肉煮干し中華そばさいころ

The dice in the windows are a sure bet that you’re at Saikoro, a short walk from Nakano station.

But the massive neon reads Jiraigen. What’s up with that? I remember a trip a few years ago to Jiraigen, a solid shoyu with too much chicken oil in the soup for my tastes.

Turns out they closed up shop, moved a mile away, and extended their hours. Saikoro is Jiraigen, down to the rich broth and chicken oil.

The atmosphere is great. Dubbed Japanese “soul” noodles, reminiscent of a 50’s diner, playing loud hip-hop on the stereo, and featuring lock-haired young locals, this is a nabe pot full of modern culture. With excellent noodles.

If I didn’t dislike chicken oil, I would be a regular here. That stuff just seems to coat my stomach. Two out of three people would disagree with me on this point. That’s why I can reluctantly add this to my ever-growing list of recommendations.