It's great❤️ Having a day off on a weekday (● ˃̶͈̀ロ˂̶͈́)੭ꠥ⁾⁾ Today, I challenged myself to a ramen shop with a high level of difficulty. The destination was Kamata, Tokyo. The shop is called "Shijimi Chuka Soba Kohaku," which has been selected as one of the top 100 ramen shops in 2022-2020 and has been awarded the Bib Gourmand by the Michelin Guide Tokyo for 3 consecutive years. Upon arrival, I found a line forming even though the information I had said that registration starts at 10:00 am and the shop opens at 11:30 am. I asked the person in front of me and found out that registration was not required. I joined the line and was the 6th in line. While waiting, I reviewed the menu. I was interested in the "Shijimi Chuka Soba" and of course, the "Shio" (salt) flavor. I also wanted to try the "Grilled Pork Belly Bowl." It was a hot day, so I waited under the umbrellas provided by the shop. At 11:30 am, the shop opened with a line of 15 people. Since there were only 5 seats, I had to wait for the second round (I was 6th in line). I was called into the shop at 11:50 am (after about 1 hour of waiting). I purchased my meal tickets: - Special Shijimi Chuka Soba (Salt) 1400 yen - Noodle Extra Portion 150 yen - Grilled Pork Belly Bowl 450 yen Total: 2000 yen including tax. The food arrived in 10 minutes. The ramen looked beautiful and delicious. I started with the soup, which had a shimmering amber color. It was incredibly delicious with a gentle Shijimi (clam) flavor. The aroma of Shijimi was subtle and not overpowering. The noodles were medium-thick and had a smooth and chewy texture. The wheat flavor of the noodles paired perfectly with the soup. I opted for extra noodles, which was a good choice. The three types of Chashu (pork slices) were also delightful. The pork shoulder was tender and flavorful, the pork belly had a rich fatty taste, and the pork wonton added a nice touch. The seasoned egg was exceptional. Overall, it was a fantastic dining experience at Shijimi Chuka Soba Kohaku.

Shijimi clam Chinese soba Amber at Lake Shojiko. ・Chinese soba with salt (1,300 yen) The umami of the shijimi clam is amazing! Delicious! Both types of chashu, the pink one and the regular one, are delicious to the point of being chewy and have a great aroma! The noodles also go well with the salt soup! ・Chinese soba with soy sauce (1,000 yen) The soy sauce with reduced oil and a fragrant aroma is irresistible! The pure deliciousness is in the salt, but as you get older and can't handle oil, you will appreciate the deliciousness of soy sauce.

The restaurant, "Shimane Lake Shijimi Chinese Soba Kohaku," known for its Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition and selection as one of the top 100 ramen shops, recently changed from a ticket system to a first-come, first-served basis. I was determined to try their summer limited edition Izumo cold noodles, so I lined up at the shop, which only has 5 seats and a slow turnover rate. Despite arriving 10 minutes before opening, there were already 18 people ahead of me, resulting in a long wait of about 1 hour and 50 minutes until my bowl arrived. The cold noodles, with a thick and concentrated shijimi clam soup coating the flat noodles, were incredibly delicious. Topped with prosciutto instead of chashu, along with arugula, fried onions, and white leeks, the dish had a refreshing flavor. The set also came with a mouthful of rice topped with ikura, which paired perfectly with the remaining cold soup for a delightful ochazuke-style finish. I also ordered the grilled pork belly bowl, which was beautifully presented with a soft-boiled egg yolk in the center. Mixing it all together and savoring each bite was a true delight. Before leaving, I purchased some Chinese soba as a souvenir, completing my enjoyable experience at Kohaku. I look forward to visiting again when the lingering summer heat subsides.

Shijimi Chuka Soba Shio (Clam Chinese Soba Salt) for 1400 yen, and Grilled Pork Belly Bowl for 450 yen. Arrived on a weekday before 10:30 am, lined up with 6 people. Served at 12 pm. (There were 17 people in line when the store opened, so there is a risk of items selling out. It might be better to arrive later in the day.) The soup has a direct clam flavor, with not much animal-based umami. The noodles are medium-thin straight noodles with a smooth and chewy texture. The toppings include two different cuts of pork shoulder, and two pieces of grilled pork belly. The grilled pork belly has a great aroma and excellent meat quality. The wontons are oily and flavorful. The seasoned egg has a distinct taste and is delicious. The grilled pork belly bowl side dish is a must-order. Overall, the quality is very high, but the soup flavor may not be to everyone's taste. Some might prefer soy sauce-based soup.

On my 100th bowl of ramen in 2023, I finally visited Shijimi Soba Kohaku at Keikyu Zoshoku Station, located by Lake Shinji. I arrived about an hour and a half before opening and was second in line. Despite the scorching heat, they provided umbrellas for shade, which was greatly appreciated. Although I was curious about their limited cold noodles, being a first-time visitor, I opted for their default ramen. It was incredibly delicious, with a rich soup that warmed my entire body. The quality was top-notch, from the toppings to the roasted pork bowl, and even the rice was exceptionally tasty. Everything was of high quality, the service was polite, and the overall experience was delightful. They have a branch in Ikebukuro as well, so on hot days with long lines, it might be worth visiting there instead. Thank you for the delicious meal! #ShijimiSobaKohaku #Kohaku #LakeShinji #Shijimi

Keikyu Zoshiki Station is a 5-minute walk from JR Kamata Station, which is a 15-minute walk away. The shopping street on the way from Zoshiki Station to the shop is bustling with elderly people, with traditional yakitori shops and kimono stores. It's fun just to walk through. When you arrive at the shop, you'll be surprised that no one is lining up yet. There was a review saying there was a 2.5-hour wait, so I decided to line up an hour before opening, and I was the first in line. After 30 minutes, the next customer finally started lining up. The shop only has 5 seats. I was glad I got in on the first round. Shijimi Clam Shio Soba (Salt Ramen) for 1000 yen has a straight-forward aroma of shijimi clams that gently permeates your body, with a mild flavor. The noodles are straight noodles. The chashu (roast pork) is also tender and delicious. The Hanging Grilled Pork Belly Donburi for 400 yen has a slightly sweet sauce that is also good. It pairs excellently with the rich egg yolk! Instagram ID: kuidaore.8.

Today is September! Two-thirds of the year has passed~ Let's eat delicious food and do our best for the remaining one-third! So, I visited the Tokyo main store of Kohaku for the first time. Although I joked about being a long-time customer since it's the opening day, now they have branches and are featured in the Bib Gourmand guide! When it used to be reservation-only, I never came (because it was troublesome), but now you can eat if you line up, so I came after a long time! There were 5 people in line, so I joined, but the rotation is still slow... Well, they even offer umbrella rentals, so I expected this, and I'll wait patiently. I had the following dish: [Summer Limited Edition] Izumo Cold Noodles + Cloudy Rich and creamy clam soup with flat noodles, so delicious! The slightly salty taste is great for sweating bodies. Instead of chashu, there's prosciutto on top! I compared it to the clam broth ramen I had in Yokohama a while ago, and the difference in umami level is huge! (Well, it depends on personal preference...) It may be a matter of components like kojic acid, glutamic acid, and inosinic acid, but when combined with aroma and other elements, it becomes a unique soup. The remaining soup can be made into ikura chazuke for a perfect finish! It was gone in no time. Thank you for the meal!

The ramen made with clams was incredibly beautiful and delicious. Personally, I recommend the soy sauce ramen. Also, be sure to try the donburi dishes. The restaurant is very clean and the staff are very nice. Thank you for the meal.

I wanted to eat delicious ramen after a long time, so I went to a shop that I had been curious about. I thought there would be a line, so I arrived early, but there were already 20 people waiting. Finally, it was my turn and I entered the shop, but there were only 5 seats available. I had to wait in line after all! The service and hospitality inside the shop were good, and I bought the most expensive special salt ramen ticket for 1,400 yen. I waited for over an hour in the scorching sun, and it was already past 2:30 pm, making me feel really hungry. The soup was very delicious and well-seasoned, but it was a bit disappointing that the temperature of the soup was low. As for the noodles, it's a matter of personal preference, but they weren't to my liking. I couldn't slurp them well, so these noodles were particularly difficult to eat. Considering the waiting time, price, and overall quality of the ramen, I'm not sure if it was worth it. Spending a lot of money on ramen and feeling tired afterwards, making the day end just like that, may not be worth it. If they extended their business hours and offered a quick and easy way to enjoy ramen, I might consider going back. However, I don't think it's worth waiting in line for that long just to eat there. The service, on the other hand, was very good!

In a bustling area without a train station, there is a popular Chinese soba restaurant located along the JR railway tracks. I had been curious about this place for a while, so I decided to visit for lunch. Since it's a popular spot, I went around 2 pm to avoid the lunch rush, but the restaurant was still full with a line of about 5 people waiting outside. After waiting in line for about 30 minutes, I was finally seated inside the small restaurant with only 5 counter seats in an L-shape. First, I purchased a meal ticket from the vending machine. The menu is limited, offering only soy sauce and salt-based Chinese soba, limited edition noodles, and side dishes like mini rice bowls. I was torn between soy sauce and salt, but I decided to try the "Special Chinese Soba (salt) for 1,400 yen" this time. The special comes with 3 types of chashu, seasoned egg, and meat wonton. Watching the kitchen, I could see the male chef cooking with great care, so it took quite a bit of time before the dish was ready (especially the limited edition noodles). The Chinese soba dish had a beautiful presentation and looked light, but it actually had a strong flavor from the shijimi clam broth from Lake Shinji, making it more savory than expected. The slightly firm thin straight noodles paired well with the toppings like chashu, all of which were of high quality, making it a very well-crafted Chinese soba dish. Depending on the time, there may be a long wait, but I highly recommend this place to those who enjoy clam-based ramen.

I recently visited a ramen shop that specializes in shijimi clams from Lake Shinji to learn more about them. The shop had a high rating of 3.98, making it a top contender in the national ramen category. The broth had a hint of bitterness from the shijimi clam extract, which is actually due to the presence of succinic acid. The shop's name, Kohaku, is derived from this succinic acid. Shijimi clams have the highest amount of succinic acid per 100g, followed by asari clams, oysters, hamaguri clams, and batillaria snails. The shop is located near the Zasshoku Crossing on the JR Tokaido Main Line, and I drove there to avoid walking in the heat. The shop was busy with a waitlist, but I was able to get a seat and ordered the Lake Shinji Shijimi Clam Ramen with salt flavor and a grilled pork bowl. The broth was delicate with a subtle clam flavor, and the noodles were slightly thick and straight. The toppings included grilled pork, menma (bamboo shoots), red onions, and green onions. The grilled pork was lean and juicy, and the pork bowl had a unique flavor from being grilled over charcoal. Overall, it was a great dining experience and I would rate it 3.8 out of 5.

This time, the restaurant is "Shijimi Chinese Soba Kohaku Tokyo Main Store" in Zoshiki. As of August 17, 2023, this restaurant is currently ranked 3rd in the national ramen rankings on Tabelog, a very popular ramen shop. Their popular dish is the salt ramen made with Shijimi clams from Lake Shinji. The location is very close to Zoshiki Station, just a short walk away. It is also within walking distance from Kamata, and you can park your bicycle in the available spaces. The time is around 9:00 AM. Currently, there is no need to sign up in advance, just line up like normal. Surprisingly, I was the first in line. Around 9:20 AM, the next person lined up behind me. There were only 5 people in the first round of lining up, but by 9:30 AM, there were already around 10 people waiting. The line continued to grow, and by the time they opened at 11:30 AM, there were almost 50 people waiting. I ordered the summer limited edition dish, the "Izumo Cold Noodles". It seems there is no such thing as Izumo Cold Noodles, it is an original menu created by the owner. It's quite stylish to have cold noodles named after Izumo, where Lake Shinji is located. Unable to bear the heat, I had a bottle of beer while waiting for the Izumo Cold Noodles to arrive. The dish looked so beautiful that my excitement level rose. It looks delicious. Let's dig in. Review: - Izumo Cold Noodles with Tea-Leaf Rice for ¥1500 I took a sip of the soup right away... Wow! Delicious! What is this! It's so tasty! The cold Shijimi salt soup has a condensed flavor that seems to have been simmered. The umami and aroma spread throughout my mouth, and it was surprisingly delicious. The noodles were firm, flat whole wheat noodles. They have the texture and flavor of soba noodles, but the mouthfeel is like ramen. The slurping sensation is excellent, and the noodles are incredibly delicious. The toppings were also delicious. The half-seasoned egg and salty ham-like meat were a perfect match. The flavors of the toppings like arugula, fried onions, and white leeks were also excellent. Finally, I poured the cold soup over the one-bite rice with salmon roe, creating a refreshing tea-leaf rice. This was also incredibly delicious, and the whole cold noodle experience was fantastic. Kohaku never fails to surprise me every time I visit, and this Izumo Cold Noodles were amazing. The waiting line is exposed to direct sunlight, so be sure to bring a parasol. The staff provides parasols, but they may not be enough for those at the back of the line. If the visit difficulty could be reduced a bit, I would love to come more often. It may be limited to once every six months due to the high difficulty of visiting. However, the fact that I would still line up again shows how amazing Kohaku's food is. I will definitely come back. Thank you for the delicious meal. It was truly amazing.

I arrived at 10:00 on Wednesday and had to wait for about 10 people for 2 and a half hours. The restaurant opened at 11:00 and by around 12:30, there were already over 40 people waiting to be seated. The taste is really good with a nice flavor of clams, but it's quite far. Next time, I'll try going to the Ikebukuro branch.

Visited a popular restaurant during the Bon festival season. Despite arriving with determination 2 hours before opening at 9:30, there was already one customer ahead of me. The line kept growing and by opening time, there were 40 people waiting. A tweet at 12:30 reported 70 people in line. Today's lineup was incredible. I had tried the salt flavor last time, so this time I went for soy sauce and hand-kneaded noodles. The combination of clams, soy sauce, and hand-kneaded noodles was meticulously crafted and a perfect match. If asked to choose between salt and soy sauce, I would say salt, but both are exceptional at a high level. Even after waiting for 2 hours, it was worth it. Thank you for a great Bon festival holiday.

Elegantly composed clam salt soup and exquisite 2 types of char siu. This post serves as a memo to remember the deliciousness of the restaurant I visited, with my personal rating of how tasty it was and a brief comment. Please note that these are subjective ratings that may be influenced by my physical condition and emotions.

Today, I used a day off for my birthday and finally went to Kohaku, a restaurant I've been wanting to visit. It's a Wednesday, a weekday! It's about a 5-minute walk from Zasshoku Station, straight through the shopping street, crossing the tracks. The store opens at 11:30, so I arrived at 10:30. There were already 7 people waiting. Only 5 people can enter at a time, so it seems like arriving at 10:00 is a must to be in the first group. Today, there was a heatstroke alert, but the store had about 10 parasols available. It's not recommended to visit in the summer as you might collapse. By the time the store opened, there were about 20 people waiting. I finally got inside at 12:00. I bought a ticket for the Special Salt Ramen for 1400 yen and the Grilled Pork Bowl for 450 yen. It only took about 10 minutes for the food to arrive. The rumors were true about the explosive clam flavor. I personally felt it more with the salt ramen (my wife tried the soy sauce a bit too). This place is definitely the best for salt ramen. The two types of chashu were well balanced and juicy. The grilled pork bowl was delicious as expected. However, the wait time is really tough, so if I go again, it will be in the spring or fall.

Arrived around 10:30, one hour before the store opened, and there were already 7 people in line... Quite impressive for a weekday. By 11:30, there were about 20 people waiting. The turnover rate doesn't seem to be very high... I was able to enter the store after about 30 minutes from opening. There are only 5 counter seats, so it can't be helped. The special soy sauce ramen costs 1,400 yen, and you can choose between thin noodles and hand-kneaded noodles for the soy sauce version. I chose thin noodles this time. After waiting for about 10 minutes, the ramen came out and I was surprised by how beautiful it looked. I can't quite put it into words, but it was incredibly beautiful, with the feeling of the green onions and the beautiful color of the chashu. It was almost too beautiful to eat. I thought it might have a strong clam flavor, but in a good way, it didn't. When I drank the soup, I could feel a gentle clam flavor floating around. It was really satisfying! There were two types of chashu, with 5 slices each. They were also tender and delicious! If you have time on a weekday, I highly recommend visiting at least once! When I left the store, there were still about 20 people waiting, so be prepared for long lines, especially in the summer... haha

On a certain weekday, I spontaneously took a day off and decided to extend my journey all the way to Zasshoku, prepared to wait in the heat. I had been wanting to visit this place for a while after seeing it in a post by eriitsui from Rojya. I lined up as the second person from around 10 o'clock, enduring the August heat. However, once I tried their salt ramen and chashu rice bowl, it was definitely worth it. The fragrant, clear soup reminiscent of Menya Musashi in Osaka is truly unique in Tokyo. The chashu rice bowl, which often lacks variety at other places, is exceptional here. If there's no line, I might even visit the Ikebukuro branch.

Ultimate. I would wait an hour and a half in scorching heat just to eat this ramen. The soup, with its concentrated flavor of clams, is almost artistic. The richness of the roasted pork, the perfect texture of the boiled egg, the aroma of the garnish onions, everything is flawless. The pork bowl also has a great balance of meat and rice, it's hard to believe it's this perfect. The atmosphere of the restaurant is warm, and I'm glad I got to encounter one of Japan's representative ramen dishes.

Amber (Kohaku) - A ramen shop that has made a name for itself with its unique broth made from shijimi clams from Lake Shinji. We arrived at 10 am on a weekday and joined a line of 2 people, but by 10:30 am, there were 3 more people behind us. The shop provides umbrellas for customers waiting outside. [Interior] The shop has only 5 platinum seats, so the space is tight but the seats are spacious. [Ordered] Special Chinese Soba (Soy Sauce) - 1400 yen. We chose thin noodles. [Presentation] The chashu topping included two types: pork belly and low-temperature roasted pork loin. They were neatly arranged with green onions in the middle. There was also a seasoned boiled egg and a wonton with ginger accent. The presentation was meticulous and beautiful. [Soup] The soy sauce soup had a rich and bold flavor, which was surprising as we were expecting something more refined. The soup had a strong taste of duck broth and kombu, giving it a powerful umami flavor. The shijimi clams played a supporting role, adding depth to the taste. [Noodles] We chose thin noodles, which were more like medium-thin straight noodles. They were soft with a slight chewiness, absorbing the soup well. The hydration level was just right for this soy sauce soup, but hand-rolled noodles would also be a good match. Overall, the ramen at Amber is worth lining up for, with high-quality ingredients and excellent hospitality from the staff. It's a top-notch ramen shop that delivers on taste and satisfaction. Highly recommended.

I enjoyed the "Special Chinese Soba Noodles with Shijimi Clam Salt" at the Amber Tokyo Main Store, located in Kamata, Tokyo. The aroma of shijimi clams fills the air as the bowl is placed in front of you. This fragrance comes from carefully selected shijimi clams from Lake Shinji in Shimane Prefecture, chosen after the owner compared clams from various regions. The rich extract from these plump clams is obtained by simmering them over medium heat for two and a half hours. The soup is then finished at the perfect moment, just before any unwanted flavors emerge, resulting in a clear and transparent broth. The mild saltiness allows you to easily savor every drop of the soup without any stress. Vibrant green spring onions with a refreshing spiciness enhance the flavor of the soup. The pale pink cha-shu pork stands out beautifully in the clear broth. This cha-shu, cooked at a low temperature, is tender and full of meaty goodness. Each bowl of this special Chinese soba noodles reflects the owner's passion and skill. The harmony of the rich shijimi clam broth and the supporting ingredients left me truly impressed. Thank you for the delicious meal! ❤️