Try the Stamina Ramen, it is so good! Can't wait to go back once pandemic is over.

6 minutes on foot from 阿佐ヶ谷駅. 2 minutes on foot from 南阿佐ヶ谷駅. Along prefectural road 427. There’s a meal-ticket machine on the right as you enter, and the dining area is up a few steps. There are about 9 counter seats and several tables divided between 2 areas. I had スタミナ丼 and 4 餃子. The スタミナ丼 has mildly spicy stir-fried pork, garlic chives, onion, cabbage, carrot, and other ingredients over rice, with an egg yolk right on top. The pork is thick with just enough fat and tastes excellent. It ranks quite highly among the スタミナ丼 out there. The 餃子 have thick, chewy wrappers, are fairly large, and contain plenty of vegetables, with a good balance. They’re satisfying, but why is there an empty space inside? The miso sauce works too, but I prefer a combination of soy sauce, vinegar, and chili oil. I was also surprised by how many female customers there were. The 味噌ラーメン and other dishes are popular too. Perhaps it’s because there are plenty of vegetables and the flavors aren’t too one-sided. 3.8

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Oooh, delicious! Now I understand why it’s always full. I thought this was a 味噌ラーメン place, but 塩ラーメン was on the far left of the ticket machine, so I ordered it thinking it might be the original flavor. 塩チャーシューメン: A soup with quite a bold flavor! It holds its own against the thick, curly noodles. No particular flavor stands out, but everything comes together with real substance. Thick-cut チャーシュー just short of meltingly soft! If I were feeling up to it, I’d put it straight onto rice without hesitation… 餃子大: Added these after seeing someone farther back eating them! They looked plump and round, and I thought they resembled what I’d eaten in Chinatown yesterday, but they were different. They’re the thin-wrapper type, with a finely worked filling that’s mostly vegetables but still has a meaty presence. A small dish of seasoning-paste sauce comes with them, so I tried half with that and half with vinegar and pepper. The sauce is a little salty, but together with the lightly seasoned filling, it gives the flavor definition. The vinegar and pepper makes them more refreshing. Aah, that was delicious! So-called neo chuka soba is good too, but delicious ramen from a neighborhood Chinese restaurant like this strikes more of a chord with me.

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カレーライス, 餃子 ★: Not tasty ★★: Below-average taste ★★★: Reliably tasty ★★★★: Tastier than expected ★★★★★: Best in my life ① Savoriness (umami, saltiness) The カレーライス brings out umami from animal ingredients and vegetables, but it isn’t assertive, and the saltiness is mild too. The 餃子 have a strong garlic flavor, while the filling itself is lightly salted. ② Flavor characteristics (sweetness, sourness, bitterness, heat, astringency) The カレーライス has a strong hit of sweetness but restrained heat. The 餃子 contain plenty of vegetables and have a pronounced sweetness. The filling itself is mildly seasoned, so the sweet 八丁味噌-based dipping sauce completes the flavor. ④ Texture The カレーライス is very thick, with meltingly soft potatoes and carrots and chunky pieces of pork that fall apart tenderly. The 餃子 filling ingredients are finely chopped and crunchy. ⑤ Temperature Hot.

This is a hidden gem frequented by locals and ramen enthusiasts alike. The original owner is, amazingly, almost 80 years old. He continues working in the kitchen with energy and skill that belie his age. The signature dish is a truly unique 味噌ラーメン. One slurp delivers a powerful hit of rich miso flavor that feels nostalgic yet deeply layered. Complex umami unfolds in layers, making this a bowl guaranteed to get you hooked. Even in the fiercely competitive ramen scene of 杉並, it firmly holds on to its fans. The “冷やしラーメン” that appears in summer is vividly colorful and visually striking. The 2 homemade sauces coating the cold noodles are exquisite, and some regulars say, “This is all I eat in summer.” In both appearance and flavor, it’s a true summer staple. The 餃子 are also made without cutting corners. These large handmade 餃子 pack concentrated vegetable umami inside chewy wrappers, and the aroma that bursts out with each bite is irresistible. They also pair wonderfully with the special miso sauce, guaranteed to keep the beer flowing.

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