Shi Ten Noh

Mmmm, delicious ramen. My apologies for not writing any more reviews sooner, but I`ve not been searching the ramen world as much as I had been before. I also suffered a computer disaster, followed by a computer replacement, and well... things have been working out a little differently to how I had expected. Please see my other blog for further details.




When I first came across Shi Ten Noh, I was impressed. Nestled by the Dotomobori River, amongst the many tourist feeding vendors, was an unassuming ramen place. Although there is a vending machine for you to place your order, the staff were extremely affable. The music was an excellent assortment of 50`s rock and roll, and 60`s modern rock. Just sitting in this place was a pleasure.



I ordered the Shio (salt) ramen with egg, and my partner in crime ordered the Miso ramen with egg. It didn't take very long before our piping hot, delicious soups were delivered to us. Steam poured off the top of the bowls, and the first slurp nearly scalded the roof of my mouth. It was flavoursome, with a hint of garlic. The toppings included pork, long onions, bean shoots, and a little black oil, which I'm not sure exactly what it was...



The soup was full bodied, and almost creamy in texture, but not oily or sickly. The pork was exquisitely sweet, and the noodles were excellent. The noodles were nigh on perfect, they were firm to the tooth, with a bright springiness when bitten or slurped. Delicious. The sides included chili paste, garlic chips, gyoza sauce, salt and pepper. The serves were a generous meal. I was very satisfied, and have returned several times. Only once have I been a little disappointed, but that was only a noodle related disappointment, and well, I'm picky about noodles.

Broth - 4.5/5
Toppings - 4/5
Noodles - 4/5
Atmosphere - 4/5
Service - 3.5/5

Nishi Tanabe Ramen Joint

Unfortunately I can not read the sign for this ramen place, so I will just have to tell you that it is next to Gyoza no Osho and the 7/11 near the North West exit of Nishi Tanabe Station on the Mido-Suji Subway line.

It looks like this:



When we first arrived we were served by a positively surly young lass, who took one look at us and produced an English menu. It was efficient of her, but unnecessary as I could read the hiragana menu. Either way, I ordered a Chaashuu men and took in the atmosphere.

The music was slightly grating, sentimental Japanese pop, but the general ambience of the place was quite high class for a ramen joint. Clean surfaces, clean kitchen, and beautiful wooden surroundings. If the music hadn't been quite so intrusive it would have been more pleasant, but all in all, I thought it was quite a nice ramen store.




Tom ordered the miso ramen, which looked like this. It wasn't as piping hot as some ramen's I have tried, and the miso broth was very mellow. I quite enjoyed the taste of his that I had.



The toppings included long onion tops, sesame seeds, bean shoots, a square of nori and a generous amount of sliced roast pork. The pork was moist and salty, rather than sweet, which was a departure from previous ramen's I have enjoyed in a similar style.

My broth was hearty but not at all oily. It had a strong salty flavour and a good body to it. It seemed quite rich but not fatty.

The noodles were mass produced. I was a little disappointed, but they seemed to be the expensive sort of mass produced noodles, so I will rate them accordingly. They were firm to the tooth and completely acceptable, but not like some of the amazing, heavenly ramen store produced noodles I've been lucky enough to enjoy.

Among the sides were salt, soy, gyoza sauce, salad oil, white pepper, mixed spice (I love this stuff), chili paste and crushed garlic. I had a little garlic in mine, because I've had a cold recently. They also sold onigiri, and three plates of onigiri moved through the store when I was there, so I believe the onigiri may be rather good.

As we were leaving, the chef took our money and beamed at us, and my opinion of the service was instantaneously improved ten-fold. The surly teenager was slurping down her lunch noodles in the corner. You can't write off a whole place on the rudeness of one staff member.



Broth - 4/5
Toppings - 3.5/5
Noodles - 3/5
Atmosphere - 2/5
Service - 3/5