Nibo-kuchi Niboshi Wataru Special Ramen 1550 yen, Ae-tama 350 yen, Curry Rice Bowl 400 yen. This time, I visited the renowned Niboshi Ramen restaurant, En Hachioji Main Store, in Hachioji. This was the last shop I visited for Ramen Tokyo 2021, and I am happy to have completed all 100 top ramen shops. The service at En was very pleasant, and despite the heat, I enjoyed my ramen comfortably. Now, let's talk about the ramen. First, the soup. The rich soy sauce base with a blend of refined Niboshi and Wataru dashi created a delicious soup. The Niboshi added a lingering bitterness, while the Wataru enhanced the umami of the soup, achieving a balanced and flavorful broth. The soup had a gentle roundness, possibly from using chicken broth, which gave it a homely touch. Next, the noodles. Made with whole grain flour, the thin straight noodles had a great texture. They didn't have a strong wheat aroma but focused on complementing the soup and toppings. The combination of strong nori seaweed aroma and fragrant negi enhanced the overall flavor. The inclusion of stem wakame added a unique crunchy texture to the dish. Moving on to the toppings, the char siu was freshly sliced and retained the natural flavors due to low-temperature cooking. The meat was more about the richness of the fat than the meaty flavor. The menma was thick and had a satisfying chewiness with a well-infused dashi flavor. The seasoned egg had a sweet marinade that complemented the ramen well. I also tried the Curry Rice Bowl, which was a simple yet delicious curry rice with chicken. The curry had a nostalgic taste reminiscent of school lunches. The tender chicken meat added to the comfort of the dish. Lastly, I had the Ae-tama, which came in a generous portion with a light and savory tare oil, topped with sliced char siu and negi. Mixing the noodles with the tare and dipping them in the soup created a delightful combination of flavors. Overall, En provided excellent food and service. I look forward to trying their tsukemen or backfat Niboshi ramen on my next visit. With Ramen Tokyo 2021 completed, I now aim to conquer Ramen Tokyo 2022 and Ramen EAST 2021, 2022!

I went to En Hachioji Honten, a popular restaurant in Hachioji for lunch, even though it's a bit far from Hachioji Station. It was past lunchtime, but luckily there was no line outside. I chose the "Special Thin Shoyu Niboshi Ramen" from the ticket machine, as it was my first time there. The ramen had a light soy sauce flavor, which was a nice contrast to the usually dark and rich shoyu ramen in Hachioji. The counter seats were limited, so I had to wait for a seat to open up. When my ramen arrived, I found the thin noodles had a nice texture and the soup had a strong niboshi (dried sardine) flavor with a hint of richness. The chashu was tender and delicious. Overall, it was a great meal.

I visited the restaurant during lunchtime on a holiday. The place was full, but I waited for about five minutes and was seated. The taste of the ramen was well-balanced with no bitterness, very refreshing and delicious. The stem seaweed was also tasty, but the bamboo shoots were a bit hard.

I visited the "Niboshi Tsukemen Maru Hachioji Main Store," one of the top 100 Niboshi (dried sardine) ramen shops in Hachioji. I went during Sunday lunchtime and there were only 2 customers ahead of me, so I was able to enter without waiting. The shop has only 7 counter seats and was run by 2 staff members. I purchased a default ticket for the dipping noodles and chose the rich broth with thick noodles. The dipping sauce was similar to a traditional soba broth with a hint of bitterness from the niboshi. The noodles were thick and chewy, with a familiar texture from being hand-kneaded. The toppings included sliced pork, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and nori seaweed. The broth was light and clear with a soy sauce base, but I wished it had more of the niboshi flavor. I asked for soup refills at the end, and when the piping hot broth was poured into my bowl, it transformed into a delicious soup with a strong niboshi flavor. It felt like a completely different dish. Overall, I found the dipping noodles to be above average in taste, but lacking a bit in the expected niboshi flavor for a top 100 shop.

I had some business at the Tokyo Institute of Technology and stayed at a hotel near Hachioji Station, so I decided to try a restaurant with good reviews on Tabelog in Hachioji. When I arrived, the restaurant was empty with only one other customer coming in before I finished my meal. It seems like even well-known restaurants can be quiet in Tokyo. I was in the mood for something rich, so I ordered the ramen with pork back fat and dried fish. Hmm... the combination of pork fat and dried fish didn't really work for me. I think a richer or lighter broth would have been better. The water seemed to be self-service, but the staff came to refill my glass midway through. Thank you very much.

JR Hachioji Station North Exit is a 7-minute walk away. A well-known restaurant with a distinctive light blue sign. The interior has a traditional feel but is well-maintained. No waiting time. I ordered the Niboshi (dried baby sardine) ramen with rich flavor and seasoned egg (1,150 yen including tax). While waiting, I pondered on what Niboshi is. It was served in 6-7 minutes. The toppings included a large slice of char siu, seaweed, thick menma (bamboo shoots), wakame stems, and a seasoned egg. The char siu was sliced using a slicer after the order was placed. The soup had a rich flavor from the dried baby sardines and was easy to drink with a mild soy sauce taste. The noodles were medium-thin straight noodles, easy to eat. The char siu was tender, which I liked. However, I felt that the price was slightly on the higher side. After leaving, I was given a farewell by the staff. Revisit: I will definitely come back. Thank you for the meal.

I stayed overnight in Hachioji in preparation for golf the next day. After drinking at an izakaya, I felt like eating ramen, so I relied on rankings and visited this place. It was about a 5-minute walk from JR Hachioji Station. When I tried to enter, the staff kindly explained the menu to me and recommended a light soy sauce flavor with a seasoned egg on top. It cost 1,150 yen. The taste was refreshing and went smoothly into my body. The seasoned egg was delicious... and the chashu was huge! I remembered having delicious ramen in Hachioji. Thank you for the meal.

It took about 5 minutes to walk from Hachioji Station to the shop. I arrived at the shop at 1:00 PM. The shop is not located on the main street, so it may be a bit hard to find, but I saw people lining up outside, so I quickly found it. There were two people in front of me, so I waited to be seated inside. After about 20 minutes of waiting, I handed over my meal ticket at the counter and my bowl arrived promptly. I chose the soy sauce ramen with rich bonito broth, which was delicious. The shop was filled with the aroma of bonito. The large slices of chashu were tasty, and the menma and seaweed added a nice touch. I finished my meal quickly and as I was leaving, the owner and a waitress saw me off. I was surprised by the owner coming out to say goodbye, but it made me feel like this shop has been loved by many over the years.

The price is over 1000 yen, but you can enjoy a refreshing Chinese soba even in the hot summer. Amid the recent rise of rich and heavy ramen styles, I appreciate the rarity of this traditional flavor. I'm also curious about the tsukemen and back fat ramen.

I came to eat dried fish ramen. When it comes to dried fish broth, it usually has a distinctive bitter taste. I thought that was the personality of dried fish ramen, causing some people to either like it or dislike it. However, the dried fish broth at this restaurant was different. It had no bitterness. I tried the soup multiple times to confirm, but there was no bitterness at all. Yet, it was definitely dried fish broth. And it was delicious. They must have repeatedly tried to suppress the off-flavors of dried fish broth and bring out only the umami. It was a bowl that conveyed such uncompromising dedication.

Higashi-Tokyo, Hachioji - Boiled Dried Fish Ramen En. Thinly flavored boiled dried fish ramen for over 1000 yen - delicious! The thin straight noodles have a flavorful boiled dried fish soy sauce broth with a hint of bitterness but no harshness. The large sliced char siu cut on the spot is also delicious. The texture of the stem wakame and large menma is good as a palate cleanser. Friendly staff. Address: 21-21 Yokoyama-cho, Hachioji City, Tokyo. Hours: 11:00-15:00 / 17:00-22:00 [Sat, Sun, holidays] 11:00-22:00. Closed on certain days. Counter seating for 7. They have a Twitter account. #Tsukemen #HachiojiRamen #RamenRamen248

Three and a half years since the former owner's final business day, I revisited the shop. It was the "Hachioji Festival" day, with street vendors lining the Koshu Kaido. I arrived at the shop at 1:30 pm, expecting a line, but there was none to be seen. The store was empty except for the employees. It was a bit surprising, but also nice to have the place to myself. - Rich Anchovy Ramen / ¥1000 [Soup] The clear and refreshing Nibo-style soup combines a strong raw soy sauce flavor with a mild anchovy broth. Despite being labeled "rich," even those who don't typically enjoy Nibo-style ramen like myself can eat it without hesitation. However, for regular customers or pure Nibo-style fans, it may be too clean. [Noodles] The medium-thin straight noodles are standard in thickness and texture, pairing well with the anchovy-flavored soup. [Toppings] The large slice of pork chashu looks appetizing and is flavorful. The other toppings include thick menma and stem wakame. Overall Impression: This anchovy ramen offers a different experience from the current trend. Personal preferences may vary, but I personally like it. However, the cost performance is questionable. Hachioji has many high-quality and cost-effective ramen shops. With just a simple bowl of ramen priced at 1000 yen, some may hesitate. The redeeming factor is the excellent customer service. In this aspect, they are on par with any other place. I am truly grateful for the attentive service I received during this visit.

Around 7:15 PM on July 18th (Tuesday), I had the Noko-kuchi Niboshi Wanzu Ramen for 1100 yen, with an additional seasoned egg for 300 yen. It had been 5 years since I last visited my alma mater's university, so I decided to stop by. At first, I found the Noko-kuchi broth quite strong, but as I slurped it with the noodles, I felt it was just right! Niboshi ramen often gives off a strong fish powder impression, but here, the soup was refined and it almost felt disrespectful to customize the taste. If you do want to try something different, I recommend adding the seasoned egg! When the dish was served with a generous amount of seasoned egg, I was a bit hesitant, but I managed to finish it all. If you prefer a more moderate amount of seasoned egg, that might be better for your next visit. The two customers next to me were having the Abura Niboshi Ramen, and I'd like to try that next time. Overall, the manager's attention to detail and kindness were top-notch. It's impressive how they managed everything by themselves! It was delicious! I wish there was a Niboshi ramen of this quality in Akita.

I visited after a few years. I remember there used to be a female staff member before, but maybe I was mistaken. I entered before 11:30, and there were only 2 customers. It might be because of the intense heat. I ordered the rich soy sauce ramen in large size. As expected from one of the top ramen shops in Hachioji, it was delicious. As a fan of Hachioji ramen, I think it would be nice to have onion toppings as well. I will visit again if I have the chance.

When trying out the light, rich, and backfat ramen, the light one had the most bitterness from the dried sardines. The rich one had less bitterness compared to the light one, making it more acceptable in terms of taste. The backfat ramen had even less bitterness and as a man in his 50s, I didn't feel any heaviness in my stomach like with other backfat ramen, so I thought this was the most delicious. This time, I ordered it with "less backfat," but next time, I want to try ordering it normally. I imagine that if they remove the heads and organs of the dried sardines, or take the time to slowly extract the broth, they could make a broth without bitterness.

Founded in 2009, "Maru" is a ramen shop located in Hachioji that is not part of the traditional Hachioji ramen scene. Hachioji ramen is known for its tonkotsu or chicken bone broth with soy sauce, medium-thin Chinese noodles, a layer of lard or oil on the soup, and topped with raw chopped onions. However, Maru is famous for its "Niboshi-style ramen." The shop stays open until 10:00 PM, which is convenient. In 2020, the original owner and sushi chef, Mr. Tanaka, retired, and now the shop is run by the former owner of "Kagami" in Tachikawa. The reviewer tried the Niboshi shoyu ramen with simmered sardine flavor and was impressed by the rich taste and aroma of the sardines from Chiba. The thick and chewy whole grain egg noodles made from 100% Hokkaido wheat stood out, as did the well-seasoned but tender Iberico pork chashu. The new Maru has upgraded its ingredients, aiming to attract more fans with its unique Niboshi-style ramen.

Located about an 8-minute walk from JR Hachioji Station. Arrived on Sunday at 1:30 PM with no wait, only one customer inside. Ordered the Noko Jyako Ramen for 1,000 yen. Received my meal about 5 minutes after ordering. The soy sauce, dried bonito, and fish flavors were well balanced and delicious. The large slices of roasted pork were also very good.

Around 11:45 on Saturday, I started my reconnaissance mission at the restaurant. There were about six available seats and four waiting seats, but I managed to enter without waiting. I ordered a ramen with flavored egg and a bowl of rice with green onions and roasted pork. The dishes arrived after a short wait. The flavored egg was like a hand grenade, the thick roasted pork was like body armor, and the roasted pork in the bowl was like Mount Fuji visible from the Kitafuji training ground. The soup was clear but had a strong scent of dried fish and soy sauce that attacked like waves. The spiciness of the green onions and roasted pork in the bowl combined with the roasted pork, creating a delicious and irresistible taste. I finished my meal in about 10 minutes. This restaurant is highly recommended for its delicious food. End of report.

I had some business to attend to near Hachioji Station, so I decided to stop by this popular ramen shop. It was a weekday evening before 6pm, and there were only two customers already there. The shop is small with mainly counter seating, and can accommodate around 10 people. I ordered the Rich Anchovy Soy Sauce Ramen (1000 yen) from the ticket machine at the entrance. The service was very polite, with the staff guiding me to my seat and even offering me water during my short visit. The soup had a soy sauce base with a strong aroma of anchovies, but without any fishy taste. It was rich in flavor yet easy to drink. The noodles were medium thickness and straight, complementing the soup well. The ramen came with large slices of chashu, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and unusual addition of stem seaweed for a unique texture. Overall, each component was of high quality and well-balanced, making it a standout bowl of ramen from this popular shop.

I arrived around 8:30 PM and the restaurant was not crowded, so I purchased my meal ticket and sat down. I ordered the soy sauce ramen with a rich bonito broth. It was delicious, with the straight noodles perfectly coated in the flavorful soup. The chashu was large and satisfying to eat, adding to the overall enjoyment of the meal. It would also make a great dish to end a night of drinking.

I visited during lunch on a holiday. I visited based on the reviews on Tabelog. I arrived at 12:30 and there was no line. I was surprised. I ordered the rich dried fish ramen. It was ready in about 5 minutes. First of all, the staff's service was polite and wonderful. It's a reflection of good customer service. As for the ramen, the soup is based on dried fish, but it's different from the usual. Is this what dried fish tastes like? The flavor is a bit weak for a dried fish-based soup. If they are promoting it as dried fish-based, I would prefer a stronger dried fish flavor. The noodles are the type I like, firm and chewy. They are delicious. Overall, it's not bad at all. I actually think it's quite tasty, but the fact that the basic ramen costs 1000 yen is a bit questionable. Also, it doesn't come with green onions by default... I would prefer to have green onions instead of kikurage mushrooms. Thank you for the meal.