I arrived at the restaurant at 13:00 last time, but they were already closed... This time, determined for revenge, I arrived at 9:45, but there was no one there yet, too early (・・;) They seem to close after serving 50 bowls, and at 10:30, 30 minutes before opening, there were already 25 people, including me, lined up. I entered just before opening, purchased a pork salt ramen for 1350 yen and an extra seasoned egg for 100 yen from the ticket machine, and sat at the end of the counter. Soon after, the golden soup with sea bream and clams arrived. Since it's made without any animal products, you can directly taste the aroma and flavor of the clams, which was incredibly delicious! As a big fan of clams, I felt like, "This, this, this is the kind of distinct clam-flavored soup I've been waiting for (TдT)." I had always felt unsatisfied with ramen claiming to use clam or shellfish broth, so this one hit the spot right in the heart (laughs). The combination of the soup and whole wheat thin straight noodles was excellent! The Spanish Iberico pork chashu, which is rare and large with good thickness, was incredibly tender and had a flavor that didn't overpower the noodle soup but still made a strong statement, indescribably delicious. It's an additional 350 yen, but I highly recommend trying the pork salt ramen. Great value for money! As others have mentioned, the various toppings like truffle essence offer a nice flavor variation, which was also delicious. For me, the distinct clam-flavored soup, thin noodles, and the presence of this chashu made it an impressively delightful bowl. Highly recommended!

First visit, arrived on Monday at 8:30 when the ticket distribution started at 9:30. I was the first in line. The second person lined up at 8:50, and by 9:30 there were about 10 people in line. At 9:30, reservations could be made on a tablet. I got number 1. Reserved a slot from 11:00 to 12:00. There seem to be 30 reservations for each time slot. Passed time at Starbucks and returned to the restaurant at 10:30, finding a line formed with those who made reservations. I was fifth in line. It seems that during the reserved time slot, people are guided in order from the front of the line. Ordered the special salt and extra portion as there were no rice dishes. The soup and chashu were delicious.

First visit. Walking from Yotsuya towards Shinjuku, passed by Goyenmae Station before 9:30, headed to the intriguing store. Just as the tablet reservation system started, boldly connected in the unusual scene of 90% foreigners, with a young couple from Thailand as the first customers, fulfilling their long-awaited visit (laughs). A Japanese information expert, claiming to have found it themselves (surprise). The 10th group after 9 previous customers, entry from 11:00 to 12:00, may be able to enter right after opening? Lucky middle-aged person (laughs) grinning. The queue behind is all inbound foreigners carrying large luggage, realizing the influence of Michelin. System where you receive a visit notification via email or LINE after scanning the QR code on the reservation ticket. First, those who registered are notified, then about 15 minutes before the specified time? a message comes in. Waiting in front of the store, the staff checks and approves the reservation ticket for entry. Purchased "Sea Bream and Clam Salt Ramen" at the state-of-the-art ticket machine on the right after entering, prompted by the staff, and slid in for a taste right after opening (laughs). In the kitchen, operated by 3 people, peeking inside is not possible due to the high counter wall, but the bowls are efficiently prepared with clear role divisions. Impressive to have the ramen served in just 5 minutes after buying the ticket. First, scoop and sip the soup with a ladle. A very complex flavor, with the clam's strength standing out more than the bonito and dried ingredients, giving a foreigner-friendly taste resembling a sea bream potage? Gentle saltiness. The distinctive taste of unidentified ingredients besides the aromatic oil is noteworthy (laughs). The noodles are on the softer side with a moist texture, more than supple, and smooth on the throat. The low-temperature cooked pork melts in the mouth, making it seem like a bowl that foreigners can enjoy overall if excluding religious preferences. Thank you for the meal. Concerned about soy sauce but the reservation hurdle is high, so will try again on a business trip! Now, back to work.

Today, I had lunch in the Kabukicho area. I moved a bit towards Shinjuku Gyoen and arrived at this place. I got a ticket from the machine at 10:50, with the remaining slots from 11:00 to 12:00 showing as 6, and I received ticket number "25". By scanning the QR code and adding as a friend on LINE, they will call you when your turn is up. However, the numbers don't seem to be in order of arrival. In fact, the person with number 26 entered 7 people ahead of me. There is also an APA Hotel nearby, and about 80% of the people waiting were foreigners. It seems that having a Michelin title attracts foreigners. After a short wait, I entered the restaurant. Salt is their specialty, and based on reviews, everyone recommends the "Red Snapper and Clam Salt Soba," so I went for it. The attentive and efficient service by the staff was pleasant. And then the dish arrived. The soup was gentle yet rich in deep flavors. The balance between the soup and thin noodles was excellent. But the most surprising part was the chashu! The moment I bit into it... What? This texture! A crispy chashu? Amazing! It was a first-time experience. While I've had tender, juicy, and hearty chashu before, this crispy and crunchy chashu is truly unique. I don't know if it's the preparation method or the meat itself, but the texture was enjoyable and delicious. I savored every last drop. It was an excellent bowl of noodles. Next time, I'll go for the simple salt soba. Thank you for the meal!

I went to Kin no Kiji again this month. This time, I ordered the special salt ramen. It was delicious as always. The chashu was also tasty. Currently, they have implemented a ticket system. At the moment, if you go about 30 minutes before opening to get a ticket, and then when they contact you (10 minutes before opening) to come to the restaurant, you can enter immediately by lining up at the restaurant.

I arrived before the restaurant opened and got a ticket for the 12:00 to 13:00 slot. I later found out that they don't call you in numerical order, but you have to come back at the designated time and line up. The menu and signs were all in foreign languages... About 80% of the people eating or waiting in line were foreigners. I ordered the salt ramen with red snapper and clams. As some comments mentioned, I felt like the clams had a stronger flavor than the red snapper. It tasted like chowder, so it seemed like a flavor that would be accepted by Westerners. It was a bit lukewarm, but maybe my organs, which have been affected by alcohol recently, were craving it, as I ended up finishing the soup after a long time. That's why I gave this rating. Thank you for the meal.

You can enjoy a light and delicious ramen with sea bream and clam-based soup. Personally, this is the best ramen shop for me (I find rich ramen too heavy for my age, haha). They accept various electronic payments. I ordered the basic ramen which was 1100 yen.

I stopped by a ramen shop with a long history and a Michelin star nearby after work. As expected, about 80% of the customers were foreigners, just like the reviews said. They issue tickets and seat people in the order they lined up at the designated time, which is a complicated system, but even those who don't speak Japanese were following the rules politely. This must mean the ramen is really good. I got seated about 50 minutes after receiving my ticket. While waiting, I worked at a nearby Freshness. I ordered the most traditional dish, the "Sea Bream and Clam Salt Ramen." When the bowl arrived, it had noodles, chashu, and three paste-like toppings that were hard to identify. I carefully ate, trying not to mix the toppings too much while sipping the seafood-based soup. But because of the paste, it all blended together. The flavors kept changing as I ate the noodles, almost like going on a roller coaster in the dark. In the midst of it all, the chashu was exceptional. Slowly cooked, it turned out to be this evenly rare-like meat. The thin noodles were a bit too soft, maybe? They seemed healthy, but personally, I prefer them a bit firmer. Well, that's just personal preference. On a side note, since there were mostly foreigners, there was hardly any slurping noise while eating the noodles. I find the sound of slurping with runny noses unpleasant, and if it happens in a small shop, I usually want to leave, but that wasn't an issue at this place. Phew.

I found this famous restaurant on Tabelog, but it was hard to find the location, couldn't find it the first time. When I went at 1 p.m. the second time, they had already stopped giving out tickets. I asked the people in line and they said they lined up with tickets from before 11 a.m. The third time, I finally got a ticket for 1 p.m. at 11 a.m. There were many foreign customers.

I visited Kongobujoki-san. I got a numbered ticket and was soon called in. I ordered the "Salt Ramen with Red Snapper and Clams" for 1,100 yen. The clear amber-colored soup had two mysterious pastes on the sides and chopped ham or bacon-like meat in the center. The chopped leaves floating on top were probably cilantro. The soup, made with red snapper and clams, was undeniably fantastic. It leaned slightly more towards the clam flavor. The quality was superb. Unlike typical salt ramen, it had a complex and rich aroma. The noodles seemed to be high-hydration noodles, smooth and complemented the soup well. The balance between the soup and noodles was excellent. I tried the pastes for flavor variation. The white paste on the right had a strong truffle aroma. The texture suggested a mix of ingredients beyond truffle. It had a powerful truffle scent and a lingering clam flavor. Next was the left paste, likely shiitake mushroom. It had a mushroom umami and tomato-like acidity, a fusion of Italian and Chinese flavors. It added depth to the soup. Though intense, it created a new taste experience. The mystery chopped greens occasionally in the soup did a great job. The aroma was wonderful, reminiscent of cress or arugula. The bacon bits in the center were indeed bacon, imparting a hint of flavorful pork. While an interesting touch, it felt slightly overpowering. Enjoying the flavor variations, the bowl was soon empty, undoubtedly the best salt ramen I've ever had. My salt ramen ranking has been redefined. A dish with quality transcending the ramen genre. I aim to find a salt ramen surpassing this one in the future. Thank you for the meal.

I issued a numbered ticket on the tablet at the storefront at 9:30 in the morning, confirmed the time slot from 11:00 to 12:00. It said I was 12th in line, and I received a notification via email after scanning the QR code. When I revisited at 10:55, there were already 6 people in line. I thought I was 12th, but it turns out you need to come at the designated time slot and line up in order of arrival. Phew, made it just in time for the first round of seating. I ordered the limited edition Japanese-style salted seafood, and it arrived promptly with the ticket I received upon entering. The slippery texture, similar to somen noodles, feels great in the mouth. The gentle saltiness of the clear soup is delightful. It might seem light, but no need to add any pepper. Delicious until the last drop. Oh no! I finished it all!

I visited a Michelin 1-star restaurant before 5 PM on a weekday and there was already a line of about 10 people. I secured a seat for 6:30 PM with a ticket starting from 5:30 PM. I ordered the popular Red Snapper and Clam Salt Ramen for 1,100 yen. The ramen had a smooth thin noodle texture like a soup soba with a sophisticated broth that complemented the umami of the clams with the aroma and richness of truffle. The chashu was rare with a delicious fatty sweetness, and there were also flavor-changing elements like truffle sauce. It was a highly refined bowl of ramen, and I would like to come back to try other types as well. Thank you for the meal.

I visited "Kin-iro Fugukui" in front of Shinjuku Gyoen for lunch on Thursday. This restaurant has been awarded one Michelin star from 2015 to 2018 and has been selected as one of the top 100 ramen shops in Tokyo from 2017 to 2022. The owner, Mr. Yamamoto, trained at Daikokuya in Eifukucho. I arrived around 11:10 a.m. on Thursday to get a ticket for the 1 p.m. slot, but ended up having to wait outside as they couldn't accommodate everyone. There were many foreign tourists waiting, and some didn't understand the ticket system. After a short wait, I was seated at the counter. I ordered the "Shoyu Ramen with Braised Pork" with a seasoned egg topping. The ramen had a truffle aroma and flavor, which seemed to be the main focus rather than the broth itself. While it was tasty, I felt a bit tired of this trend of truffle and porcini mushroom ramen popular among Michelin and foreign tourists. The noodles were made of whole wheat flour and were surprisingly stretchy. The bowl was filled with various toppings like braised pork, seasoned egg, bamboo shoots, green onions, and leafy greens. Overall, although it was delicious, I felt a bit bored of this type of ramen. I think I'll take a break from Michelin-style ramen for a while. Thank you for the meal!

【Visit Date】August 10, 2023 (Thursday) 11:20 AM【Wait Time】15 minutes inside the restaurant【Crowded】Full house【Time from Entry to Service】Approximately 10 minutes【Menu】Special Salt Ramen【Main Ingredients】Chashu: Vegetarian pork belly, Porcini paste: Multiple types of flakes, Clams (from Kuwana), Red snapper (from Uwajima)【Others】Accepts cash, credit cards, major electronic money (including transportation cards)【Impression】The depth of flavor from the broth made with clams and red snapper is captivating from the first sip. While delicious ramen can sometimes become monotonous, this salt ramen offers a variety of taste changes, making it a fresh and enjoyable culinary experience. The taste, ambiance, and service are all top-notch, making it an excellent dining establishment. If the wait time could be shortened by another 10 minutes, it would be even more convenient for a lunch break during work.

I ordered the Red Snapper and Clam Salt Ramen for 1,100 yen. There was a tablet at the storefront where you receive a ticket number. The ticket machine has various functions, so it may be a bit cumbersome for non-regular customers. The ramen had a rich and flavorful broth, and it was very delicious. The noodles were thin and straight, and the soup was well-balanced.

I visited this place because it seemed famous when I looked it up on the go. The entrance (the building is under construction) made me wonder what was going on since there were no customers waiting outside. It turned out they operate by calling customers in order of reservation (like a food ticket system). I appreciate this approach rather than making customers wait outside to attract attention. The taste is good, but it feels like it's too refined. Ramen is a popular dish, so personally, I appreciate when the taste matches the price and satisfaction level. It seems like it was selected as one of the top 100 choices, and maybe because it's close to Shinjuku, there are quite a few foreign customers. One visit might be enough for me...

#Shinjuku#SobahouseKinjiruKaeru #KinjiruKaeru #SaltedSoba with Red Snapper and Clams #Michelin1Star#MichelinTokyo #MichelinGuideTokyo #Noodlestagram#Drinkstagram#FoodstagramOpens at 11:00, arrived around 11:15 to get a ticket for the 12:00 session. Scan the QR code on the ticket, register on LINE, and they will call you when it's your turn. You can leave the area while waiting. It's better to stay nearby as they call in the order of arrival.

This restaurant is quite challenging to visit as it is only open on weekdays. The moment you sip the soup, the flavor of clams spreads in your mouth. The porcini topping also adds a nice taste. The soup has just the right amount of saltiness, making it enjoyable to drink until the last drop. The flexible noodles also go well with the soup. It was indeed a delicious ramen that lived up to its reputation.

Since they are only open on weekdays, I finally made it to this place that I hadn't been able to visit before. I arrived in the late morning to find a line of about 5-6 groups. I had something to complain about before entering, but since I was looking forward to it, I wanted to enjoy the meal. (I will write my complaints at the end) It was my first time (although my wife and daughter had bought takeout from here before), so I chose the menu item in the top left corner, "Red Snapper and Clam Salt Ramen." <Red Snapper and Clam Salt Ramen> - The soup had a lot of oil on the surface, but it was full of seafood broth and various flavors, delicious without being overpowering. The small condiment-like thing was nice. When I checked other people's reviews, they mentioned truffles... I didn't feel that though? Well, it's tasty. - The noodles were soft, not my favorite type, but they didn't interfere with the soup. - The chashu was thick but tender and juicy. - The flavored egg had a nice aroma. I encountered a "delicious flavored egg" after a long time. Deducting 1 point for the complaints. Maybe I couldn't fully enjoy it because of that. *---Here comes the complaints---* Just when we were about to enter, people who arrived later operated a tablet next to the entrance to take a paper. Some of us, including me, wondered "What's that?" One person asked the one who took the paper, "Is that necessary?" and was told, "It's a ticket for queuing." Some people got angry and left, but since I can rarely come here, I took the ticket and went to the end of the line... When I informed those who arrived later to "take the ticket there," they thanked me. It seems like not everyone understands. I checked the storefront signs, but it wasn't written anywhere. When I looked it up on the website, it was mentioned on the "Access" page. *---End of complaints---*

Located in Shinjuku Gyoen, I finally managed to visit "SOBA HOUSE Kinjiki Furugi" after multiple attempts due to their frequent temporary closures. I called ahead to confirm their business hours for the day. Visiting in the early evening on a weekday allowed us to be seated without much of a wait. Being a Michelin-rated establishment, there were many foreign tourists dining there. The Special Salt Ramen priced at 1500 yen had a unique taste that may divide opinions from other ramen shops. It had a topping resembling miso that gradually changed the flavor, making it enjoyable until the last bite. #Top100RamenShops #ShinjukuGourmet #FoodiesUnite