Kyouka (鏡花) Tokyo

Recommended bowl: Sophisticated shoyu

Kyouka is regularly ranked among the best ramen shops in the large Tokyo suburb of Tachikawa. Shop master Keiichi Machida is an influential figure in the Tachikawa scene. He's a frequent guest lecturer at Shoku no Doujou, an area ramen school, and he was the driving creative force behind Tamayakata, a mini ramen theme park of sorts featuring four ramen shops packed into one small, local garage. Machida-san's finest work, however, can be found — and mealed — at Kyouka.

Kyouka's signature bowl is a high-quality shoyu ramen made from chicken, niboshi and 21 other ingredients. The soup is clear and dark, but it has a light, complex taste. The bowl comes topped with broad slices of glistening chashu, crunchy blocks of menma and a generous serving of fresh mitsuba. The mitsuba infuses the soup and counterbalances the deep shoyu flavors with a lively freshness.

Operating since 2000, Kyouka was among the first generation of shops to offer a new-school take on classic Tokyo shoyu ramen. High-quality shoyu shops using chicken and gourmet-grade toppings can be found across the city today, but Kyouka predates the trend.

The stylish shop interior is dimly lit and done mostly in wood. Each seat has a small adjustable spotlight that illuminates the bowl. Nice touch. Less