One of my all time favourites. I’ve been to Ramen Aoba several times over the years and it never disappoints!

The food is good

I had heard that Chuka Soba Aoba was a famous ramen shop, so I tried visiting the Fuchu branch, which was closer. It was a bit past lunchtime, but fortunately, they were open continuously, so I was able to get in. The main shop is in Nakano, and it is said to be a legendary ramen shop that has even been selected for the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand. It is said to be revolutionary because it is rich yet elegant. The soup is a superb fusion of seafood (such as bonito flakes and dried sardines) and animal-based ingredients (pork and chicken bones), giving it a sense of depth. It has a unique drinkability where it is "rich but the aftertaste fades away smoothly." If asked whether it is thick or light, perhaps the most accurate answer is somewhere in between. In a word, I think it is "ramen that delivers what your stomach and heart want, but is still easy to eat." The noodles are medium-thick, straight, homemade noodles. They have a chewy texture and a smooth throat feel, picking up the soup well. Thanks to that, I was able to fully enjoy the volume. The toppings are not too assertive, resulting in a well-balanced bowl overall.

+1

I had the special Chuka Soba. The smooth-textured noodles and seafood-flavored soup, along with the egg, chashu, and bamboo shoots... It wasn't as rich as I had imagined, but I enjoyed it.

I visited during the New Year and thought it would be very crowded due to the influence of the New Year's visit to Okunitama Shrine, but perhaps because it was around 3 PM, I was able to sit in about 10 minutes. The staff were efficient, so it went smoothly. The special ramen was very delicious.