Foodle

📍 Mingles-밍글스, ソウル, 2025年4月
[English Below]

アジアで電車を憎んだことなんて、一度もなかったし…これからもきっとないと思っていた。…でも今夜だけは別だった。もちろん、彼らのせいじゃない。昔から崇めてやまない、あの完璧さの象徴だからね…ただ、あの時一緒にいた君なら、その理由はわかっているはず。
時々、運命のちょっとした戯れが愛おしくなる…ランチで出会って、気づけばそのままディナーも一緒に。ほんの二ヶ月前に三つ星を獲得したばかりという話に、二人で胸を躍らせながら。正直、感想を言葉にするのは難しい（まあ、Minglesの評判がすべてを物語っているけれど）…でも結局のところ、心から通じ合える人と分かち合う一口一口は、それだけで特別な輝きを帯びるものだよね…とはいえ、あの優しいアーティチョークティーが、あっさり他のすべての料理を凌駕してしまった瞬間を思い出して、君にももう一度微笑んでほしい 🤣。
ソウルは、これからもずっと大切に抱えていく思い出をくれた街だ…そしてその中で、君の存在はとても大きい。素晴らしい時間を本当にありがとう。あのチャットでふらふらしているミニオンが、またすぐに君を僕の隣の席へ連れてきてくれるといいな。また近いうちに ❣️

I had never once hated a train in Asia…nor did I ever think I would. …Except for tonight. Of course, it wasn’t their fault, those flawless symbols I’ve always admired so deeply… but you, who were there with me, already know the reason.
Sometimes I find myself strangely fond of the little games destiny plays… we met over lunch, and before we knew it, we were already sharing dinner, drawn in by the curiosity of those three Michelin stars awarded just two months prior. It’s not easy to put such an experience into words (though Mingles’ reputation speaks perfectly well on its own)… after all, every bite shared with the right person carries a kind of quiet sublimity… and yet, I can’t help but smile again thinking of how that delicate artichoke tea effortlessly outshone every other dish 🤣.
Seoul gifted me memories I’ll carry with me forever… and you are a truly significant part of them. Thank you for the wonderful time we spent together. I sincerely hope that little Minion wandering through our chats will soon guide you back to dinner with me. See you again soon ❣️ Less

This ramen ticks all the boxes and will go down in my diary as a must-hit spot.

The shop is called “Above The River” (川の先の上) and quite literally sits on a little bluff uphill from Yokohama’s Ookagawa river. Get off at Kamiooka Station, walk through the quaint shopping street, and marvel at the cherry blossoms if they’re in bloom. If you arrive around lunch time, the queue will spill down the stairs from their second story location; you’ll likely see hungry families lined up thanks to the shops free cotton candy machine.

The shio (salt ramen) is a combination of chicken and seafood, leaning heavily into shellfish. The punch of the salt is definitely there, and is a robust dashi despite its clear appearance. The noodles were moderately firm with a nice crispiness and wheat flavor. And this pork - WOW - I love when the smokiness and slow preparation renders the strips of fat into a coconutty decadence. This is a bowl that creates a symphony of its flavors and is a must for shio lovers. I could eat this daily for breakfast, but probably would’t drink all the soup because it’s quite salty.

Above The River made it into the Kanagawa Top 100 famous shops in 2025, and has a reputation for being top tier ramen in the area. They also have a shoyu, tsukemen, and limited edition items on offer, so it’s worth going more than once. I know I’ll be back!

#ramen #japanesefood #noodles #japan Less

Shina Soba Komuro specializes in wontonmen, and one look at those slippery wrappers has me drooling.

The soup is a combination of chicken, pork, vegetables, and fish. The noodles are pretty low hydration in contrast to the delicate wontons. And the chashu even has a touch of honey added to it. This is a gorgeous and delicious bowl!

Komuro is no joke. Here’s a sample of the accolades they’ve racked up over the years:
🏆Tokyo Ramen of the Year for their shio wontonmen
🏆Tabelog Top 100 Ramen Shops of East Japan
🏆A score of 98.284 on Ramen Database

The chef trained at famous Shina Soba Kazuya in Meguro before opening his own shop here near Gyotoku station. And if you’ve ever been to Yakumo near Ikejiri-Ohashi, you’ll see the ticket machine looks visually similar as well. Kazuya, Yakumo, and Komuro are all connected to the historically famous shop Tantantei out in Hamadayama, so if you want to complete a wonton scavenger hunt, that’s a great starting list.

Komuro is open from 10am to 3pm, and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. This is a perfect early lunch spot; get there early to beat the line.

#ramen #wontons #japan #japanesefood #wontonmen Less

Some people come for the ramen, others come for the lore. Menba Hamatora plays early 2000’s punk and has a history of one of Yokohama stations great ramen. (They also boast to be “the ramen shop with the best sound system in Japan.) Their google maps review count is almost at 3,000 and those aren’t bots! They opened in 2002, so next year will be their 25 anniversary.

📍 Menba Hamatora 浜虎
⏰ Open 8am-3am daily
🚆 2 minute walk from Yokohama station
💴 From ¥850-¥1,500 per bowl Less

It was freezing cold the day I arrived to the corner where Muginae sits, facing quiet apartments in a quiet neighborhood between Shinagawa and Kawasaki. A man pedaled, his dog as copilot sitting in the front basket of the bicycle. With fifteen people lined up outside the shop and the spring wind blowing brisk and strong, I was worried it’d be a frigid long wait. Luckily, the turnover was better than I expected and I entered Homemade Ramen Aomugi relatively quickly.

The interior has only 9 counter seats, all looking into the kitchen where multiple staff prepare the ramen. You can choose either a lighter soup using dried fish and chicken, or a heavier blend that looks and feels more cloudy and pork forward. Both use a soy sauce base. I went for the lighter option, and the depth and richness was perfect for a cold day.

Choose Aomugi for a fancy feeling ramen; one that’s made with minimal artificial ingredients but uncompromisingly rich in taste. It’s a great gateway to more refined ramen without being overly pretentious. And I hope you see then guy on the bike with his dog.

#ramen #tokyo #japan #japanesefood Less

神保シェフの2号店「Pienezza Fukasawa」
世田谷の野菜と、シェフの出身地　奈良の素材を駆使したイタリアンです。　シェフは、長谷川泰さん。
“Pienezza Fukasawa,” the second restaurant by Chef Jinbo, showcases Italian cuisine that highlights locally sourced vegetables from Setagaya alongside ingredients from the chef’s hometown of Nara. The chef, Yutaka Hasegawa, brings together regional Japanese produce with refined Italian technique.
#pienezzafukasawa #italiancuisine #tokyogroumet Less