支那そばやぐら亭

Back from my month in America, and it’s back to business as usual. Except for the business part. April and May tend to be my lightest work months of the year. Such is the life of a freelance teacher in Japan.

Taking advantage of the time, I went about exploring my neighborhood. I often take the less traveled road to get west of Shinjuku. Running parallel to the 6 lane Koshukaido (that giant thoroughfare with an expressway above the thing), is a pleasant street with less of the bustle. Just this last week, though, I found a street parallel to that one, aptly named 不動通 (idle street). This lazy street is full of local-flavor shops, even a couple serving ramen.

Yaguratei had been visited by a plethora of B-list celebs, most of whom only illicit an “I saw that guy on TV once!” response.

As for the ramen, it is a solid shinasoba, that other, slightly less politically correct term for chukasoba. The pleasant aroma from the vegetable version makes it the winner here.

There is a problem though. The shop is just across the street from the new location of Ichifuku, one of the best (and least known) finds on the west side.

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東京都渋谷区本町2-32-2
Tokyo, Shibuya-ku, Honmachi 2-32-2
Closest station: Hatsudai

Open 11:00-14:00, 18:00-26:00
Saturday 11:00-16:00, 18:00-23:00
Closed Sundays

Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

やぐら亭 (Yaguratei in Hatsudai)

ねじ式 (Nejishiki in Hatagaya)

Misoya in New York

博多一風堂 (Hakata Ippudo in Shinjuku)

やぐら亭 (Yaguratei in Hatsudai)

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ねじ式 (Nejishiki in Hatagaya)

Misoya in New York

博多一風堂 (Hakata Ippudo in Shinjuku)