I entered the restaurant at exactly 11:30. There were no other customers before or after me. I ordered ramen with flavored egg for 1000 yen. When I sat at the counter, I was immediately asked about the amount of vegetables, the presence of garlic, and the level of oil. This time, I asked for extra vegetables, no garlic, and regular oil. The owner could use a bit more friendliness, but as for the food, the noodles were easy to eat, not too thick. The soup was not just a soy sauce base, but a mild and creamy blend of chicken broth and miso. The chashu pork was so tender it fell apart when picked up with chopsticks. The extra vegetables added some satisfying crunch. It would be nice if they had an option for a little extra. Thank you for the meal.

I visited Isagi in Narimasu for the first time, a place I had been curious about. I ordered the regular size basic ramen for 850 yen including tax. It was a Friday night around 7:30, with 4 other customers present. The ramen arrived with a satisfying appearance. The soup was creamy and smooth from emulsification. The vegetables were tender and easy to eat. Overall, it was very easy to enjoy, and adding extra garlic gave it an extra punch of flavor. The thick slices of chashu were tender. It had been a while since I had Jiro-style ramen, and I left feeling full and satisfied.

Today's ramen is from Narimasu, "Menya Isagi". It used to be a ramen shop called "Wamen Shirakitsune". After various changes in ownership, a ramen shop has finally opened again after a few years. Perhaps the reason for so many changes in shops is because Narimasu is a somewhat urban area with no parking? When I visit a new shop, the first things I check are the regular holidays, opening hours, and whether they have parking. Oh, and smoking too. Ramen shops are mostly non-smoking, so that's usually not a problem. If the shop is not easily accessible from the main road but is located along Kawagoe Highway, it can be a tough spot for drivers. People driving cars can only check the location of the shop and have no choice but to pass by. Is this the reason why it's difficult to retain loyal customers? I wonder what kind of flavor they offer? Based on reviews, is it a "Jiro-style" ramen? The shop owner is still guiding the part-time staff on operations. The part-time staff's rigid and unsatisfactory service is causing headaches for the owner. The shortage of staff forces them to rely on new part-timers, realizing their importance. I ordered the "Niboshi Ramen (850 yen)" as I'm not a fan of Jiro-style ramen. The ramen comes with a choice of thick or thin noodles, and I chose thin noodles. After a 10-minute wait, the ramen arrived. "Hmm, not very impressive. It doesn't have that appeal. Maybe choosing niboshi for Jiro-style was a mistake?" First, I lifted the noodles. The straight noodles, similar to Kyushu ramen, were firm and delicious. However, the soup was underwhelming. It lacked the expected flavor of niboshi. The base flavor was unclear. The young man next to me received the "Ramen - Regular (850 yen)". The Jiro-style presentation is indeed impressive. It's more like a meal than just ramen. Next time, I might try the Jiro-style ramen for the first time. One thing that caught my attention was the pepper on the table, which seemed to be the same one sold at the "Kaldi" store on Narimasu Skip Street. This kind of shortcut may hinder the shop's uniqueness and create a somewhat awkward atmosphere. The interior of the shop has a casual bar-like atmosphere, not quite like a traditional ramen shop, but this concept also has its charm. Narimasu is a highly competitive ramen district, so I hope this shop will strive to be loved by the locals for a long time.

Last time I went, there were six people lined up outside so I gave up. This time, it's Friday at 6:15 pm. No line outside. Inside the restaurant, there are three customers ahead of me. I was planning to buy "Ramen for 850 yen" from the ticket machine outside, but I saw "Niboshi Ramen for 850 yen" so I decided to get that instead. I liked that the amount of noodles was clearly written on the menu. The noodles for the Niboshi ramen were thin noodles with a quantity of 150g as indicated. Extra noodles cost 150 yen. The restaurant only has counter seats. There should have been five seats, but it increased to six. It's a bit cramped. The customer in the front (me) almost blocked the aisle. Stressful. When I sat down, I was asked if I wanted thick or thin noodles. It's rare to have thick noodles for Niboshi ramen, right? So this time, I chose thick noodles. The amount for thick noodles is 240g, which is significantly more than the 150g for thin noodles. The young assistant cook had a quiet voice and was wearing a mask, so I couldn't understand what he was saying. He asked me something, but I couldn't make it out. Anyway, I tend to accept whatever is offered, so I said "yes." The Niboshi ramen arrived with seaweed, chashu, and menma as toppings. The soup had a clear outline of Niboshi with a sharp finish. The saltiness was slightly strong, which I liked. The noodles, even though they were thick, matched the soup well. However, they didn't look like 240g. The "〇〇" that the assistant asked me about in advance turned out to be a mixture of miso and Niboshi broth. This was a nice touch and a good service. The main attraction of this restaurant, the Jiro-style ramen, allows you to add vegetables, garlic, and fat for free. I wonder if they can transform this into a Niboshi version. Perhaps no one else is doing it because it doesn't work well.

This time, I used it for lunch. I was undecided on what to order, but this time I ordered ramen (regular size). It's a shop with a ticket system. Order details: Ramen (regular size) 850 yen. The ramen (regular size) looks like a Jiro-style ramen. The noodles were medium-thick flat noodles with a good texture. The ingredients were chashu and vegetables. I added free toppings of garlic and oil. It has a pretty salty taste, but it was delicious and filling. The shop has a clean atmosphere, and the staff's customer service was friendly. There was no time pressure like in typical Jiro-style shops, so even female customers who are new to Jiro-style ramen might be able to enjoy it casually. It's a ramen shop near Narihirabashi Station.

Second visit. Since it was raining, I arrived at the opening time of 11:30 with no line and was the first to enter. I bought a ramen for 850 yen at the ticket machine outside the store and went inside. About 10 minutes later, all seats were filled and there was a line outside with one person waiting. When I sat at the counter, the staff asked if I wanted extra vegetables, I chose normal vegetables, garlic and oil, and waited for my order. In less than 10 minutes, my bowl arrived. The presence of thick chashu and finely chopped oil and garlic were visually appealing. I started with the oil and vegetables, and garlic and vegetables. The vegetables were mainly bean sprouts with a firm texture. The oil was not in chunks, so I ate it along with the bean sprouts. The noodles, which appeared after a while, were thin. That's right, the noodles here are slightly thin. They had a smooth texture with a slight chewiness. Towards the end, I added a sprinkle of pepper, but I would like to try a heavy pepper seasoning from the beginning if I have the chance next time. The chashu was about 2 centimeters thick, not melt-in-your-mouth type but more tender. It was well-seared on the outside and tender on the inside. I want to eat it soaked in the soup. The soup was light and not too heavy. If the noodles were a bit thicker and had more chew, it would level up the dish. Since the noodle portion is not too large, it seems like it would be okay to add extra vegetables.

Near Nariwadai Station, along Kawagoe Kaido, is a new ramen shop that opened in February this year, inspired by Jiro-style ramen. On the other side of the road is the famous miso ramen shop "Kikoroku," and a little further towards Kawagoe is "Dotonbori," making it a competitive ramen area. This raises expectations. I ordered the "ramen" (850 yen) with extra vegetables and garlic. The vegetable portion was generous. I dug through the vegetables and garlic to get to the noodles. The noodles were thick with a smooth texture, not the typical chewy Jiro-style noodles. The soup was mild, making it easy for even women to enjoy. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Ramen (regular size) for 850 yen with an additional 150 yen for chashu. Arrived at the restaurant at 11:40 am on a weekday and had to wait outside with 2 people. Got seated inside at 12 pm and received the ramen at 12:10 pm. It was my first visit to this place and I was impressed. The ramen had plenty of vegetables and the soup was flavorful. The pork chashu was tender and not tough at all. The soup had a gentle taste. Thank you for the delicious meal.

I joined the line just before the end of the Saturday lunch rush. There were 5 people behind me and 5 people in front of me in line. At 1:28, the staff came out and announced the end of the lunch service, closing the ticket machine outside. I entered the restaurant at 1:32. The space was small with 5 counter seats and a kitchen, creating a cozy atmosphere. When I handed in my ticket, I was asked about toppings, so I ordered all the vegetables, garlic, and fat. The mixed ramen for the person who came in with me was served first, and mine arrived after a 10-minute wait. I was hungry after exercising, so I was excited about the generous serving of vegetables. The vegetables, mainly bean sprouts, were crunchy and not too hot, which I prefer to warm up with the soup. The fat had a hint of sweetness and a good solid texture that paired well with the vegetables. The noodles were not as thick as Jiro's, more like the thickest version of miso ramen or tantanmen. They had a smooth texture. The char siu slices were just under 2 centimeters wide, providing a satisfying bite. However, they were a bit cold, so I tried to warm them up with the soup, but couldn't warm them up completely. There's always a line outside, making it difficult to keep up the pace, but the lack of warmth in the vegetables and char siu left me feeling a bit uneasy. I would like to give it another try next time.

Isagi Ramen House Basic menu options during the visit include ramen and mixed noodles. Soon, miso and spicy miso will also be added to the menu. Noodle portion sizes include regular (240g), large (+50g for 360g), and extra-large (+100g for 480g). A small portion (120g) is available for free. Toppings include vegetables, garlic, and extra oil. Toppings must be requested when purchasing the meal ticket. The restaurant operates on a meal ticket system and only accepts 1000 yen bills. There are only 5 counter seats available, and tissues are located above each seat. The restaurant is non-smoking, and there is no parking lot on site (but there are coin parking options nearby). First visit in February 2023: Ramen (regular portion) 240g for 850 yen with extra vegetables and garlic. The chashu pork is thick and tender.

The way to line up was not clearly indicated, causing confusion. The noodles were similar to those at a shop known for "Tanmen" style, flat and slightly thick. The broth was mild and gentle, with a subtle soy sauce flavor. The pork slices were slightly thick, and the seasoned egg had a light flavor. Overall, the ramen was not bad, but it was different from the style of ramen at Jiro's. The total cost for a large ramen with extra pork and seasoned egg was 1150 yen.

The place I visited on this day was "Menya Isagi," a Jiro-inspired ramen shop that opened in Narimasu on February 8, 2023. According to online sources, the name of the shop, "Isagi," is a reinterpretation of the owner's name, "Kiyoshi," written in hiragana. The owner hails from Mito's "Menya Arai," and the ramen served here is said to inherit the taste of the original shop. The location is on the first floor of a mixed-use building a short distance from Exit 2 of Narimasu Subway Station, along Kawagoe Kaido. For those driving, there are several coin parking lots nearby, with an average rate of 200 yen for 20 minutes. I visited on February 13th, which was actually my third attempt. The first time, I arrived at the shop right at 8 p.m. only to find out that they had just changed the open sign to "preparing," even though the operating hours on Tabelog indicated last order at 8:30 p.m. It turned out that the original operating hours had been modified. By the way, I have since corrected the operating hours on Tabelog. The second time, I arrived at 7 p.m. to find a notice of temporary closure for the evening. If I may complain, the shop's website is under construction and not functional, and they do not use social media, so there is a risk of not knowing about temporary closures without physically checking. However, at this point, regardless of whether the ramen shop is worth the trouble, it becomes a matter of pride to persist. The third visit was during a weekday lunchtime when I knew for sure they were open. The ticket machine is located at the storefront, offering only two menu items for now: "ramen" and "maze-soba." The noodle portions range from small (120g) for 800 yen to extra-large (480g) for 950 yen, with a common price range. Other menu items (not yet available) include miso and spicy miso ramen and maze-soba. The cost performance may not be excellent, but the wide range of noodle portions from standard to hearty makes it appealing to a variety of diners. I chose the "ramen" with a modest noodle portion. The shop has only five counter seats, and luckily, there was one seat available at the back, so I could enter without waiting, but a line formed outside shortly after. The clientele seemed to be mostly young male customers, likely students. Each counter seat has an acrylic partition, providing some protection against infectious diseases. A water bottle and cups are provided on the table, and self-service water is available. The only seasonings on the table are pepper and shichimi. I placed my ticket on the counter, and the owner took it, asking about my preferences for free toppings such as vegetables, fat, and garlic. I asked for extra vegetables and fat, without garlic. Just before serving, the chashu was sliced with a knife, seared on the surface with a burner, and then served. The ramen bowl was all white with a red saucer. Despite the 120g noodle portion, there was a generous amount of vegetables, giving it a substantial feel. The soup is a creamy tonkotsu shoyu broth. It has a gentle flavor with the umami and sweetness of pork bones coming through, especially enhanced by the extra fat. Although it lacks a punch, it is easy to drink and appeals to the general palate. The noodles are medium-thick, flat noodles with a chewy texture that pairs well with the mild tonkotsu soup. However, they are not the rough and firm type commonly found in Jiro-style ramen, but rather softer, which may be disappointing to some. The vegetables, a mix of bean sprouts and cabbage (80:20), lacked a crunchy texture, likely due to overcooking, but they were tender and easy to eat, blending well with the soup. The chashu, with its crispy seared surface and succulent, meaty texture, provided a satisfying bite. I finished the soup soon after and enjoyed the meal. Thank you for the meal! (‐人‐) [Taste Evaluation] - Soup: ★★★☆☆ - Noodles: ★★★☆☆ - Chashu: ★★★☆☆ [Overall Evaluation] - Visual: ★★★★☆ - Volume: ★★★★☆ - Overall Balance: ★★★★☆

#Menya Isagi Narimasu (Tokyo) Ramen regular size 850 yen with a little garlic and extra vegetables. Delicious! The medium-thick noodles are slightly emulsified with a mild pork sauce and plenty of oil. Is this really right? Was there garlic in it? Was there a mistake? The owner seemed quite busy, and the customers were teasing, asking if there were enough vegetables. Furthermore, it seems like they are still not used to it as they forgot to add the grilled pork before serving and asked if we wanted extra vegetables when handing over the ticket. The grilled pork was grilled on the grill before serving, which improved the aroma. The address is 1-14-16 Nariyama, Itabashi-ku. Open from 11:30 to 14:30 and 17:30 to 21:00. Last order is 30 minutes before closing. Closed on Tuesdays. There are 5 counter seats with table pepper and shichimi. The owner mentioned that the taste is different even though he is from Menya Arai in Mito. It's a mild flavor, not like Menya Arai. #Mazesoba #JiroInspired #RamenNewStore #Ramen #rock #band #musicRamen45

Mixed noodles (regular) with chashu, garlic, oil, and a side of dagashi candy.

I had a regular-sized ramen. The soup, made with animal broth, was lighter than I expected but still flavorful. The bean sprouts and cabbage were crunchy, and the noodles were thick and chewy. Thank you for the meal.

Jiro style? Noodles ▲ Jiro beginner⚪︎