中華そば螢

This is one of Saitama’s highest-ranked shops. Hotaru can’t really be classified by style, as they do shoyu, shio, and miso ramen as well as tsukemen. I guess you could call it thick taste, intense ramen. 濃い味最高風?

Hotaru, meaning firefly, is a good 15-minute walk from Owada Station, which is a good hour by train from Shinjuku. It’s no surprise that most Saitama natives have and drive cars around here.

Three main menu items. Chukasoba for a shoyu base. Torisoba for salt. Miso soba for . . . miso.

The miso ramen is made with extract from shrimp, scallop, and oyster. Getting just the essence of ocean umami without much fishy taste was the goal. Miso comes in a blend of funky Shinshu and red misos.

The chukasoba is a new style gyokai bowl, meaning a lot of dried seafood. Mackerel, skipjack, and dried sardines are some of the fish powders that make it into the soup.

A shop like this would be a good stop for motorcycle riders heading north.

Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

中華そば螢 (Hotaru in Saitama)

道有楽 (Doraku in Kashiwa, Saitama)

房総式ラーメン人力船 (Jinrikisen in Chiba)

丸信 (Marushin in Ogikubo)

中華そば 螢 (Hotaru in Saitama)

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道有楽 (Doraku in Kashiwa, Saitama)

房総式ラーメン 人力船 (Jinrikisen in Chiba)

丸信 (Marushin in Ogikubo)

中華そば螢 (Hotaru in Saitama)

房総式ラーメン人力船 (Jinrikisen in Chiba)