Recommended bowl: Ramen w/ big tits
Oppai means 'big breasts' in Japanese. Takako Hayakawa, the proprietress of Ramen Bar Snack Izakaya (aka Oppai Ramen), previously worked as a hostess in Ginza and appeared frequently as an idol, or pinup girl, in Japanese adult magazines. As its name suggests, this establishment is a traditional Tokyo snack bar, which also serves ramen. It’s important to know that you can’t just roll up and order ramen, though. You have to hang out and order a few drinks and put some time in first, as per local snack bar culture. Eating and running won't fly in this context. Hayakawa-san will offer to serve you ramen if she enjoys your company (inside tip: call her "leader" and she'll warm up to you quickly).
So, order a few drinks and enjoy the atmosphere. After all, watching Hayakawa-san do her thing is the shop's official selling point.
Inside the shop you'll notice a prominent sign reading 'oppai ramen.' As advertised, Hayakawa-san and her assistant are invariably dressed in low-cut tops. For some reason, they always seems to bend forward a lot while they're preparing drinks or ramen ingredients. You'll also probably notice Hayakawa-san has a rather conspicuous way of bouncing her torso around when she strains the steaming noodles. She’s also funny and a skilled shit-talker. Like all great snack bar proprietresses, she makes a point of chatting up her customers and making sure everyone has a good time (she doesn't speak English, however).
The ramen is a light shio, served with aosa seaweed, yuzukoshou and lime. It's especially refreshing after a few drinks, which seems to be the intention. The lime is a particularly nice touch. The noodles are supplied by Teigaku, a celebrated noodle-maker in Kyoto. The portion size is small-ish. It's packaged more like a drinking snack than an entrée. There are other standard Japanese snack bar items on the menu, but don't come here expecting a full meal.
Hayakawa-san isn't breaking any culinary ground with her ramen technique, but she serves a very satisfying, homey bowl. She's buddies with many ramen masters in the Tokyo scene and knows her stuff.
The shop used to be located in Musashi-Koyama but moved to Gakugei-Daigaku in late 2014.
Be advised that Ramen Bar Snack Izakaya is a small establishment and often they are full. Also, Hayakawa-san closes the shop as she pleases. Some weeks she'll work every day; sometimes she'll take a few days off in a row. If you arrive and find the shop closed, we'd recommend you check out Bigiya, which is an excellent ramen shop just one minute away, open until 9pm every day except Tuesdays.
