中華そばさわ (closed)

Sawa opened at the end of 2018 and closed a few years later in 2023. The master trained at the popular Shimokitazawa shop Kotetsu (中華そばこてつ). It is always unfortunate to hear about popular shops shutting their doors.

Much like Kotetsu, this was a strictly “normal” bowl. Chukasoba without any of the modern twists on the style. That said, it was an excellent bowl worthy of a short wait in the line. Many of us ramen nerds are getting tired of the constant elevated shoyu styles and long for something like Sawa.

Sawa garnered a bit of a buzz when the Michelin guide gave them a Bib Gourmand award. Shop master Masakazu Morita (森田昌和) made waves when this happened to his local shop. If you want to taste the flavor, I found it in line with Kotetsu, who are one of the 19 shops in 2023 with a Bib Gourmand.

The shop has since been demolished and is now a coin parking lot (image taken from here). This is a common theme in Japan. While in the countryside a closed shop would simply be left to time, Tokyo moves at a quick pace with every square meter of land coming at a premium. An entire ramen shop turned into a single parking spot. 200 yen per 15 minutes. If you are interested in seeing these kinds of before and after photos, do follow the excellent Tokyo Times Instagram and website.

Official X here.

Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

中華そばさわ (Sawa in Itabashi, Tokyo)

バーゴリラ (Bar Gorilla in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo)

中華ソバビリケン (Biliken in Asakusa, Tokyo)

黒門 (Kuromon in Shinjuku)

中華そば さわ (Sawa in Itabashi, Tokyo)

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バーゴリラ (Bar Gorilla in Shimokitazawa, Tokyo)

中華ソバ ビリケン (Biliken in Asakusa, Tokyo)

黒門 (Kuromon in Shinjuku)

中華そばさわ (Sawa in Itabashi, Tokyo)

中華ソバビリケン (Biliken in Asakusa, Tokyo)