Dark shoyu broth ramen from Shinpuku Saikan @ Nagano, Japan

This ramen is the largest portion of ramen I ever seen. I didn't expect the ramen to be such huge bowl with all the ingredients. Shinpuku Saikan ramen originated in Kyoto have an outlet in Nagano. Since this is the first time I tried dark shoyu broth ramen, I was surprised by the dark color of their soup. After simmering chicken and pork bones thoroughly, their secret special rich sauce made from Kyoto-made soy sauce is added. Though the dark colour of the soup makes the soup looks very strong, the taste is surprisingly light. The ramen bowl that I have consist of straight noodles, slices of roast pork, plenty of chopped green onions, bean sprouts, two eggs (one raw and ajitama egg), bamboo shoots and the soup create a perfect match. Surprisingly this bowl contains 8 pieces of roast pork!

Taste:8/10(Good. Shinpuku Saikan ramen seems to be a healthier option of ramen as it contains balanced amount of vegetables and meat. The roasted pork or char siu is good with tender noodles. Ajitama egg were perfectly done and taste good. My only comment were the bamboo shoots are a bit crunchy. Would be better if softer).
Price:7/10(Moderate. This bowl of ramen is a good deal if you are big eater. Priced at 1,100 Yen, you get 8 pieces of roast pork, plenty of bamboo shoots and two eggs. The noodles portion is huge and you can drink the soup as well if you don't mind the saltiness of the soup).


Shinpuku Saikan ramen. Contains all the ingredient that a bowl of ramen should have.

Lovely dinner.

Ramen noodles. Slightly different type of noodles.

Ajitama egg.

The cook busy preparing ramen. You can sit at the counter or individual table. Its open kitchen concept. You can watch all the ramen preparation process if you sit at the counter.

Environment inside the restaurant.

Visit this ramen restaurant in Nagano if you looking for budget eat.

GPS/Coordinate: 36.645297, 138.187291
Address: Nagano-ken, Nagano-shi, Minaminagano, Kitaishidōchō, Japan.
Opening hours: 7.30am until 10.00pm.
Public transport: 10 minutes walk from Nagano station.
Website: Shinpuku Saikan (Japanese)

Cheap Michelin star lunch at Nakajima @ Shinjuku, Tokyo

Nakajima of Shinjuku in Tokyo located within walking distance from south exit of Shinjuku JR train station. This is probably the cheapest one star Michelin restaurant in the world. Being the highest number of Michelin star restaurants in the world, Tokyo does offer many choices for food connoisseur. Their lunch set are simple which is just sardine but the taste is good, fresh and cheap at 800 Yen. There are 4 lunch sets (Sashimi - raw sardine with seaweed and sesame, furai - fried sardine, nizakana - sardine in soy sauce and yanagawanabe - sardine cooked with egg). The set includes rice, pickles and miso soup. You can also have second bowl of rice for free. The 3rd bowl will be 100 Yen. I prefer not to have additional rice as I would like to try out another sardine dish. Do come here early as the restaurant already full even you reach at 11.30am. Their lunch time is from 11.30am until 2.00pm. They usually out by 1.30pm. Eventhough you need to queue, but the service were fast and the wait is just for a while. Once you get inside, there is a simple menu in English, with pictures, so you know what you order. You can order a set, add mains or sides from other sets. Do visit here during lunch time as their dinner is expensive starts at 8,000 Yen.

Taste:9/10(Delicious. The two sets that I ordered which is sardine in soy sauce and sardine sashimi were good and up to their standard of being one star Michelin restaurant. The sardine were fresh and well prepared. As for the sashimi, the sardine were finely chopped by the skillful chef).
Price:8/10(Cheap. This restaurant serving great sardine dishes during lunch time is a bargain as this is a one-star Michelin restaurant. Good food, low price and good service. The lunch set start from 800 Yen. My two set of meal only cost me 1,400 Yen (USD12) which is well reasonable in Tokyo with such good food).


First set of sardine. Nizakana - sardine in soy sauce. Taste great.

Small dash of fragrant herbs and ginger on the fish. Good.

The lunch set comes with pickles, miso soup and green tea.


Not satify with the first lunch meal, I ordered full portion of sashimi sardine. The sashimi served finely chopped, with addition of some spring onions, lemon, sesame seeds and ginger.

The chef is so skillful. He able to slice the sardine so fast and precise.

Simple and nice setting in Nakajima restaurant.

Simple lunch set. Just choose from the 4 menu. All are sardines. They cooked it in 4 different ways. Sashimi - raw sardine with seaweed and sesame, furai - fried sardine, nizakana - sardine in soy sauce and yanagawanabe - sardine cooked with egg.

Pickles.

Entrance to Nakajima restaurant in Shinjuku.


Nakajima restaurant in Shinjuku. Signboard at street level.

GPS/Coordinate: 35.690184, 139.703940
Address: B1F, Hihara Bldg, 3 32-5 Shinjuku, Shinjuku, Tokyo Prefecture 160-0022, Japan
Public transport: Shinjuku station north exit.