ソラノイロ食堂

Soranoiro, the shop famous for their vegan fare, just went polar opposite.

All pork.

This new shop in Ikebukuro has a shokudo concept. Shokudo (食堂) are casual restaurants in Japan. Rice bowls, curry, and tonkatsu are all regular fare at your local shokudo. A local diner. A greasy spoon. If Japan had ever adopted rootbeer floats, you’d find them here.

Many shokudo have a cheap bowl of ramen on the menu. Soranoiro highlights theirs; it’s a 100% pork soup. Unlike creamy tonkotsu ramen, the bowl here is clear and light, though the seabura backfat topping brings it well into intense pig territories.

Very no-frills. A couple pieces of chashu pork and a sprinkling of negi green onion.

It’s down a back alley, so make sure you check your directions. Ikebukuro isn’t a part of town you want to get lost in. The whole area has a very shady vibe. Recently, though, it has become a hotbed for cheap hotels and drug stores popular with overseas tourists, which has pushed out the rougher elements. Regardless, take care.

Official site here.

Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

ソラノイロ食堂 (Soranoiro Shokudo in Ikebukuro, Tokyo)

ハンディクラフトワークス (Handicraft Works in Yashio, Saitama)

麺屋ぬかじ (Menya Nukaji in Shibuya, Tokyo)

一風堂 (Ippudo in Kichijoji)

ソラノイロ食堂 (Soranoiro Shokudo in Ikebukuro, Tokyo)

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ハンディクラフトワークス (Handicraft Works in Yashio, Saitama)

麺屋ぬかじ (Menya Nukaji in Shibuya, Tokyo)

一風堂 (Ippudo in Kichijoji)