palate. Although the char siu is freshly sliced, I didn't feel much advantage from it."

It's Saturday afternoon. I'm in Shinjuku at Kotaki Bridge. Today's plan is to watch "Kingdom" in Shinjuku and then move to Uchisaiwaicho for a kaiseki meal and a drink. But before that, I need to have lunch. I found a ramen shop in the Shinjuku area that caught my eye on the Odakyu Line train using Tabelog. It's a newly opened shop. The ramen is not highly rated, but it's in the category of "chan-kei" that seems to be popular among ramen enthusiasts. I walked towards Kotaki Bridge to avoid the hot sun and found a shop with a bright red tent sign. Luckily, there was no line outside. I chose the Chashu Ramen with extra green onions at the ticket machine and sat at the end of the counter. Soon, my order arrived. Oh, this clear soup looks delicious. The saltiness is strong, but it somehow suits my taste. I added white pepper and garlic as per the shop's style, wrapped the noodles with chashu, and took a bite. Mmm, it's tasty. Just as I imagined. This chashu could be a great snack with beer. And that's the end of my meal.

This is a traditional soy sauce ramen with a high quality. The char siu is thinly sliced, but I prefer it a bit thicker. Although it tastes good, it doesn't have any distinctive features. It may look light, but it has a solid flavor.

The soup was overflowing. A water storage level like the Kurobe Dam - Morisoba Chuka (Mixed soba noodles) ¥900 - Shinjuku Kotakibashi Kuma-chan Ramen @ Shinjuku, Tokyo - Nearest station: JR Shinjuku Station - Weather: Sunny ☀️ - Date of visit: August 4, 2023 (Friday) - 83rd ramen of the year, 2nd ramen of August 2023 - Number of ramen shops visited nationwide: 911th - Number of registered shops on Tabelog: 2,137th - Wait time: 0 people waiting - Start of waiting - Seated - Served: 11:45-11:50-11:55 (10 minutes) - Finished: 12:05 - Tabelog rating: ☆- - Number of Tabelog photo posts: 129 - Closed on Sundays - Seating capacity: 14 - Tabletop: Black pepper, vinegar, garlic, pickles, spicy condiments, chili - Opening date: July 21, 2023 (as of posting date) [Tabelog Top 100 Ramen Shops] - 2022 TOKYO (100/100) - 2022 EAST (22/100) - 2021 TOKYO (100/100) - 2020 TOKYO (100/100) - 2019 TOKYO (99/100) (1 shop closed) - 2018 TOKYO (97/100) (2 shops closed) - 2017 TOKYO (92/100) (5 shops closed) [Michelin Guide TOKYO Ramen] - 2023 (21/21) - 2022 (21/21) - 2021 (20/20) - 2020 (22/22) - 2019 (24/24) - 2018 (25/26) (1 shop closed) - 2017 (27/29) - 2016 (24/28) (2 shops closed) - 2015 (19/22) (1 shop closed) #Carbohydrates #HighCalorieHighLife #Tabelog #ramen #noodles #tsukemen #oilnoodles #mixnoodles #soupless #Chinese noodles #gourmet #rameninstagrammer #noodlestagram #ramenlover #noodlelover #ramenclub #Tokyo tsukemen #menstagram #morningramen #Shinjuku Kotakibashi Kuma-chan Ramen #Kuma-chan Ramen #tsukemenChuka

In August 2023, for dinner, I went to a ramen shop called "Shinjuku Kotakibashi Kumachan Ramen" in Nishi-Shinjuku. The shop was located near JR Shinjuku Station, on Kotakibashi Street heading towards Okubo. The shop had opened on July 21, 2023, and it was bustling with male customers. I ordered the Chuka Soba for 750 yen, and it was served in about 5 minutes. The ramen had a pork bone clear soup base, with chewy flat noodles and plenty of char siu, menma, and green onions as toppings. The shop also had condiments like pepper, garlic, and chili on the table for flavor customization. It will be interesting to see how this shop stands out among the many ramen shops in the area.

August 2023 Weekday Lunch ⭐️ Food Log -- (Opened on 7/23/2023) ⭐️ Medium-sized Chinese Soba for ¥750. The location is in a ramen battleground along Shinjuku Kotaki Bridge Street. I arrived at 11 am on a weekday, but it turns out they open at 10 am in the morning. Apparently, there used to be a similar "chan" series shop in this location in the past. Upon further research, it seems to be the third branch of a group following "Tomochin Ramen" in Koenji and "Kuni-chan" in Nakano. It appears that there are quite a few other locations in Saitama and Tokyo, but the details remain a mystery. Looking at the menu on the ticket machine outside the shop, there are three main items: ⭐️ Chinese Soba (medium ¥750, large ¥950), ⭐️ Char Siu Noodles (medium ¥950, large ¥1150), ⭐️ Mori Chinese (medium ¥900, large ¥950, extra-large ¥1000). This time, as it was my first time trying a "chan" series, I ordered the ⭐️ Medium-sized Chinese Soba for ¥750. *Cashless payment available* The cooking area is surrounded by an L-shaped counter with 14 seats, where you can watch the cooking process while waiting. They add a clear liquid at the end of the cooking process. What could it be? After waiting for about 5 minutes, the dish was served. The soup was piping hot, and the clear liquid was clearly lard, creating quite a oily film on the surface. Be careful, it's hot! The soup is quite salty with a clear pork bone broth base. But it tastes really good! The noodles are smooth, medium-thin, flat noodles with a high water content, reminiscent of Inaniwa udon, providing a good throat sensation. But they are also piping hot. Another notable aspect is the Char Siu. Even though I didn't order the Char Siu noodles, the amount of Char Siu is incredible. The freshly sliced pork belly Char Siu goes really well with the piping hot soup. However, depending on the cut, some parts may be too salty. I wonder how it would taste with Char Siu noodles... Besides that, there are crunchy bamboo shoots, chopped green onions, and a simple composition. Moreover, this shop offers free rice refills and toppings like Char Siu 50g, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and egg for only ¥50, which is a very affordable pricing. There doesn't seem to be flavored eggs available. On the table, there are additives like garlic, pickled vegetables called Aokappa, and a spicy miso sauce called Tonmohot. There are also condiments like red pepper, pepper, and vinegar, which I added towards the end for a refreshing taste. The fact that the default price for Chinese Soba is ¥750 is unbelievably cheap in this day and age. I will definitely be back for the Mori Chinese next time! A definite repeat visit!