Recommended bowl: Certified legend

Run by Shimazaki-san, a ramen legend who is highly respected throughout the Japanese scene. One of the first masters to make the tori-soba style popular, he cuts no corners and is known as a perfectionist. He formerly ran a famed shop on the outskirts of Tokyo which he eventually closed down. He now owns and operates this shop in Hyogo prefecture, on the outskirts of Osaka. Torisoba is still his specialty, with a luscious shoyu and shio options on the menu, both using a soup made from special hinai chickens. This is about as good as it gets. Less