Visit Date: March 19, 2023 (Sunday) For today's late lunch, I first went to "CLAM&BONITO Shellfish Broth Noodles raik" in Hounancho, Tokyo, and enjoyed the 5th-anniversary limited edition noodles "Triple Harmony Ramen (Salt)" with hand-kneaded thick noodles. Next, I headed 1.2km to "BonitoSoupNoodleRAIK" in Omiya, Suginami-ku, from "CLAM&BONITO Shellfish Broth Noodles raik"! The goal was to try the "WBC Support Ramen 'Nootbar'" ⚾ This limited edition noodle has been available since March 15th, with specific serving times from 11:30 to 15:00 and 18:00 to 21:00. It features a rich soy sauce base, garlic, and plenty of freshly ground pepper, paired with chewy hand-kneaded noodles. The excitement about this ramen peaked when it was featured on Yahoo! News on March 17th, just four days after its introduction. Upon checking the article, it turns out that the owner of the Raik store in Koriyama was the one who tweeted about it. The official Major League Baseball site picked it up, reporting that a Japanese ramen shop is offering "Nootbar Noodles," making it a global sensation. Even the Japanese baseball player, Lars Nootbar (Cardinals), mentioned, "I've never heard of Nootbar Noodles before. It's pretty cool. I'm super grateful that Japan has accepted me." Eager to try it myself, I couldn't help but worry about potential long lines due to the news coverage. However, it seems they were well-prepared with a substantial quantity of servings. To avoid crowds, I intentionally aimed for a later time. I arrived at "CLAM&BONITO Shellfish Broth Noodles raik" at 13:50, joined a queue of six people, finished my meal, and left by 14:30. Though there was a chance they might have stopped serving lunch due to the line, I decided to proceed to my next destination. From "CLAM&BONITO Shellfish Broth Noodles raik," I walked just one minute to the bus stop called "Mine" along Hounan Street. I took the Keio bus [宿33] bound for Eifukucho, disembarked four stops later at "Hounan Suido Doro"! I arrived at 14:41 and noticed two customers waiting on the bench, and two more standing on the sidewalk—perhaps waiting for their friends still inside? Initially, that's what I thought until they revealed professional video cameras. Eventually, a businessman-looking gentleman emerged from the shop, and they seemed to be from a TV news program. The staff came out, prompting us to purchase meal tickets first. I bought the ticket for the "Limited Edition Noodle" from a small ticket machine, then waited outside. The staff returned, collected our tickets, and after a while, we were ushered into the restaurant at 14:57. Seated and ready, the "WBC Support Ramen 'Nootbar'" was served at 15:03. It took 22 minutes from arrival to having the ramen on the table. Perhaps the delay was due to TV filming? Some customers were enjoying beer, so Sundays might be busier. Despite the wait, being able to savor the limited edition ramen was totally worth it. Additionally, the owner of the Koriyama branch performed a pepper mill show during the serving. The "WBC Support Ramen 'Nootbar'" featured three types of chashu—sous-vide chicken breast, charcoal-grilled pork shoulder loin, and simmered pork belly. It was garnished with white negi, pink pepper, extremely fine menma, and finely chopped leeks, creating a delightful presentation.

After getting off at Nagafukucho Station and walking through the shopping street towards Honami Street, I went to Bonito Soup Noodle Like around noon. It was scorching hot outside, but inside the small restaurant with only 6 counter seats, they had the air conditioning on full blast, so it was quite cool! I tried their Special Rich Bonito Ramen. It was thick and gooey, but easy to eat thanks to the bonito broth, and the pork bone flavor made the soup satisfyingly rich and delicious. The medium-thick noodles and three types of lean meat made it refreshing and easy to eat. The bamboo shoots, seasoned egg, and seaweed were also tasty. It's the kind of place you'd want to visit again. Thanks for the meal!

On September 9, 2023, at 13:06 on a Saturday, I tried the Bonito Soup Noodle at Nishi Eifuku. As of today, it holds a Foodlog rating of 3.74 and is ranked 500th in the top 100 restaurants of 2022. The Nishieifuku Niboshi (dried baby sardines) shop, which originated as the third branch, was originally derived from this Bonito Soup Noodle. Seeing such articles raises expectations. This noodle shop gained attention with its Noodle Bar Noodle, even appearing on MLB's Twitter. Oddly, there was not a single customer in the store. With only 5 seats and 2 staff members, they played Hikaru Utada's new song "GOLD." I chose the special rich bonito ramen for 1250 yen, which arrived at 13:11. The soup is undeniably rich with bonito flavor. The chicken broth is still robust, but there's hardly any pork bone essence. The chashu is made from chicken breast, and the pork shoulder loin and simmered pork belly are marinated overnight and roasted in a pot. The seasoned egg is a normal, semi-soft boil. The bamboo shoots are also ordinary. It's a bowl that showcases the full flavor of bonito. For those who love this style, it's a satisfying bowl. If we were to describe it in a Power Pro (baseball video game) style, it might be someone who likes Meat Contact-type flavors. Power is not fully unleashed, slightly lacking, and there's a somewhat mediocre feeling. Running speed is average, shoulder strength is not bad, but not outstanding. Defense is also average. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

Visited at 6:00 p.m. on a weekday. Located about a 15-minute walk from Eifukucho Station. Only counter seats, about 6 of them. The soup is light yet flavorful with depth, very easy to drink. Noodles are carefully selected to match each ramen dish, showing dedication and attention to detail.

Today, I came to work in the neighborhood after a long time, so I ordered here for lunch. I usually only order the basic dish. I ordered soy sauce ramen with seasoned boiled egg topping and a small side of rice. It was around lunchtime, and although there were four people ahead of me in line, I didn't have to wait too long to get my food. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I ordered from a renowned bonito flakes specialty store with experience in top 100 shops. The restaurant is extremely small, with only 5 seats. I ordered the Bonito Soy Sauce Ramen and the Special Rich Dipping Noodles. The Bonito Soy Sauce Ramen truly highlights the bonito flakes. The noodles are straight and thin, offering a firm texture with a noticeable wheat presence. The fishy smell is subtly mellowed, and the broth is a clear and refreshing type. The impression is dominated by the flavor of bonito flakes, followed by the smoothness of chicken broth, and the refreshing aftertaste is enhanced by charred green onions and yuzu. Virtually no impurities are felt, and I finish every drop. The Special Rich Dipping Noodles combine bonito flakes and pork bone, creating a rich but not overly thick broth. The noodles are thick with a satisfying chew, reminiscent of those commonly used in popular shops around Shinjuku. The soup is mainly flavored with pork bone and bonito flakes, distinct from soy sauce. It is also of high quality, rich but mild with a seafood essence, while pork bone and a hint of chicken add depth. The char siu (roasted pork) is perfectly tender with exquisite seasoning. It was delicious.

Located in Eifukucho, Tokyo. It was a weekday at 12:30 in summer, so there weren't many customers, and there was no queue. Inside the restaurant, it gets very hot because they make rich soup, so until the end of August, they only serve rich tsukemen, as stated on the wall. Limited edition noodles for 1350 yen, "BONITO JUNKIE COLD." It seems to be an annual tradition, a cold, junky mixed noodles with thick noodles topped with a large amount of shredded cabbage and slices of chashu that cover about half of it, resembling sliced chicken meat. Well, don't you usually mix mixed noodles well first? But this serving style is tough, isn't it? (laughs) So, I ate it little by little while mixing, but it's delicious in its own way. First, the noodles are delicious. The thick noodles are entwined with a sesame dressing-like sauce, and when you eat it while forcibly mixing the cabbage and chashu, it becomes a unique Chinese-style mixed noodles. They asked if I wanted garlic at the beginning, so I added it, and it also became a good accent. I've been to this restaurant many times, but there's never been a miss. Thank you for the meal.

I recently visited a shop I've been curious about for a while. Inside, it was a small place with about six seats, and the atmosphere was very artisanal with the owner. There were lots of customers who seemed to be ramen and tsukemen enthusiasts. I couldn't resist trying their limited-time menu right away, but I have no regrets whatsoever. It was delicious. It was fantastic.

12:08 Arrived. I waited outside behind one person. Bought a meal ticket first and waited. Entered the shop when called by the staff. The interior has 5 counter seats. Special bonito soy sauce ramen 1250 yen. 12:13 Seated. 12:23 Served. The soup contains thin straight noodles, 1 chicken and 2 pork char siu, flavored egg, green onions, bamboo shoots, and seaweed. The soup has a good match of bonito aroma and soy sauce, slightly rich but tasty. The thin straight noodles are smooth and chewy, just how I like them. There are 3 types of char siu, chicken and pork loin are moist, and pork belly is flavorful, each delicious. The flavored egg is well-marinated with a hint of sweetness, slightly firm but tasty.

Special Thick Bonito Dipping Noodles 1250 yen Many of the restaurants in this group seem to offer it. Since the regular serving and the medium serving are the same price, I chose the medium serving. Even though it's a medium serving, the portion doesn't seem particularly large. Thick noodles intertwine with a sweet thick soup. Although it's a special dish, the toppings feel a bit lacking. This is the go-to place when craving something rich. They suspend serving thick ramen in the summer due to the heat. I'm curious about their summer-only chilled noodles, so I'll revisit.

Bonito Soup Noodle RAIK㊗️Congratulations on your 8th anniversary! This place combines chicken, pork, and bonito soup with Raik's shellfish broth noodles, creating a triple favorite! They use noodles from King Noodle, and the pork shoulder, pork belly, and pork wontons are my ideal! Absolutely heavenly delicious!

Had lunch at a newly discovered restaurant, and it turned out to be amazingly delicious. Arrived around 12:30 PM, parked for 60 minutes, and joined a queue of 2 people outside. Got a meal ticket and waited. Chose the special bonito soy sauce ramen with a lunch set for 1,300 yen. Waited for about 10 minutes before entering the restaurant. Inside, I was quickly asked about my order. The interior wait was less than 5 minutes. Ordered a bowl with three types of meat, bamboo shoots, green onions, and seaweed – it looked incredibly delicious. The meat was tender, and the noodles and soup were superb (￣▽￣) Delicious egg with perfect texture. Grateful for the delightful encounter with ramen that suits my taste after a long time. Thanks for the delicious meal!

Average score when posted: 3.74/6/9 on a weekday Friday around 12 PM, no waiting. Ordering with extra yuzu is recommended as it complements well. The noodles seem to be whole grain with thin strands and a slightly gritty texture. The broth doesn't soak well into the noodles, so it lacks harmony with the soup. However, the taste and texture are not bad. Soup: Fragrant with bonito, delicious, with a slightly noticeable amount of fat. Char siu: Chicken breast is decent, pork is average. Menma: Average. Overall: If you prefer ramen with a strong bonito flavor, Mochimochi no Ki in Higashioka, Saitama Prefecture, is better; if you prefer something similar, Amore in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, might be more to your liking (come to think of it, they might not be that similar after all).

Located in Tokyo, Nagafukumachi. At 12:15 on Tuesday, thankfully no line, maybe due to the rain. Lucky! Their specialty, Bonito Dashi Shiro Shoyu, costs 1200 yen. Lately, whenever I come here, I feel like I'm only eating their limited edition noodles. Eating without much thought, you might wonder, "Is this really salt-based?" But it's delicately flavored with bonito dashi and white soy sauce, resulting in a gentle taste. Served with thin noodles, consistently well-made chashu, and green onions adding a nice touch, it creates a world reminiscent of bonito soup noodles. This is something to savor slowly rather than rushing through. The presence of nori doesn't seem to make much difference. With only about six seats in this tiny shop, they probably don't make much profit. Next time, I hope they offer a special dipping noodle! Ah, it was delicious! Thank you for the meal.

I had the special dried noodle ramen, and each of the three slices of pork had different flavors, all of which were delicious! The soup was also very tasty, and the noodles were smooth. I definitely want to visit again. I went around 12:00 on a weekday, and because it was raining, there was only one person waiting, so I was able to get in quickly.

The rich tuna ramen costs 1000 yen, and they also have soy sauce and limited edition flavors, but I always go for this one. It's a thick, pork bone broth with plenty of fish powder blended in, making it really creamy. Surprisingly, it doesn't leave you feeling heavy. The noodles are slightly thick and chewy straight noodles. Toppings include onions, yuzu, seaweed, chicken and pork chashu, and bamboo shoots. I added a flavored egg for 150 yen this time. I occasionally crave this dish, but because the shop is small and there's usually a line outside, I can't visit often due to my schedule.

2023, 25th visit. Arrived smoothly at 2:15 PM. Ordered the specialty rich bonito dipping noodles (medium serving, ¥1,250). Served at 2:31 PM. The dipping sauce, rich with bonito aroma and thick texture, perfectly coats the smooth noodles. Rich and delicious. Three types of pork slices and seaweed also complement the rich dipping sauce well. Finished quickly. The limited edition sea bream dipping noodles look tempting. Thank you for the meal.

Katsuo kombu water dipping noodles 1200 yen, flavored egg 150 yen. Arrived on a holiday after 12 o'clock, with a line of 5 people. The bowl arrived 25 minutes later. The noodles are medium thick straight noodles, well coated with kombu water, good as they are. The kombu flavor is subtle. The soup is a chicken-based bonito punch. The soy sauce is crisp and well-balanced. As you mix in the kombu water, it becomes milder in the second half. The chashu is made from chicken breast, pork shoulder loin, and pork belly. It's tender and flavorful. The flavored egg and others are average. Since this shop is strong with limited-time noodles, I'll come back when there's something else eye-catching. #ramen #ramenclub #lovetheramen #bonitosoupnoodlelike

The bonito flavor is just right! While bonito can sometimes have a strong, slightly off-putting smell or taste if it's too overpowering, this soup manages to extract only the delicious umami flavors, making it incredibly tasty. While some may enjoy the stronger taste, this is exactly to my liking. The addition of charred garlic chips and yuzu adds a wonderful accent. The firm and slightly chewy thin straight noodles, the three types of char siu, and the soft-boiled flavored egg are all exquisite! This might be the best light and clear seafood soy sauce ramen I've ever had...

I fell in love at first sight with the title of "Clam and Shrimp Kombu Water Dipping Noodles (Medium Serving), Chashu @ Bonito Soup Noodle RAIK (Nagafukucho)." Before going to work, I visited the restaurant. First, I tried the noodles with just the kombu water, and it was delicious as the flavor of clams expanded. Then, when I dipped the noodles into the soup, the flavor of the shrimp spread out and it was incredibly tasty. I couldn't help but slurp up the large bamboo shoots and thick slices of chashu. The cherry blossom accents and the clams along with the kombu water were also delicious. I finished every last bit and was completely satisfied. Being able to taste both clams and shrimp made me feel like it was New Year's, and it was a truly satisfying dipping noodles experience. #Nagafukucho #NagafukuchoGourmet #InokashiraLineGourmet #bonitosoupnoodleraik #ClamandShrimpKombuWaterDippingNoodles #KombuWaterDippingNoodles #LimitedEditionDippingNoodles #TokyoGourmet #TokyoRamen #Ramen #Noodles #DippingNoodles #NoodleAdventure #WantToConnectWithRamenLovers #Noodlestagram #SaoriNoodleLoversClub #ramen #japanesefood #instafood #yummy #foodporn #katsuRamen2023