2012-01-30
Nakano Taishoken (Nakano,Tokyo)
Nakano Taishoken is one of the oldest ramen shops in Taishoken brands, located at Nakano, the west side of Tokyo Metropolitan. They say the shop is the inventor of tsukesoba, similar to tsukemen. Generally a traditional ramen is consisted of noodles, broth and toppings all served together in a bowl. A tsukesoba/tsukemen is served noodles and soup separately. 
The soup is based light soy source broth and made with plenty of katsuobushi(skipjack tuna flakes) and any combination of chicken, fish and a little vineger. It looks a brown and clear color. The taste is a little salty and soure as typical shoyu ramen
And the noodles are fat and a little wrinkled. They have no al-dente feeling, and then have soft touch as well as too boiled. 
The salling point is price(480yen), helpful for Japanese young persons. The noodles here are quite good, and I would definitely recommend the shop due to its convenience and proximity to the going to concert at Nakano Sunplaza.
2011-09-01
Ramen Jinsei JET (Fukushima,OSAKA)
Ramen Jinsei JET, located in five minutes walk form JR Fukushima Station, is one of the most popular ramen shop in Kansai area. They have been sometimes featured at several ramen magazines and then many ramen lovers visited in many times. They have good soup stock called Toripaitan-kei ,so their ramens are based on this stock. I love "Tori-Nikomi-soba" the best . Tori means chicken, Nicomi means chowder and Soba means all of he noodle.
I feel this soup stock a little heavy, and this noodle wavy. The noodle has two characters, hard and smooth touch. Whenever I had this ramen, I feel wheat and soy sauce flavor. I'd like to recommend to try this dish that is very delicious and unique. 
2011-08-09
Ramen Cliff (Osakajoukitazume,OSAKA)
Cliff is located along the main street going west from Osakajou-Kitazume station,JR-west Touzai Line. It had opened on October of 2010, as the second brand of Tsurumen; one of the most popular ramen shop in Osaka Joto area. Recently the flower was made wide and renewal. Master and the staff work together to create good quality syoyu and paitan ramens.
They have a very limited menu that's called "Jidori-Tsuke". Jidori means the special chicken grown in healthy and natural environment. So, Jidori is more tasty and nutritious than a broiler chicken. Tsuke, called Tsukemen for short, is served as Japanese Mori-Soba style. If you ordered Tsukemen in
ramenshop, you'll be served hot soup,and then served noodles. Hot soup(TSUKEDARE) based on Jidori is good flavor and jucie taste. Noodle is handmade, so very fresh. It is boiled as soft as aldente.
Cliff is my most favorite in Osaka-Kyobashi area recently. In next time I'll try a syoyu blended ramen.
2011-08-03
Kinsei Takatsuki Honten (Takatsuki,OSAKA)
Located about five minutes walk from Takatsuki-shi Station of Hankyu Kyoto Line, Kinsei Takatsuki Honten is the most famous shop in Kinsei-group;
that's one of the most popular chain in Kansai area. Kinsei looks like a good teamwork to create good quality miso-blend ramen.
They have special handmade-styled noodles, that is fine, straight and al-dente feeling．Miso-ramen has regularly topping someone, for example
Chashu pork that were well-grilled, sliced green onion, and "ajitama". Ajitama is boiled and tasted by Chashu sauce, spice and shoyu. It's soup is
consisted of several blended miso and sea food flavor oil. I think it is very unique. And then they have a special dish called "Kotteri Shoyu Tsukemen", but I have never tried. Like many popular ramen dishes, Kotteri Shoyu Tsukemen is sold out whenever they run out of soup stock, sometimes even before dinner time.
A good choice if you find yourself near Takatsuki-shi station.
Kinsei Takatsuki Honten
18-1, Kitazonocho, Takatsukishi, OSAKA
2011-08-02
Ramen Jinsei JET 600 (Tamatsukuri, OSAKA)
Ramen Jinsei JET 600 has opened as the Second Branch, located just three minutes walk from JR Tamatsukuri station. It is a renewal open from Higashinari Kinsei and dependent from Kinsei-group, one of the most famous and popular ramen chain shop in Kansai area. Many ramen lovers in Osaka have already known the high quality taste, so it is not uncommon that lines of 10 people or more are stretching down the alleyway on weekdays.
Ramen Jinsei JET 600 is served several type of ramen, shoyu(soy sauce), miso, curry and Toripaitan(Chinese baitang made from chicken), and these ramens are made in the open kitchen. I think that this is a good shop for ramen beginners, so it's taste is not too rich or overpowering, and the atmosphere is so good and festive.
A good choice if you find yourself near JR Tamatsukuri station.
(Attached photo is shoyu ramen.)
Ramen Jinsei JET 600
1-3-3 Higashi-kohashi, Higashinariku, Osaka
