After finishing work, I decided to stop by since I was nearby. The old lady was still doing her best running the place single-handedly as usual. I ordered my usual level 3 spiciness with extra seaweed and milky broth. It was served in about 5 minutes and I dug in right away. I love the ultra-thin noodles that tangle with the spiciness, and I keep slurping them down. When I was about halfway through, I immediately ordered an extra serving of noodles (150 yen). Just like always, the extra noodles arrived before I finished the first serving, so I added them in and kept eating. Mixing the seaweed with the ultra-thin noodles, I finished the whole bowl. It's a taste that makes me want to eat it every day. I hope the lady stays healthy and lively forever.

The other day (about a year ago), I saw Matsuno Iyo featuring this restaurant on the best restaurant in life, and I thought, "Oh, this restaurant still exists!" and I bookmarked it. During the bubble era, there was a trend of Elimaki Lizard, and Elimaki Ramen was very popular. On Tabelog, it says open from 7:00 PM, but Google told me it's open from 6:30 PM, so I visited around 6:30 PM on a weekday. There were 3 customers already seated. More customers were coming in one after another. I ordered the Nori Stamina Ramen (1100 yen). They pride themselves on having the thinnest noodles in Japan, and the noodles are indeed very thin. The soup is a soy sauce-based broth with a strong taste of chemical seasonings. There are plenty of nori sheets spread out like an Elimaki, with a substantial amount. It comes with a generous topping of onions, garlic, and back fat. It somehow reminded me of the bubble era. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

The motif of the shop is a frilled-neck lizard, so you can tell it's been around since a certain time. The ramen is also exactly like the ramen from that time. It's perfect as a last meal to enjoy while slightly drunk at a bar in Yotsuya-Sanchome. It was delicious.

I love the landlady here. I became a fan on my own. In the past, when I came here alone to eat ramen, I was bothered by a drunk person next to me. The landlady scolded them, saying, "You came here to eat ramen, right? This child also came to eat ramen, don't bother them!" It was cool, so I have been secretly cheering for her ever since. This time, I had level 3 spiciness. After drinking in Araki-cho, I finish off at Isshin Ramen. It's the best. It wasn't featured in the Araki-cho special in Tokyo Calendar. They don't understand. Drunk people get sucked in, haha. If you've been drinking in Araki-cho for years, you should understand. Thank you for the meal. I will visit again.

"Nori Ramen" at Isshin Ramen Yotsuya Sanchome - It's been a while since I've been to Isshin Ramen. When you come here, you have to get the Nori Ramen, right? The refreshing soy sauce ramen with floating onions was delicious. I couldn't finish the soup completely! #IsshinRamen #IsshinRamenYotsuyaSanchome #Chukasoba #SoySauceRamen #Ramen #RamenInstagram #RamenInstagrammer #RamenLover #WantToConnectWithRamenLovers #NoriRamen #ElmakiTokageRamen #BGradeGourmet #LoveBGradeGourmet #BGradeGourmetInformation #LoveBGradeGourmet #LoveBGradeGourmetBGradeDad"

One Heart Ramen in Akebonobashi. A 5-minute walk from Akebonobashi Station. By the way, what is "Yotsuya's specialty Erimaki Ramen"? It seems to have started with seaweed garnished like an Erimaki lizard. Visited just before closing time. One female staff member. The menu names are quite unique. "Biribiri" is probably spicy. Since it's my first time, I'll go with number 2. - Jangjang Ramen, Level 2 Spicy, Old Style. Char siu, green onions, naruto, seaweed, menma. A sharp soup base, rich in animal flavor and seasonings, feels guilty when eaten at night. The accent of chili pepper is nice. Oh, this would be perfect with garlic. The noodles are quite thin. Extremely thin noodles like Hakata ramen. And they are firm. You can feel the texture of the flour and the crunchiness. It's addictive, and they are open until late around here, so I might come back again. Thank you for the meal. * On my blog, I introduce many other restaurants as well. Come visit ♬ -------------------------------------------------------------------- Also, come visit the official Shinagawa Ikko Blog ♬ https://ikkos-films.com/ Instagram [IKKO'S FILMS] https://www.instagram.com/ikkos_films/

I was torn between Hopken in Kichijoji and Erimaki in Yotsuya Sanchome, but since Hopken will be open tomorrow, I convinced myself to choose Erimaki, which I haven't been to in about 30 years. I ordered the Nori Stamina Ramen for 1100 yen at the ticket machine. I sat at the counter seat that was available and waited for about 2-3 minutes. The ramen was served quickly as usual. It had thin noodles, green onions, onions, menma, a little wood ear mushroom, one slice of char siu, and a little ground meat. The visual presentation was nostalgic. Back in the day, the ramen with onions in it at this shop was shocking. And the nori, known as Erimaki, and fresh garlic as well. Nowadays, it's not so rare, but back then, everything had a big impact. On this day, the nostalgia was the only thing, no shock. I didn't get the extra noodles for 150 yen this time. I'll go for the double garlic next time I come. Thank you for the meal.

How many years has it been? It's a taste that I strongly crave after drinking, but unfortunately it's not easy to visit due to its location. I had the chance to go after a long time and I didn't hesitate. I had the Stamina Char Siu and it was the best bowl. The garlic has a good punch. The thin noodles were also excellent.

I finally went to the restaurant with the sign that says "Erimakiramen" that I've been curious about for a while, on my way back from drinking. The catchphrase "World's thinnest noodles" is true to its name, with super thin noodles soaked in a flavorful soy sauce ramen. This is delicious... The owner (a woman) is also very graceful in her movements, which makes me want to go back again. Thank you for the meal.

I did it again. Every time I pass by after drinking, I can't help but stop. This day, the place was almost full. I ordered my usual Nori Stamina Ramen with firm noodles and strong flavor. I had a beer while waiting, and it came out quickly. Oh, it's delicious. The sweetness of the onions with the rich soy sauce, seaweed, and garlic are an excellent combination. I am definitely addicted to it, I love it so much.

We were talking about wanting to eat something and wondering if there was a place on the way back home. Then someone asked if we knew about this ramen shop next to us. Of course, we ordered the garlic ramen. Garlic really is delicious, isn't it? The soup was also delicious.

In Yotsuya 3-chome, when it comes to the best ramen to finish off your meal, it's definitely Isshin Ramen! I used to eat here late at night. The location was on the opposite side of the current store, across the Gyoen Higashi Street. Their signature was the thinnest noodles in Japan, but during the fad of the collar lizard, they created a noodle dish that resembled a collar, which became popular and known as Nori Ramen. They open from 6pm, so I decided to visit after a long time for a satisfying end to my meal. The owner has passed away, and now the owner lady manages the shop alone. There is a ticket machine on the left side of the shop, but I prefer to buy from outside by sliding open the glass door (laughs). I ordered the Nori Ramen (Collar Ramen) for 950 yen. The sharp angled counter seats match the triangular building, and the noodles are served quickly due to their thinness. Nori is arranged around the edge of the bowl, resembling a collar as the name suggests. The soup has a slight sweetness and surprisingly includes sesame oil. It's definitely not "light"! The green onions consist of two types, regular green onions and onions, which add a nice accent. The chashu and bamboo shoots are also well-prepared and delicious. It's nostalgic and unique, with a taste that is hard to find elsewhere. I thoroughly enjoyed it after a long time! Thank you for the meal!!!

A 5-minute walk from Akebonobashi Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line. Exit from A1 and go up the hill on the left side of Shinzaka, where you will find the Araki-cho/Funacho signal on the Gaien Higashi Street. Cross the signal and it's on the left side. This ramen shop opened in 1979, and during the 1984 Elamakitokage boom, a TV program from Fuji TV (which was located in Kawada-cho at that time) featured their Nori Ramen, calling it Elamaki Ramen. It's unclear if the Nori Ramen was created for the boom or if it was already there and the TV station capitalized on it. Regardless, it was a big hit in the 80s due to the publicity. Just like Ichigo Daifuku originated from "Otsunadama-ya" in the Akebonobashi (formerly Fuji TV) shopping street, and became popular after being featured on TV. Even now, the influence of the media on gourmet food is significant. I've visited this place a few times over the past 30 years, and since I'm moving soon, I wanted to visit before leaving. I arrived around 9:00 PM. There were 5 customers already there and 4 came in later. Many seemed a bit tipsy, but customers kept coming in steadily. The kitchen is operated by an elderly woman alone, but the turnover is good. I debated between the Nori Stamina Ramen and Nori Milky Ramen, and went with the Nori Stamina Ramen. It comes with garlic, raw egg, and the Milky version has a seasoned egg. Since I'll be walking straight home after eating, I didn't mind the large amount of garlic. The elderly woman handles everything efficiently, cutting the chashu as needed, and it seems like she's doing a lot of intricate work, but she's very quick and skilled. The Nori Stamina Ramen was served in about 5 minutes. The thick soy sauce-colored soup with floating lard, curly thin noodles, and various toppings like 9 large sheets of seaweed, chashu, wood ear mushrooms, menma, naruto, grated garlic, onions, and green onions. There's also a raw egg hidden under the onions. The thick soup is a blend of chicken broth and chashu marinade, with a strong soy sauce flavor that can get a bit overwhelming, but the garlic, onions, green onions, and lard help balance it out. It has a punchy flavor different from the nostalgic soy sauce ramen, but still has a sense of nostalgia. The nostalgic low-hydration thin noodles pair well with the soup. They tend to get soggy quickly, so it's better to request them firm. The chashu has a nice meaty flavor. The crunchy texture of the menma and wood ear mushrooms adds a nice touch. There may be too much seaweed, but it's a specialty here. Mixing the raw egg into the soup adds a slight flavor change and helps prevent getting tired of the strong taste. I didn't have a strong impression when I first tried it, but this time I noticed many things. Maybe my experience from trying various foods has increased my awareness?

Around 7:30 pm on a regular day, I visited Isshin Ramen for the first time in about 4-5 years. I have been a regular customer since the time when Fuji Television was located in Kotobacho. Back when I was in my teens, haha. At that time, the restaurant was located across from where it is now. I ordered the Stamina Ramen (1,100 yen) and a Milky (100 yen) from the ticket machine. The Milky (flavored egg) was quite a shock to me back then, even though it is common now. The ramen was served in about 3 minutes. The rich soup remains the same as before, and the noodles, which are closer to Hakata ramen with thin noodles, have a slightly different taste. The seaweed naruto, chashu, and menma were delicious, and the raw egg and garlic condiments with green onions and onions complemented the strong stamina soup well. I remember there used to be an option for extra noodles, but it wasn't available on the ticket machine, so they must not offer it anymore. I wished I could have had an extra serving. The Milky egg was perfectly runny and creamy. I regret not getting a double serving. I finished my meal. Thank you for the delicious food.

Record of delicious ramen perfect for enjoying after a few drinks at a standing bar. [4th week of December 2022] I decided to have some ramen before heading home. It's always fun to stroll from Shinjuku Street to Araki-cho, peeking into the bustling eateries along the way in a slightly tipsy state. I arrived at "Isshin Ramen" around 8:10 PM. The interior of the restaurant consists of only a counter with two other customers. I purchased my meal ticket from the machine, which included: - Mini can of beer (Asahi Super Dry) ¥250 - Nori Ramen, Erimaki Ramen ¥950 I quickly received my mini can of beer (Asahi Super Dry). I popped open the can, poured it into a metal beer tumbler, and cheers! It was so refreshing as I was quite thirsty from the walk. The noodles here are very thin and cook quickly, so I didn't have much time to enjoy the beer. The mini can was just right. Shortly after, the "Nori Ramen, Erimaki Ramen" arrived. The ramen soup had a rich flavor that I, as an old man, really enjoy. The extremely thin noodles were irresistible to a tipsy person like me. I'll probably end up coming back here after another drinking session at a standing bar.

Legendary Erimaki Ramen - I suddenly feel like eating this! I remember boasting to my family and friends about this famous Tokyo ramen that also offers souvenir ramen. The Erimaki Ramen costs 950 yen and is made to resemble the collar of an Erimaki lizard, making you feel like you're in the midst of an Erimaki boom. The soup has a nostalgic richness and sweetness, and the crispy onions complement it well. The noodles have a firm texture that harkens back to the past, making this a valuable shop where you can feel the changes that ramen has undergone over time.

The ramen shop I've been going to for almost 30 years is located in Yotsuya! The taste that I loved in my younger days remains unchanged and is still my favorite. I think this is simply amazing. However, the only downside is that this shop is only open from 7pm to 1am, so it doesn't fit my routine of having dinner while drinking at night. Therefore, going there as a late-night ramen after drinking is almost impossible in my situation. It's a rare treat that happens maybe once every few years. My favorite dish at this beloved shop is the "Jan Jan Ramen 4 spicy" with added seaweed, milky broth, and garlic toppings! The soup is also spicy, and the standout feature of this place is the ultra-thin curly noodles that pair perfectly with the broth. It's a blissful bowl. Oh, I'm going to gain weight again...

On the night of September 14th, the second stop was at Isshin Ramen in Akebonobashi. It's an old ramen shop that I haven't visited in about 20 years. First, I bought a meal ticket at the ticket machine on the left side of the shop, then headed to an empty seat at the counter. I started with a toast here. Grapefruit Chuhai for 300 yen. It's a canned chuhai at a reasonable price, but it's nice that they also provide a tumbler. And then, the ramen arrived. Stamina Ramen for 900 yen, Milky egg for 100 yen. It has a slightly salty and nostalgic Showa era soup. Raw onions and minced meat naturally come into the spoon. The thin noodles with a good chewiness go well with this soup. The Milky egg is soaked in flavor and adds to the dish. The slightly firm and large chashu, as well as the nostalgic menma, make it a nostalgic bowl. With plenty of garlic, and the unexpected addition of wood ear mushrooms, it was a bowl full of ingredients that I enjoyed. It's the kind of dish that makes you want to eat it again after drinking.

I did it again. This time it was on a weekday. I ordered Stamina Ramen with firm noodles and strong flavor. The soup had a hint of sweetness from the onions, and the thin noodles were delicious. I can't stop coming back here. But it definitely affected my work the next day...

I did it again. This is the closing ramen. As usual, I ordered the Stamina Nori Ramen with firm noodles and a strong flavor. The noodles are thin here, so they come out quickly. This is also nice. As always, the soup is delicious with a subtle sweetness from the onions. It's really delicious. The noodles slide in smoothly. I enjoyed it so much that I finished the soup completely, and the next day, I had garlic... haha I'll be back again.