Ningyocho: Mendokoro Naokyu (麺処直久)

Summary: Standard old-school shoyu-based broth ramens. 

Most people travelling to Tokyo are familiar with ramen - a soup noodle dish made with various types of broths and toppings.

Some well-known ramen restaurants that seem to be very popular with tourists include Hakata Ippūdō (博多一風堂), Ichiran (一蘭), Tsukemen TETSU (つけめん TETSU) and Setagaya (せたが屋).

To be honest, I am not a huge fan of kotteri (thick and rich) style ramen broth, which while I feel is very flavourful, is too heavy on the stomach. This is because the broth is made with pork bones, which had been boiled for hours to extract its flavour and its fats.  

I have a preference for shoyu ramen, which is made with clear, brown broth flavored with soy sauce (shoyu). The soup is usually made of chicken broth but can also contain other meats like pork, beef or fish depending on the region. Compared to other broths like tonkotsu and miso, shoyu has a lighter, gentler flavor (assari). 

Most peope might be surprised by this fact, but shoyu ramen is actually the most common type of ramen in Tokyo and is usually what is served when the menu does not specify a specific type of soup.

Today, I wanted to share with you my experience at Mendokoro Naokyu, a ramen restaurant located in Ningyocho which specialises in shoyu based broth made from branded Nagoya Kochin chicken.

While the outside looked a little shabby, the inside of the restaurant was small, clean and cosy. There were a few other people in the restaurant, but it wasn't packed, so we were seated quite comfortably at the counter seats. 

Immediately after we got seated, the staff brought us our water and informed us to let her know once we had decided on our orders. 

The menu selection was quite standard, with them serving about 2 or 3 different types of broth flavours for each ramen.

not sure if they have an English menu, but at least it's got photos

The Boyfriend decided to get their Chicken and Sanma (pacific saury) based broth Tsukemen (鶏ｘ秋刀魚つけ麺).
Just FYI, but tsukemen is basically ramen whereby the soup and ramen are in separate bowls.

chicken and sanma tsuken 790yen

  After much consideration, I decided to get their limited edition Ginger Shoyu Ramen (生姜醤油らーめん.

from 1st to 30th november..!

ginger shoyu ramen 790 yen

The noodles were perfect - springy and chewy, just the way I like it.

droooooool

I am a huge fan of eggs, and I am absolutely in love with ajitsuke tamago (flavoured eggs), and this was one of the shops that got it PERFECT. It was well-flavoured with oozy, custard-like creamy yellow center. 

eggporn

The Boyfriend thought his tsukemen was only so-so. The noodles were stuck together which made it a little difficult for him to eat, and the flavour was a little too light for his liking. 

Still, I quite enjoyed my ramen, and will definitely drop by again when I am craving for some old school traditional ramen. 

Address: 2-20-7 Nihonbashiningyocho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 103-0013

〒103-0013 東京都中央区日本橋人形町2丁目20-7

About 2 minutes walk awy from exit A2 of Ningyocho Station (Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line)

Phone: 03-6206-2732

Hours: Mon - Fri 11am - 10.30pm (last order 10pm), Sat, Sun, PH 11am - 9pm (last order 8.30pm)

Website: http://www.naokyu.com/store/