The February 2011 issue of Shokuraku magazine lists the top ten new ramen shops in Tokyo. As most of this information only appears in Japanese I hope by including it in this blog that more people can come to explore these new restaurants.

10. Mendokoro Kei 麺処　慶

Saitama-ken, Ageoshi-shi, Koizumi 69-8

No phone available

11:30 – 15:00, 18:00 – 21:00 (or until supplies last)

closed Wednesday

http://r.tabelog.com/saitama/A1104/A110401/11024040/ (Japanese)

Known for its miso ramen that is rich and thick in flavor. The miso is grilled with lard and a bit of sansho giving it a very unique taste.

9. Chuka Soba Ranchu 中華蕎麦　蘭鋳

Suginami-ku, Horinouchi 2-13-13

03-6319-1045

12:00 – 14:00, 18:00 – 24:00 closed Sunday and holidays

Saturday 12:00 – 15:00 (or until supplies last)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/53664757@N05/4973192598/sizes/l/in/photostream/ (map in Japanese)

http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1319/A131903/13113532/ (Japanese)

The broth is flavored with niboshi (dried sardines) for a lighter flavored clear soup.

8. Menya Taika 麺や　太華

Kanagawa-ken, Yokohama-shi, Totsuka-ku, Totsukacho 16-1, Totsukana Mall 5F

045-871-0915

11:00 – 21:00, open daily

http://totsukana-mall.net/092.html　(Japanese)

The soup is based on chicken and soy sauce.

7. Mensoken Kanade Kurenai 麺創研かなで　紅

Fuchu-shi, Miyamachi 1-3-10

042-367-0272

11:30 – 22:00, open daily

http://www.mensoken.jp/index.html (Japanese)

The Kurenai ramen is made with rice miso and a blend of seven different noodles for a variety of textures.

5. (tied for fifth) Menya Itou 麺屋　一燈

Katsushika-ku, Higashi Shin Koiwa 1-4-17

03-3697-9787

11:00 – 15:00, 18:00 – 22:00 (or until supplies last)

closed Monday (if Monday is a holiday they will be closed the following day)

http://kiseki-dream.com/ (Japanese)

Looking at their menu one option is nokomen, or ramen in a rich-flavored broth. But what caught me by surprise is that shio (salt) ramen is served on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday and shoyu (soy sauce) ramen is served the other days. Definitely looks like a place worth checking out.

5. (tied for fifth) Tsukemen Senmonten Mukyoku　 つけ麺専門店　無極

Nakano-ku, Maruyama 2-1-1

03-3338-9998

11:00 – 21:00 (or until supplies last)

closed Monday

http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132104/13114501/ (Japanese)

The ramen and dipping broth are served in two different bowls, tsukemen-style. The noodles are thick (all the better to dip with) and the dipping broth is rich tonkotsu (pork bones) based soup.

The top four new ramen shops are at this link:

https://foodsaketokyo.wordpress.com/2011/05/13/2011-top-ten-new-ramen-restaurants-in-tokyo-22/