Recommended bowl: Since 1964

Open since 1964, the same year as the Tokyo olympics, this shop has now become somewhat of a symbol of the Shimokitazawa neighborhood. The OG master was a military policeman and opened Mintei after the war. The current master is Ayuzawa-san, son-in-law of the OG master. The popular items here are Edokko Ramen, Cha-han and Gyoza. The ramen is very simple with a plain shoyu soup, hot and sour cabbage on the top (ra-pa-sai). The shop has an old school feel, as if nothing has changed in decades. For nostalgic blue-collar dining, Mintei screams authenticity.