My favorite Tsukemen in Tokyo,Japan
Rokurinsha’s special: extra ground pork, chashu, menma (bamboo), fish powder over seaweed, narutomaki and green onions.
Rokurinsha 六厘舎
Address: Japan, 〒100-0005 Tokyo, Chiyoda City, Marunouchi, 1 Chome−9−1 東京駅一番街 B1 東京ラーメンストリート内
How to find this place?
Just head to the Tokyo main station but don’t go into the train station just yet. Continue walking outside until you see a set of stairs going underground labeled “Tokyo Ramen Street”. There will probably be a line no matter which time you go.
Why this place?
The first time I ever tried Rokurinsha’s tsukemen was back in 2016. Since then I’ve been hooked; i’ve tried places in LA, TX, the DMV area, and Tokyo without much success. I finally came back to Rokurinsha again in 2019, and it’s every bit just as good as I remember. It is a chain restaurant. But, don’t let that fool you. The consistency and quality is all there.
Firstly, the noodles cannot be more perfect. They are thick without being overly heavy and are pleasantly chewy. There is a delicate balance between maximizing the chewiness of a noodle and over cooking it. Rokurinsha has mastered that balance. It was cooked completely but still had all the features of a truly Al Dente noodle. To lock in that perfection, they served the noodles cool so that you can dip it into a warm broth.
Next, the broth. Common to most tsukemen, there is a fishiness to the broth. I personally felt that it added to the overall aroma and umami of the base but others might not enjoy that flavor. The broth is served warm, concentrated, and really packs a punch.
The chashu was honestly mediocre for me.
At the end, you can enjoy the rest of your broth by diluting it with a clear soup!
The noodles and broth are what set this place apart. There maybe better places out there but this is a solid joint which has stood the test of time. If you guys have any recommendations let me know in the comment section below! I’d like to continue my search for the best tsukemen places!
What is tsukemen?
It’s de-contructed ramen where you dip the noodles in the broth. Compared to traditional ramen, tsukemen has a thicker/concentrated broth as well as thicker chewier noodles.
How to order, if you are new to Japan?
There will be a vending machine in each of the ramen shops. Put the cash in first and then push the buttons to print your ticket. Usually the top row will have standard ramen sets, while the bottom ones allow you to order additives and/or beverages. Take the printed tickets and give it to the hostess.
Overall rating: 5/5
Food: 5/5
Service: 4/5
Environment: Small, tight seating.
Dress code: Casual
Reservations: None. There’s almost always a line but it moves quickly.