下北沢スペインバル

In Tsukishima is the famous Spain Club. Serving up the most authentic Spanish food in Tokyo, this place is hot. The wine list boasts a sizable array of Spanish wines, and the paella is perfect.

The imported Iberico pork comes in a variety of styles. This stew went well with the deep red wine I had.

No, I’m not changing my adventures from ramen to tapas, I just got side tracked. By the way, this spot is excellent for a date.

Across town, Spain Club opened the Spain Bar, a way smaller little wine bar, in Shimokitazawa. Recently, I saw a TV spot introducing their new lunchtime offering… ramen.

What is Iberico pork? Jamón ibérico is a product of Spain. Eating primarily acorns, this pork is rich and gamey. It’s also insanely expensive, and a few slivers of cured ham costs more than a weekend of ramen eating.

Nate, Keizo, and I had just finished a below average experience at a nearby shop, and we were ready for more. This spot had been on my radar for weeks. I even tried going here some time ago at night, but this ramen is only at lunch.

The interior, like the original Spain Club, is 100% Spain. Even the stools are cast iron wrought.

I went with the shio dare.

Wow!

Wow! This is one complex bowl. Drizzled with Spanish olive oil and sprinkled with fresh ground black pepper, the smell alone is enough. When you bite into the pork, it melts into buttery goodness. You WANT this bowl.