yukio812
Tsutaya Line Minami-machida Cranberry Station Cranberry Exit, 5 minutes walk [Weekdays] 11:00-15:00 Tuesday 11:00-14:50 [Sat/Sun/Holidays] 11:00-15:45 *Occasional dinner available 16:45-20:00 [Closed] Wednesday [Queue] Arrive around 10:45 *Ticket system based on reviews, although it's mentioned for weekends only, it seems to be in place for weekdays as well. A regular customer informed me and I managed to get number 3. The system is quite confusing, so please take note. There was an issue with other customers. 2 customers before, 10 customers after me. [Interior] 1 owner, 2 assistants, 5 counter seats, 2 tables for 2, self-service water, ticket system [Order] 'Local Chicken Ramen Soy Sauce' 1200 yen [Overall Review] Wow, what a unique station name. It gets you excited, doesn't it? This time, I visited Tengokuya, which has won the title of 100 best ramen shops in the past and has relocated to Minami-machida Cranberry for a fresh start. They are known for their chicken-based ramen featuring Nagoya Cochin chicken, among others. They were ranked 2nd overall in the 2024 Ramen Walker, which was just released 2 days ago. The taste of this popular shop is something to look forward to. When I arrived at the station, I was delighted by the cheerful design that children would love. It looks like something out of Disneyland. If I were a suspicious person like me in a place like this, people would probably avoid me. There were many Snoopy figurines and amusement park-like buildings, so I would like to visit for sightseeing sometime. I walked from Cranberry Exit and saw a line forming in front of the store. It seemed suspiciously long, but luckily, a regular customer with a child approached me. Parent: "Do you have a ticket?" Me: "Isn't it based on the order on weekdays?" Parent: "There are still tickets on the back of this sign-up board, so take one while the earliest time is available." When I flipped the sign-up board, there were many ticket magnets. This person is a lifesaver. It was lucky that number 3 was still available. This system is really confusing, so please be careful. Otherwise, I might have ended up in the 12:00 slot. For those planning to visit in the future, make sure to secure a ticket magnet first. Even after entering the store, many people were unaware of this system, leading to conflicts with the staff. It would be helpful if the owner could enforce the rules more clearly on platforms like X. Returning to the main topic, thanks to the kind parent and child, I was able to enter on the first round. Of course, following the rule on the upper left of the ticket machine, I ordered the Local Chicken Ramen. They also occasionally offer other types like sardine or cold ramen. When I handed the ticket to the staff, they asked, "You can choose between thin noodles and hand-kneaded noodles, which one would you like?" I've been having hand-kneaded noodles a lot recently, so I chose that without much thought. Normally, I would choose thin noodles to fully enjoy the soup's flavor, but oh well. The owner was working alone in the kitchen, and his efficient movements were impressive. The dish was served quickly, in about 7 minutes. The classic style with a beautiful brown soup and chicken chashu in the center. I would have liked some flavored eggs, but they were sold out that day. Tengokuya doesn't have any special toppings, so please note that. First, I slurped the soup, and as expected, it had a strong chicken-based flavor. The balance with the seasoning was excellent, and it was easy to drink. It was delicious. The soup remained piping hot even towards the end. The noodles were supposed to be freshly made, but the owner was injured and couldn't make them, so they were from a company called Nakanishi Shokuhin, meticulously hand-kneaded and had a chewy texture. I would have preferred homemade noodles if possible. The chashu was cooked at low temperature, and all three types - two chicken and one pork - were silky and tender, very tasty. The bamboo shoots were also tender and elegantly prepared. It was a well-balanced ramen, and I finished it all with ease. It was delicious. The soup remained hot even towards the end. The only downside is that it's far away. Hachioji is the same, but if the location were better... Also, they need to improve the queuing system to avoid further troubles. The staff, including the owner, were very helpful.