Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

  • Food Tours
  • Ramen Schools
    • Tokyo School!
    • Osaka School!
  • More
    • The Best Ramen!
    • What’s New?
    • Print and Media
    • Merch!
Primary
  • Food Tours
  • Ramen Schools
    • Tokyo School!
    • Osaka School!
  • More
    • The Best Ramen!
    • What’s New?
    • Print and Media
    • Merch!

田なか (Tanaka in Otsuka)

Rating4 Star
0 Reviews
Add Photos
Write a Review

志奈そば 田なか

DSCF1759.jpg

重濃鯵ニボそば. Jyuko Aji Nibo Soba. Super thick mackerel and sardine noodles. That’s what you will get at Tanaka on a Friday, when the menu slightly changes.

DSCF1753.jpg

Tanaka bills itself as shinasoba; Chineses-style ramen. But, like most newer shops serving shinasoba, this a wholly Japanese take on noodles. And a very unique one at that.

DSCF1752.jpg

Certainly well-regarded by the usual suspects, what makes this one so special?

DSCF1757.jpg

To start with, the soup is a one-off creation. Inspired by the Chiba seaside, where shop master Tanaka-san spends a lot of time surfing, large amounts of dried sardine and horse mackerel are the first thing you notice. The next thing that hits you is the thickness. By using more konbu seaweed than normal, the soup becomes thick and packed with umami. It’s very different, and very good.

DSCF1762.jpg

The images are from Friday’s limited menu, where he blends the normal stock with a heavier chicken broth. Both this and the regular bowl are stellar, but I prefer the normal, fish and konbu only bowl that you get on regular days. Friday’s version is a bit extreme.

DSCF1769.jpg

Tanaka-san commutes from the far side of Chiba every day; a trip that takes almost two hours. But we, the customer, could have it no other way. It’s that surf, that closeness to the ocean, that comes through in his ramen.

DSCF1772.jpg

 

東京都豊島区東池袋2-19-2
Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 2-19-2
Closest station: Otsuka

Open 11:00-15:00, 17:00-22:00
Saturday 11:00-15:00
Closed Sundays

 

Rate & Write a Review

Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

ramendb.supleks.jp
Get Directions

Support Ramen Adventures on Patreon.

Login

Lost your password?

Next
饗 くろ㐂の冷やし中華 (Summertime Chilled Ramen at Kuroki)

饗 くろ㐂 I showed up to Motenashi Kuroki early in July. The special of the week was a simple shio tsukemen.…
Previous
かつお拳 (Katsuoken in Asakusabashi)

らーめん かつお拳 When one of Japan's most famous ramen critics tells you about a new shop, you go as soon…
Random
みよし (Miyoshi in Kyoto)

博多長浜らーめん みよし This trip to Kyoto was spurred by an old friend. An old friend who loves ramen. An old…