めん屋桔梗 (Kikyo in Hatsudai, Tokyo)

0 Reviews

めん屋桔梗初台本店

Kikyo looks more like an izakaya than a ramen shop. Passing by in the evenings for the past couple of years, I’d see every table topped with a beer or whiskey highball or oolong-hi accompanying the ramen and snacks. Come hungry and thirsty.

I passed by so many times because this spot is only a few minutes from my home in Tokyo. Notice the snack (おつまみ) menu. Tuna sashimi, wieners, and fried eggs are among the eclectic offerings.

Highball and an otsumami plate with chashu, menma, and an egg. Four stars out of five. Can’t go wrong with this kind of snack.

Gyoza. Three stars out of five. There’s another izakaya-style ramen shop even closer to my home, Tokyo Ramen Ten, with the superb gyoza. If you can’t beat Ten, you can’t get more than three stars in my book.

Miso ramen. Two stars out of five. The ramen was fine, but nothing I would imagine craving. Back fat in the soup made this one on the substantial side. If they are open late (I think they open until the early morning when no quasi-state-of-emergency is in place), then this might be a nice three in the morning bowl before bed.

I might head back some time for snacks and drinks but probably won’t slurp here again anytime soon.

Even though it is only 10 seconds from where I get my hair cut.

Still reading? Did you know that I released a ramen cookbook? It’s available wherever fine cookbooks are sold, aka Amazon. Can’t wait to see what recipes you come up with!

Click here!

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