Kohmen: Recommended Ramen
If you’ve read a couple-dozen blogs or so on Japan, you’ve likely seen more than a few posts about someone’s favorite ramen here, particularly in Tokyo. Hell, there’s a whole blog dedicated to one person’s lifelong (maybe) ramen tour of the Kanto area. You may have heard of it; it’s called Ramen Tokyo. Well, rest assured that I won’t be starting my own ramen tour for the sake of having a series here at 7:10 called “Recommended Ramen.” But, if I do come across an amazing bowl of noodles every now and then, expect a small write-up. Why? Simply put, I dig ramen.
Well, today’s feature highlights my absolute favorite noodles in Japan; Kohmen’s tantanmen. Kohmen (光麺) is a very well-known chain of Chinese-style noodle shops in Tokyo, with the main one (本店) being located in Ikebukuro, just south of the Seibu East Exit of Ikebukuro Station. Their specialty, as far as I can tell, is tantanmen (坦々麺), and it is absolute pure noodle nirvana. The soup itself is what makes the dish, or bowl as it were. It’s Kohmen’s famous soup made spicy and blended with sesame to create a unique flavor that I haven’t experienced anywhere else. A bowl of this stuff with gyoza and beer on slightly warm fall evening is one of the things that makes me oh so happy that I live here in Tokyo.
Some people say that the main shop in Ikebukuro is better than the others, but I’ve yet to see for myself. There’s another shop just outside of Shinjuku Station’s south exit and I’m keen to give that one a try in the near future. Who knows, maybe you are too, and we’ll see each other there. And, if you find yourself there on the recommedation of this post, let me know. I’ll even let you treat me to a bowl of the best noodles in the land of the rising sun.
Honestly, you’ve got to try this stuff for yourself. And, Kohmen is open until the small hours of the morning; So if you find yourself stuck out after last train, a little beer-buzzed and in the mood for something tasty, do yourself a favor and do Kohmen.
An American living in Tokyo. Can be seen bounding through Shinjuku Station most mornings, teeth gnashing, eyes bulging, a cup of cheap coffee clenched in one fist and a satchel in the other. God help those who don't see him coming.
October 17th, 2008 at 12:07 am
You know my opinion on Ramen Billy …. love it.
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October 17th, 2008 at 12:13 am
Kohmen is hard to beat. There’s another one just off the crossing of Omotesando and Meiji-doori, opposite Fujimamas. Big favorite.
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October 17th, 2008 at 2:24 am
Never eaten here, but I pass through Ikebukuro all the time. Will definitely give it a try!
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October 17th, 2008 at 3:02 am
Yeah, I’m thinking I have to at least do a Kohmen tour and see if it’s true; what I’ve heard about the deliciousness varying with location.
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October 17th, 2008 at 7:24 am
I always pass by the Roppongi one and wondered if it was good. I guess it is! Will try it one day…
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October 19th, 2008 at 3:32 am
Kokumin-terebi had a thing saying that Tokyo ramen was the worst. That does look pretty good however.
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October 22nd, 2008 at 9:48 pm
My Friday night treat on the walk from Shinjuku to Harajuku is to stop at the Yoyogi Koumen for a bowl of zenbu nose. I like the service, too. The staff at the Harajuku and Yoyogi shops are decent people.
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October 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Sounds like you really go in for the stuff, too. Maybe I’ll have to stop in at the Yoyogi shop on a Friday night and say “Hello.”
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November 17th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Stopped in at the Ebisu shop. Interesting atmosphere; the second floor has movie-theater-style seating with a giant screen TV that plays nothing but videos about the different Kohmen shops. Ramen was still damn delicious, though.
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March 15th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
It looks pretty good, but probably too spicy for me. I guess I’ll have to just go with the gyoza.
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March 15th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Looks a little spicy for me. I guess I’ll just have to go with the gyoza.
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June 3rd, 2010 at 8:46 am
I LOVE this place. I recently came back from a trip to Tokyo and I’m slightly embarrassed as to how many times my partner and I went there.
I have a question you might be able to help me with - there’s a grilled pork with ume side dish there which is absolutely amazing and I’m trying to find a similar recipe for it. However, not being able to read Japanese, I’m not entirely sure what to look for.
Are you able to read what the menu says and will any of it make it easier for me to search for a recipe?
cheers!
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