Aoba Nakanohonten

If you are a ramen lover, or just want to try out what a solid classic tasty ramen is, this place should be on your list ;) Aoba has been open for over 25 years, that should tell you about the quality and popularity of this shop. It is a milestone of Nakano. They add some yuzu to the broth, which ...makes it even easier to enjoy.

Visited October 2019

Super simple menu, with four options only: There’s ramen, there’s tsukemen, and a special version of each. Aoba is reportedly the first ramen shop ever to serve a “double soup”, meaning presenting in the same bowl a tonkotsu (pork-bone)-based soup mixed with a gyokai (sardines/seafood)-based soup. T...he idea was to mix the richness of the Kyushu soup with the taste and fragrance of the Tokyo soup. Given the popularity of this mix nowadays, the historical relevance of Aoba is massive. And that contribution to the history of ramen already justifies a visit to this lovely restaurant, now the HQ of a family of about 20 restaurants throughout Honshu Island. Moreover, the ramen is very good indeed. You may not find your pungent, thick, rich tsukemen-style double soup that is so common in Tokyo tsukemen joints. This is a thinner broth, with a strong seafood character and a dangerous dose of yuzu that breaks down that brininess. So much that the tonkotsu is less perceptible in this dish. First quality pork charsiu, delicious indeed, and I find that the cracked pepper gives a fiery nuance, but not essential for the experience. Great noodles, tasting fresh and with firm consistency. And then there is that surprising sweet taste in the Naruto. I never have much time for Naruto, but this one, with its unique sweetness - I mean real sweetness - was very special indeed. I drank the bowl clean to the last drop and I could certainly come back for a tsukemen, next time.

Visited January 2020

If in Nakano alone, this is my go-to ramen place. It only has counters so it won’t be suitable for large parties, but it’s a nice, quick-service ramen joint. Nice fish broth — it does have a creamy texture to it, but weirdly refreshing at the same time. Both the ramen and tsukemen are top notch!

Visited March 2019

Must try Ramen with 3 slices of pork and soft boiled egg, fish flavor stock soup taste. I prefer this ramen with dashi flavor vs tsukemen bit salty taste. Location easy to find at Nakano station Broadway center.

Visited November 2018

Went with my two teenage sons. Ordered via vending machine (there are quite a few choices starting at about 700 Yen). All menus are in Japanese (use Google translate and turn on the camera if you can’t read Japanese) It was a generous serve and a tasty lunch. Popular lunch spot for local Japanese w...orkers, so we figured it must be good! We would go back

Visited July 2018