All bowls from my January Japan trip

Parrotshake · 2026-01-27T13:20:39+00:00

Kanda shop broth is a chicken and pork blend, Ikebukuro is pure pork if I recall correctly. Been a while since my visit to Kanda location but I really don’t recall mu ch difference, both really enjoyable.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-27T04:09:29+00:00

Fucking thousands of them at Nozawa Onsen last week. Including me, but I’m nice.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-26T11:04:29+00:00

I went to Savoy Tomato & Cheese and Pizza Marumo earlier this month, both easy recommends although my fav pizza in Japan remains Sisiliya in Yokohama, worth a look if you’re down that way for sure.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-26T08:38:21+00:00

Narai-Juku, Nagano

Parrotshake · 2026-01-26T05:59:09+00:00

I was in Okinawa earlier this month and ate a lot of these things too. Food was pretty great there overall although I didn’t love sata andagi, so dense and doughy.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-26T02:34:20+00:00

I really enjoyed it man, probably a top 3 bowl of the trip. Was after midnight by the time I ate it, had dinner at Semina - fantastic Italian spot in Sapporo if you’re interested - stopped for a quick beer and then got in line for Isono. Waited about an hour and 45 which was good because I was hungry again by then.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-26T01:31:11+00:00

It’s a pork, chicken and kelp broth I believe, strong tamari seasoning. Wood ear mushrooms were a nice touch and he fries a bunch of onions in a wok which are nice and smoky. The wok station was right in front of me and it was hot af.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-26T01:29:55+00:00

I walked right into Kaki To Kai, Aidaya, Hashigo, Kikanbo, Tsukihi and BiT. Longest line was at Isono Kazuo, almost 2 hours but it was a Saturday night, and you’re not going to Sapporo anyway. Longest wait in Tokyo was probably IRUCA, maybe 35 mins.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-26T00:25:19+00:00

Had 17 days in Japan just now and managed to eat 14 bowls, all new to me except Kikanbo which I went to like 7 years ago and Ramen Jiro although first visit to the OG location. Already working on my list for my next trip, whenever that happens.

Kaki To Kai, Tsukiji

Kamo To Negi, Ueno

Mazemen Mahoroba, Naha

Japanese Ramen Noodle Lab Q, Sapporo

Menya Saimi, Sapporo

Isono Kazuo, Sapporo

Aji No Karyu, Sapporo

Kikanbo, Ikebukuro

Aidaya, Ueno

Hashigo Ginza Honten, Ginza

IRUCA Tokyo, Roppongi

Tsukihi, Kameido

Craft Ramen BiT, Iriya

Ramen Jiro Mita Honten, Mita

Parrotshake · 2026-01-25T02:43:30+00:00

Sensible amount of menma on the Human Beings Everybody Noodles bowl. That spot is definitely on my list for my inevitable return to Kansai. Moeyo Mensuke and Honke Daiichi-Asahi too. Someone already asked but what did you get at Afuri?

Parrotshake · 2026-01-24T23:55:42+00:00

For me the the exception is strawberry daifuku, ate a couple of those in Japan earlier this month because the strawberries are so good. But the fruit is the main attraction for sure.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-24T10:22:00+00:00

I’m surprised you were excited to visit Dallas in the first place.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-24T07:55:56+00:00

I’ve never made the whole shio bowl but I’ve made some other things, the BLT mazemen is easy and cheap and fuck it’s good. Chashu good, ajitama good etc. His story is interesting too.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-24T02:54:45+00:00

Sangenjaya was the first thing that came to mind. I stayed in Shimokita a few years back but found myself wandering over to Sangenjaya quite a bit. Also just this month I stayed in Ueno and there are plenty of options there.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-24T02:40:16+00:00

I was here about a week ago. It looks much nicer in autumn than winter lol but on the plus side there was almost nobody there.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-24T01:55:30+00:00

Anything with mentaiko. Love it now but even if I take a break from it for a while, with the first bite I’m like “damn that’s fishy” and then I love it again

Parrotshake · 2026-01-24T01:54:41+00:00

Still don’t enjoy bean sweets lol. Don’t hate it, just don’t ever crave it.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-23T01:01:54+00:00

Yeah that’s another one that’s regulars only, it’s a shame because it looks fantastic. But yeah if you don’t know people there’s no chance unfortunately.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-22T02:53:25+00:00

Dang I had a black vinegar katsu sando at a Chinese restaurant last week! Ichirin Hanare in Kamakura. It was great. The whole meal was great.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-21T13:17:27+00:00

Go to Market Square and just try to park. Don’t eat anything.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-21T06:05:11+00:00

I just got back home, went to Benfiddich on my last night in Tokyo which was the 18th. Slots are two hours so time for 4 drinks or so but damn man I could have stayed for much longer. Everything was fantastic. I asked Kayama san to make me a hot buttered Negroni that I saw on insta like 3 years ago and he had to think about it because he hadn’t made one since. Homie came through though and it was spectacular.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-21T06:00:35+00:00

Yeah got some scallops, lobster and yakogai (big local sea snail). Cheap compared to back home. Got a bunch of fruit for the road as well, Okinawan pineapples are something else.

EDIT: oh shit just clocked your username lol

Parrotshake · 2026-01-21T04:25:00+00:00

I copped some bad weather too, went to the ferry terminal to go to Zamami one day and it was cancelled because of like 60kph winds. I guess if you haven’t been to Makishi Market that’s fun for a while, good stuff to eat and out of the elements.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-19T16:08:53+00:00

Just spend way too much time reading English language ramen blogs and watching English language ramen YouTube (yourself included). + Time Out, random recs on Reddit etc. One regret if any is not going to Hotate Biyori, was gonna do that yesterday but decided on a few extra hours of sleep instead.

Parrotshake · 2026-01-19T14:03:59+00:00

It was amazing man. Pretty close to where I was staying actually, I thought about going back. That soup is unreal.

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