Recent Reviews
Location: Near Seibu-Shinjuku Station (walking distance) (Weekday, 3:33 PM, no wait) I was in the mood for tsukemen! At "Ramen Hosenka"! I ordered: • Kinmedai Tsukemen (¥950) My impression: The soup was incredibly delicious. They recommended ochazuke, so I'd like to try it next time and eat it all the way through ✌️ [Soup] A soup made from the fish bones of kinmedai as the main ingredient. They paid close attention to temperature control and cooking time to maximize the elegant flavor and umami of the kinmedai. It seemed like it was delicious ( ◠‿◠ ) [Noodles] Both the ramen and tsukemen noodles seem to use whole wheat flour ✌️
Prologue This time, I visited [Ramen Hosenka]. It's about a 2-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Station. The restaurant is located in Kabukicho, and although the interior is small, it has a relatively large capacity with 16 counter seats. It's a sister restaurant to 'Suzuran' located near Shinjuku Gyoen, which is also part of the 'Hayashida' group. It was just before 10:00 PM. As expected, Kabukicho was bustling with people at this time. I was able to get in without waiting, but the restaurant was full. There were many inbound tourists and women among the customers. I ordered the special golden eye snapper ramen with a soy sauce base and also got the golden eye snapper ochazuke. The food came out very quickly, in about 5 minutes. That's amazing considering how busy it was. Now, let's eat. Report ★ Special Golden Eye Snapper Ramen (Soy Sauce Base) ¥1150 ★ Golden Eye Snapper Ochazuke ¥250 I took a sip of the soup right away. The umami and aroma of the golden eye snapper burst forth; it's truly golden eye snapper ramen. The soup is packed with deliciousness, perfectly representing the fish in its name. The soy sauce tare is very much like Hayashida's, and the sweet flavor profile goes perfectly with the golden eye snapper soup. Personally, I might like this better than the salt-based ramen I had last time, as it feels more like ramen. The noodles are thin noodles with a nice whole wheat pattern. They're slightly wavy and have a firm, 'poki-poki' texture. They're easy to slurp, and they enhance the aftertaste of the noodles and the aroma of the soup. The toppings include plenty of char siu, a seasoned egg, and bamboo shoots, making it a luxurious bowl. At ¥1150 for the special toppings these days, it's a great value. The grilled golden eye snapper on the ochazuke is incredibly delicious. I wish I could add more of this as a topping. I poured the soup over it and finished with the ochazuke. Of course, it's delicious. Thank you for the meal. Epilogue A ramen shop in Kabukicho where you can enjoy sea bream broth ramen and ochazuke. It's no wonder it's popular. It's also perfect as a meal to end a night of drinking, and it's a light and delicious sea bream broth ramen that's easy for women to enjoy. It's a ramen shop you should definitely keep in mind when drinking in Kabukicho. The restaurant was packed the entire time I was there, so there might be a wait, but the turnover is quite fast, so I highly recommend it. Thank you for the meal. It was delicious.
We visited this ramen shop because we were craving something warm due to the cold weather. There was a line of about five groups when we went. You purchase a ticket from the vending machine before lining up. The signature dish, Kinmedai Ramen, starts at 900 yen. The limited-quantity Kinmedai White Soup Ramen was already sold out around 1 p.m. We were seated after waiting for about 15 minutes. The interior has uniquely shaped counter seats. Water is self-service, so we poured ourselves some and sat down. This time, we ordered the Ajitama Kinmedai Ramen (1,050 yen) and the Kinmedai Ochazuke (250 yen). The seared Kinmedai had a wonderfully fragrant aroma. The soup, which uses Kinmedai broth, has a strong, bold salty flavor. The Ajitama (flavored egg) was a whole egg, and when I cut it with my chopsticks, the yolk was a beautiful orange color, making me sigh with pleasure. It seems they use Maximum Koitama eggs. The noodles also had a good flavor, using whole wheat flour, and were smooth to swallow. We used the remaining soup to make the Ochazuke, and the chopped wasabi gave it a refreshing taste, making it very delicious. Thank you for the meal.
I visited Kinmedai Ramen Hosenka in Kabukicho, Shinjuku, Tokyo on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025! I purchased the Ajitama Kinmedai Paitan Ramen and Kinmedai Ochazuke from the ticket machine and waited for my order. The soup was delicious, with the flavor of golden eye snapper. The Kinmedai Ochazuke, with the soup poured over it, was also incredibly delicious. I'll definitely stop by again if I'm in the area 😋
Around 4 PM on a weekday. No wait. Kinmedai (Splendid Alfonsino) White Soup Ramen, 1000 yen. The moment I entered, there was a strong fishy smell. The chicken white soup was light, and its presence was just enough not to interfere with the broth, which seemed to be extracted from the bones of the Kinmedai. The clear and sharp umami of the soup, reminiscent of niboshi (dried sardines), was unique, with a fish-like quality and strong flavor. I slurped it down, recalling the distinctive character of the Kinmedai, with its aroma like aged wood. The noodles were chewy and springy, and the fishiness faded with each bite, but they were just right for mitigating the off-flavors of the Kinmedai. The concasse, as if the dried Kinmedai had been torched with a burner, complemented the Kinmedai flavor in the middle of the meal when the seafood flavor of the soup was about to fade, and I thought it was a clever composition. As accents, there was yuzu (citron), shiso (perilla), and sansho (Japanese pepper). The refreshing sensation beyond the numbing effect was very pleasant. The char siu (braised pork) and the tip of the bamboo shoots were also tenderly prepared, giving it a luxurious feel. The seafood flavor was a bit strong, but the method of harmonizing it with chicken white soup might be a good idea. I can't guarantee that people who don't like it will be able to eat it, but why not give it a try? The service was provided by an Asian foreigner, and I wish they would try a little harder. Ramen Kai in Kuramae also has Asian foreign staff, but their earnestness was conveyed through their service, so it's not impossible. It's also not comfortable to be crammed in when there are empty seats. They were cheerful. I'll come again.