Ramen in da ‘Hood
I sat there eating my bowl of noodles while Ken Hirai’s “Pop Star” played in the backround. Then, it hit me…
Déjà vu.
I’ve had this experience before, I thought. But when and where?
Lately, I’ve been having these episodes more and more. Some I can put my finger on, others I can’t. I guess I’ve been in Japan long enough for past memories created here and hidden in the farther recesses of my mind to now manifest themselves as déjà vu.
Ah, that’s it! Five years ago I was sitting in my favorite ramen shop in a small town outside of Sendai, eating a bowl of noodles and chatting with my then girlfriend while Ken Hirai’s pop star played on the shop’s cheap stereo system.
Bushou (武将) is a local ramen shop right across the street from my new apartment. In fact, one of the main reasons I decided on the apartment was the fact that the best karamiso ramen I’d ever had was only footsteps away. I was midway through that first fateful bowl at Bushou when “Pop Star” came on. I’d already decided to take the apartment at that point, but that feeling of déjà vu coupled with the recollection of a day in a very special period of my life was enough to make the whole thing seem a bit mystical.
Ok, enough of that. It sounds pretty stupid to me as well.
Anyway, if you’re ever in Umegaoka (梅が丘), two stops south of Shimokitazawa on the Odakyu Line, and you’re in the mood for some ramen, do yourself a big favor and hit up Bushou.
These days, there seems to be a growing number of ramen shops of the style I like to call “ramen cool.” Not your typical oyaji ramen holes, ramen cool shops are usually a bit オシャレ and are run by twenty or thirty-something young men who’ve decided to take their passion and energy and throw it into something creative that everyone can enjoy. Kohmen, with restaurants all over Tokyo, is great example of how a “ramen cool” shop can become a monster.
If it were up to me, Bushou would become the next big one, despite its cheesy name. But, to be honest, it seems as if the owner enjoys the ‘Locals Only’ feel of the place. After all, it does a lot of business despite being on the edge of the main part of this quiet little town I’ve decided to call home for now.
Address:
東京都世田谷区梅丘1-9-11・103
Phone:
03-3706-7827
Hours:
11am to 3pm and 5pm until the soup is gone
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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.
February 28th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
There is danger in a good ramen joint so close. I was on a Ramen-a-Day diet and put on 5kg’s in 6 months, still trying to lose it…
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Billy W Reply:
February 28th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
No doubt. About three years ago I went on a ramen binge and got to the point where I couldn’t even walk by a ramen shop and smell the offerings without feeling put off.
Hope it doesn’t come to that again. Would be such a waste
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March 4th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
The slurpin sound makes me want to strike people so i never got hooked
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March 5th, 2010 at 12:40 am
Next time I have to eat before checking your posts.
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March 5th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
Has it already been 5 years since Hirai Ken first tortured us with “Pop Star”?
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March 6th, 2010 at 12:51 am
Can’t eat most ramen since I’m a vegetarian. And anyway, Umegaoka is too far from Shibuya, like 10 minutes by train.
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March 7th, 2010 at 2:21 am
@Chris B:
Yeah, I definitely prefer the shop I’m downing noodles in to be empty.
@Antonio:
Unless it’s a Takarasagashi post
@sixmats:
Yes, it has. I don’t know why, but that song and ‘Glamorous Sky’ by Mika Nakashima stuck with me. And, I hate J-Pop.
Mostly…
@Shibuya Suzy:
Hopeless, as always
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