According to the Tokyo Restaurant Industry Association, more than 2,000 ramen restaurants in Tokyo offer a variety of ramen flavors, including soy sauce soup, miso-based soup, salt-based soup, and more. When my guests ask me to take them to the best ramen shop, it’s impossible for me to choose just one, as each ramen shop has its unique taste.
I often introduce my guests to Ore Ryu Shio, a ramen restaurant in Kagurazaka, for several reasons. The first reason is its taste “Shio”, which means salt, so it offers us ramen in a salt-based soup. Many of my guests may have tried ramen in their home countries, and most likely, they have experienced soy sauce-based or miso-based soups. Even in Japan, ramen with a salt-based broth is also relatively rare because its straightforward flavor can be challenging for chefs to perfect. Creating an outstanding salt-based ramen requires skill and an excellent sense of taste.
Location:https://maps.app.goo.gl/inXKYa9CasZXd28v8
The second reason is its broth. Since the soup is lightly flavored with Shio, or salt, we can enjoy a delicious broth that the chef has spent long hours preparing. The ramen at Ore Ryu Shio has a gentle but deep taste and flavor, which is lovely. Furthermore, the restaurant allows us to add more toppings to our ramen. Several small bottles and containers on the table contain shredded kelp, wild seaweed, yuzu-pepper (Japanese citrus paste with pepper), and so on. They help us change the taste by adding them slightly. So you can enjoy different tastes while eating one bowl of ramen. The simplicity of the salt-based soup makes this surprising experience happen.
The third reason is its location. Kagurazaka is one of the oldest towns in Tokyo, and it used to be a high-ranking area for foodies, where Kagurazaka Geisha entertain customers. Once you step into the back street of Kagurazaka, you can find old but cool setups along the alley. I think you should come back there in the evening. For more details on Kagurazaka Night, please refer to my blog post.
My guests from the UK tried Shio ramen at Ore Ryu Shio. They first experienced the original flavor of the ramen without any toppings. The gentle taste of the salt-based soup greatly satisfied them, but once he added toppings, the change in flavor surprised him. He loved the shredded kelp and wild seaweed, and finally, the addition of yuzu-pepper paste hooked him on Shio ramen.
I was so delighted to see their happy smiles. Thanks to Shio ramen, it made our day and made our tour even more exciting later on!
The other day, I visited Ore Ryu Shio’s main restaurant in Shibuya and enjoyed the same ramen. This time, however, I added ground garlic with yuzu peels, a hidden topping that’s only available if you ask the chef directly. If you enjoy a garlicky flavor, give it a try; I guarantee it’s delicious!
And also, please try some dishes other than ramen. Fried dumplings with shredded shiso leaves (a Japanese herb) are my daughter’s recommendation.
Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/hMBGp2UrvPsbRtc88
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