For lunch, I went to Yokohama-style ramen restaurant Yuugoku in Higashi-yokocho (Higashi-yokocho), which opened on January 20, 2020. Although there are several branches in Tokyo, the management company is unknown. Based on the facade and menu structure on the tapestry, it appears to be a Kenko-style ramen shop. Even with a central kitchen system, each store has its own unique characteristics and flavors. Upon entering the store, you purchase a meal ticket at the ticket machine on the left. Ramen options include soy sauce tonkotsu ramen for 710 yen, salt tonkotsu ramen for 710 yen, Chinese soba for 710 yen, tantanmen for 710 yen, Taiwanese ramen for 710 yen, pork miso ramen for 770 yen, spicy pork miso ramen for 850 yen, and habanero tonkotsu ramen for 820 yen. Tsukemen options include seafood tsukemen for 800 yen and spicy seafood tsukemen for 840 yen. Side dishes include grilled gyoza for 210 yen, and although there are no rice dishes, rice is offered for free. After buying the meal ticket, you hand it to the staff and they ask, "Do you have any preferences?" I usually like my noodles soft, but today I replied, "No particular preference." Inside the store, there is a counter with 7 seats on the right as you enter, and 5 four-person tables in the back. The kitchen is surrounded by shoulder-high walls, making it difficult to see inside, but there is only one staff member. On the table, there are condiments like red pepper, chili oil, vinegar, soy sauce, black ground pepper, white sesame, ginger, doubanjiang, and garlic. Before the ramen is ready, you need to serve yourself some rice. Today, I'm not planning to eat anything other than ramen, so I can't make the Yokohama-style nori roll. But since pickles are provided, I'll just eat those. Soon after, the Taiwanese ramen for 710 yen arrived. The presentation was neat and precise, as if the chef had trained somewhere, contrary to my assumption of a messy presentation. The soup was a light chicken broth with soy sauce seasoning, lightly drizzled with chili oil, giving it a Taiwanese-style flavor. Toppings included minced meat, leeks, and boiled bean sprouts. Trying the thin noodles, they were slightly soft but paired well with the soup. Overall, the taste was mediocre, but it's still a good lunch option. The rice was cooked firm and I ate it with the pickles first. I then tried pouring some soup over the rice and continued eating. There were 8 customers before me and 2 after me, so it wasn't too busy, but I might come back to eat again. It was a smooth meal, thank you.

Midweek, I went out for dinner and decided to visit "Yukyoku Higashiyoncho" for the first time since it was closed last Sunday. On June 9th, 2021, around 5:17 pm, I entered the empty restaurant and ordered the default ramen for 710 yen from the ticket machine on the left side. The staff, a man in his 30s to 40s of continental descent, cooked the noodles for 7 minutes and served them to me at the counter seat near the entrance. The seating area was divided by acrylic dividers, and there was an alcohol disinfectant bottle at the entrance for safety measures. The ramen had a soy sauce-based taste similar to the "Sogyo Shinkansen" style, which I found delicious. The noodles were cooked just right, and although the spinach seemed a bit overcooked and lacked flavor, the overall experience was satisfying. The free rice bar allowed me to have 2 and a half servings of rice, making it a fulfilling meal. This was my experience at "Yukyoku Higashiyoncho"!

I went to Yokohama-style ramen restaurant Yuugoku in Higashisunacho, which I had not been to before. It used to be in Suidobashi and Hino as well. There was also a gyoza specialty shop in Komagome, but now it seems like this is the only one left. This was my first time, so I ordered the standard soy sauce tonkotsu ramen with egg topping. Rice is free and refillable all day, just like at Budokai Kenji's place. It seems to be a chain or factory-type restaurant, but can we say that the taste is stable because of that? However, there are many ramen shops around here, like at Budokai Kenji's, Daikokuya, and here, all serving Yokohama-style ramen.

Hello ^ ^ I am a very ordinary salaryman working in Shinbashi. Today, it's raining...raining...raining...and I'm commuting in the rain. Well, it's work after all. Today, I have a meeting in Higashiyonchome from before noon. And I'm feeling hungry...yes. I think I'll go for ramen. I searched on Google and found a tonkotsu ramen place! I will go there promptly. Arrival time: 12 o'clock. 5 customers ahead of me. Only 1 staff working. Oh, they offer free rice refills!! I ordered shoyu ramen with firm noodles, extra oil, and strong flavor for 710 yen. It arrived after a while. First, I tried the soup...hmm. It's very light, lacking the characteristic chicken oil of tonkotsu ramen. So, it's quite mild. And it seems like they didn't boil the pork bones in the store...there's no distinctive smell of tonkotsu ramen. Next, I tried the noodles...delicious. The noodles are short, which is a recent trend. Firm texture is good ^ ^ They mix well with the soup. Then, I tried the chashu...hmm. A thin slice of pork loin chashu. It feels a bit lonely, doesn't it? I added garlic to the soup at this point!! I really love garlic. I wrapped seaweed around rice...and finished the meal with satisfaction ^ ^ It cost 710 yen. I think it offers good performance for the price. And they also offer free rice refills ^ ^ However...as a big fan of tonkotsu ramen...it was not satisfying at all. Thank you for the meal♪♪

The story of wandering around lunch in Koto Ward, Chapter 61. Next to the legendary Nagahama-ya or its site, a family ramen restaurant opened around the beginning of last year. By the way, after Nagahama-ya, the site later became a tapioca milk tea shop, and now it is a take-out seafood bowl specialty store. Ah, impermanence. For the overwhelming legacy left by Nagahama-ya, please refer to the following link: [link provided]. Leaving idle talk aside, searching for "Yuugoku" does not yield hits for other stores. There used to be affiliated stores in Suitengumae and Hino City, but now it seems that only our store remains. In any case, one can definitely feel the capital in the bag. The interior of the store has a unique deep layout. In the foreground, there is only a counter facing the wall. There also seems to be table seating in the back. Probably Chinese staff. Communication is not a problem. Also, the fact that the water in the water pod is lemon water is worth mentioning. It reminds me of that incredible water from Nagahama-ya. Just being able to drink water normally is truly a wonderful thing, making me appreciate it once again. By the way, in true family style, rice is free for refills all day. Despite the availability of disinfectant spray, the style is self-service where you can help yourself from the commercial jar even in these times. Well, personally, I am happy that I can have as many refills as I want without anyone's hesitation. However, despite the long heat retention time, the quality of the rice is not stable. Even with the pickled cucumbers and ramen soup & seaweed for rolling, I could only eat a total of four bowls. (Whether it is enough or not is up to each person's judgment.) Although the order got reversed, I called for the most orthodox tonkotsu shoyu with normal noodle firmness, richness, and oiliness. The price is 710 yen. After submitting the meal ticket, the dish arrived in about 5 minutes. The taste is on the strong side even in the normal specifications. The taste of tonkotsu is more assertive than chicken oil. The slightly thick yellow noodles. While you can enjoy a strong chewiness with normal noodle firmness, the powdery texture is not very desirable. The rolled pork belly char siu is tender, but the lack of umami is a bit disappointing. Other toppings: Overcooked spinach, not crunchy enough. Nori x3, not of very good quality. Chopped green onions, a small amount. These are the three main drawbacks. By the way, I liked that there was a good selection of table condiments. Needle ginger, for example, seems quite rare. After all, you can't do without grated garlic for the afternoon. Phew. Conclusion. When it comes to family ramen in the vicinity of Toyocho (Daikokuya is slightly off the family and lineage), it's all about the martial artist. As for our store, I send a big cheer for them to try a little harder.

Today, I went to Tokyo from before noon. I finished work without eating and it was 3:30 pm. I then took the Tozai Line to Higashiyokocho. I went to Yuyukisakeya for a late lunch. It's about 300 meters from the No. 1 exit of the station, located along Yotsugome Street, next to Daikoku-ya. The restaurant opened in January of this year. The restaurant in Suidobashi closed, and the one in Hino is now Hinoya. There is also a restaurant called Yuyukisakeya in Hachioji, but it's unclear if they are related. I entered the restaurant a little after 4 pm. I purchased the Shoyu Tonkotsu Nori Ramen for 810 yen at the ticket machine on the left side of the entrance. The breakdown was 710 yen for the ramen and 100 yen for the nori. I took a seat at the 7th seat by the counter and requested my noodles to be firm. Rice was free and unlimited all day, but I wasn't given any specific explanation. The jar of soup was left out to keep warm. As for the taste... The restaurant was empty with no customers at this time. In the kitchen, there was a male staff member of continental descent managing the place. The water was self-serve, with a pitcher of lemon water available on the counter. The ginger was grated and in needle form, and the white, slippery condiment was also present. The kitchen had small and extra-small pots, and it seemed like they didn't use a sieve. The noodles were cooked in a tebo. The ramen was served in about 4 minutes on a black tray. After it was served, they brought the nori separately. The soup was pork bone-based with a mild flavor, slightly sweet and artificial. The soy sauce flavor was not very strong but noticeable. There was a bit more chicken oil, but no distinct flavor. The noodles were medium-thick straight noodles, cooked firm. They lacked chewiness and had a snap to them. The chashu was a large, thin slice with well-rendered fat. The spinach was slightly wilted, and the nori was thick and flavorful. There were a few pieces of chopped green onions, but their taste was indistinguishable. The overall taste was similar to Tsukijiya, so it may be related to Kenko Co., Ltd. Overall, it was a similar impression to Tsukijiya. As for the competition in the area, there are many dining options nearby, so they may struggle to stand out. Good luck to them.

To Yukiwaza in Higashisunamachi: Today, I decided to try the Dan Dan noodles for 710 yen after having tried the Tonkotsu Shoyu and Tonkotsu Salt in the past. The sesame-flavored soup was smooth with very little spiciness, making it a mild type. The thin noodles didn't have any distinctive features. I had heard rumors that the taste had declined, and unfortunately, the soup was lukewarm, which was a disappointment. My companion ordered the Tonkotsu noodles, and they also found the flavor to be weaker than before and the soup lukewarm. With this experience, I don't think I'll be coming back again.

I had been adhering to self-restraint from going out for a long time, but I couldn't resist and went out to eat some junk food after a while! I tried the Shoyu Tonkotsu SP for 910 yen at a shop I visited for the first time, and it had a different deliciousness from the usual ramen. I think the secret lies in the oil. The charred aroma like roasted chashu and the juicy richness like the meat juice of grilled dumplings (I'm not sure myself, haha) can be felt, and I was surprised by the strong individuality of the oil when I took a sip of the soup. The interior of the shop is very clean, and although the table condiments and free rice refills are typical of house-style ramen, the ramen felt like a fusion of the delicious oil of Chinese cuisine and house-style ramen!

This time, we have a family-style ramen that divides people's preferences! The good thing about family-style ramen is that it goes well with garlic. It also pairs perfectly with rice. The rich pork bone broth is full of collagen, which is good for the skin. It's a trifecta of goodness! If you usually feel unsatisfied with soy sauce ramen, it's worth trying this once! Once you're hooked on its charm, there's no turning back! Today, I went to a newly opened restaurant located just a 2-minute walk from Higashi-Yonchome Station! The area around Higashi-Yonchome Station is home to renowned ramen shops like Daikokuya and Budoka. Both have ratings of 3.5 or higher on Tabelog. In this fiercely competitive area, a new restaurant has recently opened. The interior is very clean since it's newly opened. If you're not a fan of the dingy feel of ramen shops, this place should be fine for you. The space is also quite spacious. It was surprisingly spacious from the entrance. I don't know how crowded it is during the day, but with the large number of seats available at night, I think there won't be much of a wait. There are counter seats as well as sofa seats, which was quite shocking. Customers were chatting comfortably even after finishing their meal, so the atmosphere is not bad. (But let's avoid it when it's crowded.) After purchasing the meal ticket, you inform the staff of your preferred noodle firmness, flavor intensity, and amount of fat. Since I like to have rice with my ramen, I asked for a rich and fatty flavor. I was guided to a sofa seat even though I was alone. It was nice to be able to sit comfortably. Rice is free all day, so I ordered a generous portion. I added some pickled vegetables and was ready to eat. Now all that was left was to wait. In less than 10 minutes, I met the ramen. My heart was dancing with joy at the sight of family-style ramen after a long time. The toppings were cabbage, which I ordered, to reduce the guilt of eating ramen at night. The taste is like your typical family-style ramen. Rich and thick soy sauce-based pork bone broth. I ordered a strong flavor with lots of fat, so the rice and soup were embracing each other in my mouth. They go perfectly together. The noodles were medium-thick curly noodles with a satisfying chewiness that mixed well with the soup. If you're a regular at ramen shops in Higashi-Yonchome, you'll understand this expression, but this place is overwhelmingly richer and thicker than Daikokuya. Daikokuya often runs out of rice if you go late at night, which I find unacceptable for a family-style ramen shop. It's not a problem during the day, but at night, it's an issue. The chashu was also satisfying with its tender pork belly that was full of flavor. This restaurant offers free rice all day without having to purchase a meal ticket, which is fantastic. This is how family-style ramen should be. It was a very satisfying meal. One criticism or rather, a point to note, is that the restaurant's opening hours are stated as until 26:00 on the door, but this place always closes before 24:00. They need to be more accurate about this. I once eagerly went there when the restaurant first opened, only to find it closed. I've had this experience several times, so if the staff is reading this review, I would like them to correct this. Higashi-Yonchome is a town where customers come until 26:00, so I hope they will stay open until then. I plan to visit a few more times in the future. I sincerely support this place from the bottom of my heart! Thank you for the meal!!

Visited Yokohama-style ramen restaurant Yuugoku in Higashiyokocho for a second time. Chose the salt pork bone ramen for 710 yen this time, as many others also seemed to be ordering it. Asked for the noodles to be firm and the rest to be normal. It was served in about 10 minutes. The salt flavor was quite tasty! While it's not the traditional taste of Yokohama-style ramen, I personally don't dislike it. It's easy to eat without any strong flavors. In Higashiyokocho, there are also other ramen shops like Budokake Kento and Daikuroya, but I haven't been to Budokake lately as the taste seems to have declined. I hope both Daikuroya and Yuugoku continue to thrive as they both offer delicious ramen.

Yokohama-style ramen restaurant Yuugoku recently opened in Higashi-Sunamachi. I ordered the soy sauce tonkotsu ramen for 710 yen and added nori for an extra 100 yen. I chose the firmness and richness to be normal. I had low expectations after reading reviews of other Yuugoku locations saying the broth was lacking in depth and flavor, but I was pleasantly surprised by the balanced richness of the broth. It was delicious as expected. It's common knowledge, but each location of this type of restaurant can vary in quality. Rice is self-service and complimentary all day, and they offer pickled cucumbers. The thick noodles had a good chewy texture. There was a spoon provided with the shredded ginger on the table, but it was a bit difficult to use. I had a bad experience with another Chinese-style ramen restaurant, so I was worried it would be similar, but I'm glad it wasn't. It's great to have more dining options in Higashi-Sunamachi!

On this day, I finished work at the Koto Ward Office in the afternoon. As I left the office, I saw a newly opened ramen shop in front of me, so I decided to go in. I had visited the shop in Suitengumae a few times before, so I had an idea of what the taste would be like, so it seemed like a safe choice (laughs). I tried to buy a ticket for the soy sauce tonkotsu ramen (710 yen) at the entrance ticket machine, but it didn't respond when I pressed the button. I realized that they were out of change... After waiting for a few minutes and calling a staff member, I was finally able to purchase the ticket. Since they offer free rice all day, I thought a regular size ramen would be enough. I tried to hand over the purchased ticket to the staff, but they completely ignored me. After calling out to them several times, I finally handed them the ticket, and tried to communicate the firmness of the noodles, the richness of the flavor, and the amount of fat I wanted. However, the staff quickly disappeared into the back before I could finish my order. After calling out to them again, I was able to communicate the richness of the flavor and the amount of fat I wanted. At this point, I was already feeling quite disappointed, and my appetite was starting to diminish. After about 6 minutes, the staff brought the ramen to me. I took a sip of the soup, slurped the noodles, and thought to myself, "Hmm... is this how it's supposed to taste?" Maybe the taste varies depending on the branch, even though it's a chain restaurant. I topped the rice with doubanjiang, poured some soup over it, rolled it in seaweed, and ate it. I alternated between eating the ramen and the rice until I finished everything. I felt a bit let down compared to my expectations and decided that I probably wouldn't visit this shop again.

This is a family-owned ramen restaurant near the Koto Ward Office. I had the tonkotsu miso ramen. It was a simple family-style ramen, but the taste was surprisingly delicious. The rich soup and medium-thick noodles were well combined and satisfying to eat. Rice was also free all day and I was full. Thank you for the meal.

The rice is self-service. No quail eggs. Even though it is a chain restaurant, the flavor is decent once it becomes more seasoned. However, it still feels like it's either too clean or still carrying the reputation of the previous restaurant, not fully embracing the style of a family-run ramen shop. Speaking of family-run ramen shops, how is the lunchtime crowd here compared to the long lines of salarymen at other places?