Menya Takashi started as a traditional Wakayama ramen shop but has since evolved into a Jiro-inspired style. I was intrigued when I heard about their new tomato-flavored Jiro-inspired ramen. I love garlic-infused tomato pasta, and the idea of pairing it with thick noodles similar to fettuccine got me excited. The limited edition Tomato Cheese Ramen costs 1000 yen. While I was tempted by the option of trying various seafood broth-infused noodles, I stuck to my initial choice of the tomato ramen since I've never been disappointed by tomato-based ramen before. The rich soup made from pork, chicken, and aromatic vegetables paired perfectly with the tomatoes, creating a rich and flavorful Italian noodle dish. The broth wasn't overly greasy, just right. The noodles were firm but not too hard, resembling fettuccine. The crunchy texture of red onions added a nice contrast. The thick slices of pork and bean sprouts soaked in the tomato flavor were exquisite. Despite the unexpected combination of tomatoes and bean sprouts, they complemented each other perfectly. Jiro-style and Jiro-inspired ramen usually upset my stomach for a few days, so I was cautious not to finish the whole bowl this time. However, I couldn't resist and ended up finishing it all. For just 1000 yen, enjoying a rich and flavorful soup pasta is a steal. My stomach felt great afterward. Just like with tomato pasta, I believe garlic is a must. The cheese wasn't overpowering, and with a drizzle of basil sauce, it felt like a Margherita pizza. They also offer Jiro-style and ramen noodles on the menu, which I'm curious to try next time. The restaurant is located inside the Amaike supermarket in front of Hagiyama Station, and they have parking available.

The restaurant opens at 11:30 and there is a ticket machine at the storefront. I ordered "dried fish ramen" with extra vegetables and customized options like "less vegetables," "extra garlic and less," "extra oil and less" using the ticket machine. You can also specify noodle firmness and flavor intensity when handing over the ticket to the staff. The noodles here are different from Jiro-style as they are flat and medium thickness, so if you come here expecting Jiro-style noodles, you may find it a bit lacking. The regular serving size is 350g, and the large serving is 510g, but it may not feel very filling, even after finishing a meal with extra vegetables. It's a lighter option compared to Jiro-style ramen, but it's a place you might crave periodically.

I revisited a G-style ramen shop with two hungry young colleagues during summer vacation. It was their first time trying G-style ramen, so we ordered tsukemen and mazesoba. As we ate together, they wanted to try my default order as well, so we shared and finished everything. The taste here is addictive and makes you crave it occasionally.

In front of Hagiyama Station in Higashimurayama City, Tokyo, there is a Jiro-inspired ramen restaurant that also serves regular Chinese noodles. The miso ramen costs 880 yen and comes with extra vegetables, extra pork fat, and firm noodles. The rich soup is made from a blend of pork bones, chicken bones, and aromatic vegetables, creating a delicious original golden miso flavor that pairs perfectly with the thick noodles. The generous amount of vegetables and the sweet and spicy soup create a unique twist on the traditional Jiro ramen. The chewy thick noodles and tender char siu pork are also delicious. Although I don't come here often, I would definitely stop by again for this tasty ramen.

Menya Kei Cold Tantanmen 950 yen Menya Kei's summer menu has started from July 14th this year. Last year's summer menu featured both Cold Tantanmen and Cold Mixed Tantanmen, but this year seems to only offer Cold Tantanmen. The toppings include spicy minced meat, fried egg, greens, and shredded red chili peppers. The noodles are wavy medium-thick noodles similar to those used in ramen. The soup has a spicy miso flavor with a good balance of acidity. The noodles are well chilled and have a good mix with the soup, making it enjoyable to eat. The change from chashu to minced meat this year allows for the meat and noodles to be eaten together, which is a nice touch. I enjoyed it once again, thank you for the meal.

In front of Hagiyama Station in Hagiyamacho, Higashimurayama City, Tokyo, there is a ramen shop inside the supermarket Amaike. I initially thought it was a Jiro-inspired style, but they offer various menu items such as miso, shoyu, and salt-based ramen, so it seems they use a central kitchen system instead of preparing everything in-house. When I visited on a weekday after 7 pm, there were only two other customers inside, and Uber Eats delivery came a couple of times, so it seems to be popular among local residents. I ordered the ramen for 800 yen with extra vegetables, extra garlic, extra lard, and firm noodles. The menu boasts about the thick homemade chashu on top of a rich soup made from pork bones, chicken bones, and aromatic vegetables, which perfectly matches the thick noodles. The ramen comes with a generous portion of 350g of noodles and 350g of vegetables, mainly bean sprouts but also crunchy cabbage. The pork was tender and delicious, and the soup, although not emulsified, had a strong garlic flavor. This ramen offers great value for money and is very satisfying. I didn't order it this time, but they also have a "tiredness set" for 1,280 yen and shochu with water for 150 yen, which seem appealing. They also offer handmade gyoza for 400 yen and a snack set for 350 yen, which would be great for drinkers.

Menya Kei Chukasoba (Large) for 800 yen plus handmade gyoza for 400 yen. I visited on a weekday after 1 PM. This time, I had the Chinese soba and gyoza after a long time. The Chinese soba is advertised as Wakayama ramen, with a pork bone soy sauce soup and thin noodles. The toppings included half a seasoned egg, chashu, naruto, menma, and green onions. When I took a sip of the soup, it had a gentle flavor. The noodles were thin and seemed to be about 1.5 millimeters thick. Surprisingly, these noodles complemented the gentle soup flavor well. The gyoza arrived a little later than the Chinese soba. The skin was chewy, and the filling had a good amount of meat juice, giving it a substantial feel. Once again, I enjoyed my meal.

Menya Kei Tomato Cheese Ramen 1000 yen I visited the Hagiyama Ekimae store as they have started offering the Tomato Cheese Ramen that was previously available at the sister store Menya Kei Keisei Koiwa. There are two options: Tomato Cheese Ramen and Tomato Cheese Soba, with the difference being the medium noodles for ramen and thin noodles for soba. The prices are 1000 yen for ramen and 950 yen for soba, and it is a limited-time menu item. The toppings include the usual bean sprouts, a little boiled cabbage, and what seems to be red onions for color. Instead of lard, there is melted cheese on top, with chashu and garlic on the side. The tomato soup is refreshing from the first sip, with a sweet and sour taste that is easy to drink. I was curious about the combination of ramen and tomato soup, but considering spaghetti bolognese or Neapolitan pasta, which are made with tomatoes and flour, it makes sense that they go well together. When you eat it with the melted cheese, it adds a creamy richness and makes it even more enjoyable. Once again, I was able to enjoy a delicious meal. Thank you for the meal.

Menya Kei Ramen 800 yen This time, I had the ramen with garlic, vegetables, and extra oil. The portion size was good, starting with attacking the mountain of bean sprouts. They were cooked just right, crunchy and enjoyable to eat. After conquering a good portion of the vegetable mountain, I submerged the pork and garlic into the soup while flipping the noodles to reach the bottom of the bowl. The noodles were smooth but had a slight chewy texture, reminiscent of the previous ones. However, it was still enjoyable. The soup had a strong soy sauce flavor and wasn't emulsified, which paired well with the noodles. The pork wasn't the rolled kind like before, but it was tender and easily fell apart. Once again, I had a delicious meal. Thank you for the meal.

Menya Kei Ramen 800 yen I had the normal ramen. The soup has a good soy sauce flavor that stands out nicely. The vegetables, mainly bean sprouts, have a good crunchy texture. The noodles are medium thick and slightly straight, but they mix well with the soup. The chashu is tender and falls apart easily, especially when soaked in the soup. Once again, I was able to enjoy a delicious meal. Thank you.

Today, after finishing my errands, I headed south on the Seibu Shinjuku Line. I decided to try eating without searching for a place. It was my first time at Hagiyama Station South Exit. Hmm... there are no restaurants, only a small supermarket. Oh, I can faintly see the words "noodle shop" next to it! I found a place called Ramenya Takashi! I decided to go in at 11:25. Are they open at 11:00? People were coming in and out. I chose the Black Ma-yu Ramen for 930 yen, with a large serving for an extra 100 yen and rice for 150 yen, totaling 1280 yen. The small shop had about 10 seats, and there were around 7 customers inside. "Would you like garlic?" they asked. I said yes. They didn't ask about vegetables or oil. The place filled up quickly with about 15 minutes wait for the ramen. It seemed like a Jiro-style inspired ramen with black ma-yu, which was a first for me. The portion was quite generous! The combination of black ma-yu and medium-thick noodles was delicious! The bean sprouts and chashu were also good. This restaurant seems to have opened in 2021, but there were mentions of closure or relocation. According to my later check on Tabelog, it had a rating of 3.12. Personally, I think it deserves a slightly higher rating. Overall, it was a satisfying meal.

Dinner on January 13, 2023 (Friday). Worked in Ichinomiya all day. For dinner, I got off at a station on the Seibu Line. I decided to include the Seibu Line in my dining options this year. Today, I got off at Hagiyama and went to this ramen shop located in part of the building of Amaike supermarket in front of the south exit of the station. The shop opened on September 18, 2021 in Hagiyama where there are few dining options. According to online reviews, it seems to be inspired by Jiro-style ramen. I arrived at 6:37 PM and there were two customers ahead of me. I bought a ramen ticket (800 yen) from the ticket vending machine outside the shop. I handed the ticket to a foreign female employee and she asked if I wanted garlic. I said yes, but I didn't ask for extra vegetables, pork fat, or garlic. While waiting for the ramen, I thought maybe I should have asked for extra toppings. However, when the ramen arrived, I was glad I didn't ask for extra. The amount of vegetables was not overwhelmingly large, but it was more than enough. The soup had a strong soy sauce flavor, and the amount of pork fat was within reason (lol), just right for me. The noodles were flat and smooth, with a normal firmness. Overall, it was a pretty tasty bowl of ramen.

I visited for lunch and ordered the basic ramen since it was my first time at this restaurant. I opted for extra vegetables and garlic as toppings, with medium thick noodles. However, the soup only tasted like soy sauce. They apparently use pork bones, chicken carcass, and aromatic vegetables, but I couldn't really taste them.

Menya Kei Miso Ramen for 880 yen. It had been a while since I visited Kei-san and had their miso ramen with garlic and vegetables. The miso in the soup had a nice flavor to it. The portion of vegetables was generous, making it a bit challenging to mix in without spilling. The noodles were medium thickness and had a smooth texture that paired well with the soup. The chashu was thick and tender, easily coming apart. A new Jiro ramen shop opened two stations away, but Menya Kei seems to still be thriving. I enjoyed my meal once again. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Menya Kei Taiwan Mazesoba 880 yen I tried the Taiwan mazesoba that has been available since the other day. The toppings include an egg yolk sprinkled with sesame seeds at the top, stir-fried minced meat, surrounded by fish powder, garlic, chopped onions, green onions, chopped seaweed, and chopped green onions, providing a variety of flavors. The noodles are the usual thick noodles, and the sauce is gathered at the bottom of the bowl, so you mix it while breaking the egg yolk. Additional sauce was also provided, but I didn't need to use it this time. When it comes to Taiwan mazesoba, there is a tradition of adding rice to the remaining sauce and toppings at the end, but it seems that you have to order rice separately. Since I didn't add extra sauce this time, when I finished the noodles, the toppings and sauce were also gone. The taste was delicious, thanks for the meal.

Menya Kei's Pork Shabu and Spinach with Jaw Dashi Ramen for 980 yen is a new menu starting from August 13th. When you take a sip of the soup, you can taste the refreshing flavor of the jaw dashi broth. The noodles are thick and the accompanying jaw dashi soba noodles are thin. The toppings include boiled pork, boiled spinach, bean sprouts, a little cabbage, and a dollop of lard on top. At the base of these toppings, there is a seasoned egg. Despite its junky appearance, the ramen surprisingly has a refreshing taste due to the seafood broth. Once again, it was delicious, thank you for the meal.

Garlic, oil replenished. Let's get through the summer! Visited for dinner. The place is located just a short walk from Seibu Hagiyama Station. I had been curious about it every time I passed by... Today, I wanted to boost my stamina with a G-style meal, so I visited. The restaurant has only a counter, and it is attached to the supermarket Amaike. I ordered Ramen for 800 yen, Quail eggs for 100 yen, and a draft beer for 450 yen. [Visual] The G-style portion is impressive. The dark-colored soup and thick chashu have a strong impact. [Soup] First sip... delicious! A soy sauce and animal-based rich soup. The oil mixed in adds sweetness. I thought it would be dangerous if I finished it all, realizing once again how good this kind of soup is. [Noodles] Thick and chewy. The noodles don't absorb too much soup. A type not often seen in G-style ramen... [Chashu] Tender and tasty. It crumbles easily with chopsticks, and the meat part is fluffy and soft. [Quail eggs] Personally, I like them and always order them when available. Three eggs are too few... I wish they would increase the quantity. After finishing the meal, I felt like I powered up by eating G-style ramen after a long time. The voluminous ramen gives a feeling of value for money and is recommended for when you want to eat heartily. However, they give cold green tea instead of water, which doesn't really match with ramen... I hope they change that. I enjoyed it!

Menya Kei's Cold Tantanmen for 900 yen Menya Kei, known for their G-style ramen, has introduced two new cold ramen dishes starting from June 29th. I tried them out right away. The new additions are the Cold Tantanmen and the Cold Mixed Tantanmen, both priced at 900 yen each. First, I had the Cold Tantanmen. The noodles were thick and flat, topped with slices of chashu, seasoned egg, greens, yellow bell pepper, chopped peanuts, and some red thread-like garnish. The chashu, which was sliced into about 6 pieces per slice, was the standout. The soup had a spicy sesame miso flavor that coated the noodles well. Despite the usual richness of their dishes, I found this cold menu item quite enjoyable.

Menya Kei Popular Mazesoba 800 yen As the weather is getting warmer, I decided to try this mazesoba that is not hot. The topping of back fat is also flavored, so it tastes delicious even when eaten from the top. When you mix it thoroughly, the thick sauce and mayonnaise at the bottom make you feel like you are absorbing a lot of calories. The thick noodles mix well with the sauce and mayonnaise, so you can enjoy it until the end.

Menya Takashi Niboshi Ramen 850 yen, extra vegetables. It's been a while since I had the niboshi ramen here, and it's been even longer since I had it without the added pork fat and garlic. This time, I wanted to enjoy the pure flavor of the niboshi broth. From the first sip of the soup, you can really taste the essence of the niboshi, and with each slurp of the thick noodles, the flavor spreads in your mouth. It's a mild and pleasant taste, and I ended up finishing the whole bowl of soup. Thank you for the meal.

Tokyo, Kodaira City. Near the south exit of Hagiyama Station on the Seibu Haijima Line. A ramen shop located in a corner of a supermarket. I had been curious about it for a while, but finally made my first visit this time. Purchased a meal ticket at the ticket machine in front of the shop. As a first-timer, I ordered the regular soy sauce ramen. I also pressed the button for extra vegetables (free of charge). Other members of my group also bought gyoza. The shop has about 8 counter seats. It would be nice to stop by on the way home. I saw a stamp card on the counter, so I prayed for more visits in the future. The ramen was served! It had a Jiro-style vibe. I don't dislike it, in fact, I like it. It was delicious. The noodles were thick, and they mixed well with the broth. I tried the gyoza, which was decent. Thank you for the meal.