麺屋　庄の

I’ve written about the excellent ramen shop Shono before, but I’d like to revisit their classic bowl, a special tonkotsu gyokai ramen.

Shono is now branded as MENSHO TOKYO, and their five Tokyo-based shops are all excellent. The highlight are the homemade noodles, and soups and toppings that come together in a perfect balance. Soon, he will open in San Francisco, adding a sixth great shop to the mix.

Menya Shono is the first, and has been operating for 10 years. I’m drawn again and again to the gentei bowls; limited ramen available only for a month at a time. Since opening, they have produced roughly 180 gentei bowls. From fancy ones like foie gras tsukemen, to simple shio bowls, and a Valentine’s chocolate bowl. But no shop can survive on gentei alone. Their standard bowl keeps customers coming back.

This is tonkotsu gyokai, a blend of pork soup and fish soup. The pork soup is boiled for roughly two days. It’s creamy and fatty and full of umami tastes. Of course, the noodles are perfectly matched. Skinny and firm. The addition of gyokai, a soup made with dried fish from Chiba Prefecture and the Seto Inland Sea add a slightly bitter, rustic punch, flavors that pork alone lack.

If you opt for the tokusei, special version, you’ll be treated to all the trimmings. Flame-kissed chashu along with low-temperature cooked pork. Of course, the egg is amazing. What a beautiful, perfect bowl!

Official Site Here

東京都新宿区市谷田町1-3
Tokyo, SHinjuku-ku, Ichigayatamachi 1-3
Closest station: Ichigaya

Open 11:00-15:00, 17:00-23:00
Saturdays 11:00-23:00
Sundays 11:00-17:00

Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

庄の (Menya Shono in Ichigaya)

極濃拉麺ラーメン小僧 (Ramen Kozou in Osaka)

ストライク軒 (Strike-ken in Osaka)

中華そば麺壁九年 (Menpeki Kunen in Setagaya, Tokyo)

庄の (Menya Shono in Ichigaya)

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極濃拉麺 ラーメン小僧 (Ramen Kozou in Osaka)

ストライク軒 (Strike-ken in Osaka)

中華そば 麺壁九年 (Menpeki Kunen in Setagaya, Tokyo)

極濃拉麺ラーメン小僧 (Ramen Kozou in Osaka)

中華そば麺壁九年 (Menpeki Kunen in Setagaya, Tokyo)