Ramen @ Tsuta Japanese Soba, Shibuya, Tokyo.

 

This was nothing short of a ramen pilgrimage. And most ramen heads will know what I mean.The Michelin star is an extremely coveted prize in the culinary world and it is generally well known everywhere. It is extremely difficult to obtain, and when your main dish is ramen, it is even more difficult. But there are a few intrepid establishments that was able to achieve such a feat. One of which is Tsuta. 

Just another day in the suburbs. 

Originally located in Sugamo, this ramen spot has been known for eccentric ramen dishes. With the usage of exotic ingredients like truffle and wagyu beef in their bowls, it is then again no wonder why they achieved their Michelin star. I actually tried to visit the original shop in Sugamo back in 2018, but they were closed for their summer vacation. 

The mission statement that greets you at the entrance way. 

So now 3 years later, I have finally made it. It is unfortunate that they have lost their Michelin star once they moved to Shibuya. However, this should not deter you at all in visiting this place. And entering into the establishment is an experience in itself. It has a bespoke feel and everything was sleek and haute. Very very fancy. 

The grand menu

Unfortunately, the staff was pretty adamant in me not taking the photos of the dining area, out of respect of the privacy of other customers. This is fair enough I guess, which is also the reason why I hardly post pictures of the dining areas of restaurants as of late. When in Rome, do what the Romans do yea? Well at least I can take a photo of the food and menu. 

Too fancy. 

Their trademark noodles are the shoyu and shio. As I wanted something with more body, I opted for the shoyu. And it is not often I come to this side of the city, in fact my first and only time, I got myself the "special dish" which consist of a variety of special sides. And the meal itself was very special. The noodles stood at 1200 yen while the special dish was 1000 yen. 

Incredible.

Both the bowl of noodles and the special dish were works of art. It was just too beautiful. The noodles was accompanied with a very strong broth which was mind blowing. The broth had a complex flavour to it and had strong hints of various exotic mushrooms. It was rather clear and had a clean mouth feel to it. After further inspection, there are actually goji berries inside. This explains the fruity tartness in this liquid gold. 

Taste like paradise. 

The bowl was topped off with some shredded wagyu and baby back bacon charshu. Really out of the box toppings, which I enjoyed a lot. This was topped off with a truffle and balsamic sauce, which gave the noodles an even more complex profile. The noodles itself were springy and yet, delicate to the touch. Everything here was just amazing. The perfect bowl? I am not too sure, but for sure incredibly close in being one. 

Poetic chaos. 

Now onto the special dish, which was truly special. According to the menu, this piece of artwork was said to have A5 wagyu sukiyaki, roasted pork, the classic ramen egg, Hong Kong style chicken and various other spices. So many colours and textures, it was absolutely crazy. 

Beautiful porker. 

Going through all of the elements here one by one will make this blog post into a dissertation. So long story short, everything here was top notch and the various elements compliment each other. So if you can shell out an extra 1000 yen, do yourself a favour and get this. Just truly incredible. 

Nothing left!

Again as mentioned, this was nothing short of a pilgrimage. It was so good, it felt partly spiritual. Having said that, I do not think I will go here often. It is not the price or the location. But rather it has a very strong and impactful flavour. So it is something that more like a special treat. That is not a knock to the ramen or the chef. Rather it is the opposite, once you had a meal here, you will be satiated for a long time. 

Bespoke entrance. 

This is a shop that should be in the checklist for any Tokyo traveller. Everything was just too good not to recommend. So if you fancy a go, the address is as follows: 

B1F, Nishihara 3-2-4, Shibuya, Tokyo