Japan Photo Guide » Food

Nakamoto Spicy Ramen in Ikebukuro

babibubebo — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 02:29:13 +0000

Before I had ramen in Japan, I thought ramen only came in the form of “almost tasteless instant ramen” that costs like 30 cents for a single bag. I had no idea how many different kinds of ramen there are(Sapporo and Fukuoka quickly come to mind as two of the most famous kinds) or exactly how delicious ramen can be. If you go almost anywhere in Japan, you will find tons of ramen ( ラーメン ) shops and probably will get something decent at most places. That being said, I have decided to share with you an excellent place in Ikebukro, Tokyo, Nakamoto with their spicy ramen, or I think they call it “tantan-men.”

If you like ramen and/or spicy food, you will like this place. First a warning though, it is REALLY spicy. Let me repeat that, it is REALLY spicy. I am not talking about wasabi spicy, I am talking super red chili pepper spicy. On their menu, they have a rating system from 0 to 5, of course 0 being not spicy and 5 being beyond comprehension spicy. As for myself, I like spicy food so I thought I could handle it and went with a level 3. This was barely eatable but after adding a lot of vinegar to cut back on the spiciness, it was delicious. My friend got a level 2 and it was still really really spicy, but much more eatable. After eating, we both got upset stomachs, but it was so good that even despite that, my friend wanted to go back the next day before he left Japan to go back to the USA. The next day we both went with level 2 and we both added a little vinegar and that was about perfect for me, just below my tolerance level for spiciness. If you make the trip, I suggest starting with 1 or 2 and then working your way up. Trust me it is spicier than you think it will be.

I made a very simple map for you. Basically, from Ikebukuro station, go out the exit OPPOSITE side of Sunshine City (Sunshine 60) and look for Maru Ichi Maru Ichi (circle one circle one, sometimes called Marui or Oi Oi). It is very close to there on the second floor. It is somewhat famous so if you ask somebody in the area where is Nakamoto, they can probably get you close.

Another warning, if you go at peak times you might have to wait a while to get a seat…

My friend suffering from eating two bowls in two days of Nakamoto’s spicy ramen.

Not really actually, I just wanted to use this photo of him assimilating to Japanese culture.

Here is another photo and some information about Nakamoto Ramen at World Ramen and another account of just how spicy it is.

Gyozaman

babibubebo — Tue, 06 May 2008 01:05:27 +0000

Like pizzaman and chocoraman, gyozaman combines two things that I love, gyoza (which is the Japanese version of Chinese dumplings. In the USA often they are called “pot stickers”) and the fluffy, warm, doughy goodness of nikuman. So you might think that I am all about the gyozaman…

And in general, you would be right! To be fair though, I have somewhat of an obsession with gyoza, so it is hard for me not to like gyozaman. Also, they are a little more difficult to find compared to the others, so that adds to the appeal. The one complaint I do have is that it might be a little too doughy. I mean I know that is the nikuman part, but I think I prefer just the strait up gyoza to the gyozaman. By the way, if anyone is a super fan of gyoza like myself, I STRONGLY recommend checking out Gyoza Stadium, in Namja Town of the Sunshine 60 Building in Ikebukuro.

So in conclusion…
Gyozaman barely gets an 4 out of 5.

Chocoman (chocolate “man”)

babibubebo — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:32:38 +0000

No, not Chocolate “Man” like a person, but pronounced “mahn.” Anyway, not too long ago I wrote about nikuman and mentioned that I would be missing it a lot. Like I said, there are many variations of nikuman and one such–and probably my favorite– is the chocolate one. There are a couple different chocolate ones I have found but the two I have photos of are just the regular chocolate “man” (commonly called chocoraman or chocoman) and the ever so sweet Belgium chocolate “man” (also known as Belgi chocoraman).

What is the difference? Well, besides obviously the color, the Belgi one is a little sweeter but if you are a chocolate lover (or just a liker) you will not be disappointed. Seriously, eating one of these is the perfect fix for any chocoholic. They are kind of like a warm chocolate cake with a hot chocolate fudge filling…. Yummy! Too bad they are usually only sold during the winter months….
Chocolate

Belgium Chocolate

So in conclusion…
Both of these get a perfect 5 out of 5!

tonkatsu

babibubebo — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 04:54:49 +0000

Sticking with the food theme, I have to share another food with you, tonkatsu. According to wikipedia, tonkatsu is:

Tonkatsu (豚カツ, とんかつ, or トンカツ), invented in the late 19th century, is a popular dish in Japan. It consists of a breaded, deep-fried pork cutlet one to two centimeters thick and sliced to bite-sized pieces, generally served with shredded cabbage. Either a pork fillet (ヒレ, hire) or pork loin (ロース, rōsu) cut may be used; the meat is usually salted, peppered and dipped in a mixture of flour, beaten egg and panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) before being deep fried.

I have a couple more months left in Japan, and before I leave I am on a mission to find the best tonkatsu in Japan. I have been to many restaurants and tried many different kinds of katsu, but so far my favorite has been a place called Saboten. There are two main kinds of tonkatsu, pork loin and fillet, I prefer the fillet because it has less fat. Of course Saboten has these but they also have many different variations like dishes with cheese, shiso and ume, minced meat, chicken or shrimp. Also, you get a small bowl of sesame and (i think?) poppy seeds to grind and then mix with the tonktasu sauce. Below is a photo from saboten’s site that shows one of their meals.

Anyway, I like I said, I am looking for the best tonkatsu in Japan, so if anyone has any recommendations, please please share them with me!

nikuman

babibubebo — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 05:18:02 +0000

I know this is Japan Photo Guide but since I will be leaving Japan around September I have started to think about what I will miss most. Besides the friends I have made and photographing Japan, the one thing I will miss the most is by far certain kinds of food that I will not be able to readily get (decent tasting anyway) back in the states. So I will be sharing with you some of my favorite foods that I will absolutely crave after leaving Japan.

The first one I am going to share with you is nikuman (肉まん). Nikuman is a hot flour dough bun filled with chopped pork. This is the basic kind and there are many different variations that I will be sharing with you later (such as pizzaman and chocoman)! These little delights are served mainly at convenient stores all over Japan usually only during the fall and winter seasons (sometimes you can find them in the summer randomly). These are great snacks that I will truly miss when I go back home.

So in conclusion…
Regular nikuman gets a 4 out of 5.

Tokyo Dome

babibubebo — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 02:15:04 +0000

Tokyo Dome is the 55,000 seat stadium home to the Yomiuri Giants. It has hosted everything from NBA and NFL games to monster truck, mixed martial arts and pro wrestling. Next to Tokyo Dome is a place called LaQua which is a shopping and restaurant building. In addition a small amusement park that has a telecaster that goes through the main building, a water ride, bowling and a ferris wheel. To get there by JR you should get off at Suidobashi Station or by subway at Korakuen Station. The below photos is courtesy of PhotoPassJapan.com.

One thing that makes Tokyo Dome worth checking out is food. Especially in the building called LaQua which has a wonderful yakiniku place called Jojoen. It is expensive, but trust me, it is worth it to go one time. Besides the food, just the architecture of the area can make for some nice photos and it is kind of a unique place compared to other parts of Tokyo.

For more information, here is the Official English Homepage of Tokyo Dome.