Sasaki Seimenjo: Sea and Smoke in Every Slurp
From Nishi-Ogikubo Station on the JR Chuo Line, it takes about 10 minutes to walk along a street that seems to have been a shopping district in the past. The directions are not complex, so if you rely on Google Maps, you can easily find your way without getting lost.
Rather than a shopping street, it has a vibe that fits more with a residential area, and there’s a Lawson and a soba restaurant nearby, with a stylish bakery just to the left.
Sasaki Seimenjo: Sea and Smoke in Every Slurp
I visited around 1:00 PM on a hot day in August 2023, during a public holiday, when the temperature had exceeded 35 degrees Celsius. There were four people lined up in front of the store.
If you’re in line behind, the system is such that when it’s your turn, a lady from the shop will call you, so there’s no need to write your name on a waiting list. I haven’t confirmed, but I believe reservations are not available.
After waiting for about 10 minutes, we were called with ‘The next two guests, please enter.’ It seems they prioritize not keeping customers waiting inside, so you can order right away upon entering. Orders are placed using a ticket vending machine with only Japanese labels. Cash is the only accepted payment method.
I ordered the ‘Special Soy Sauce Ramen’ and the ‘Flavored Egg Rice,’ while my wife ordered the ‘Dried Fish Soba.’ In this shop, they refer to ramen as ‘soba’.
- Special Soy Sauce Ramen:JPY1,200
- Flavored Egg Rice:JPY350
- Dried Fish Soba:JPY1,300
The term ‘Special’ doesn’t refer to differences in taste or quantity; it means ‘with all toppings included’.
- Special (+JPY300): Extra Chashu, Flavored Egg, More Menma, Increased Negi
- Regular: Chashu, Menma, Negi
For those visiting for the first time, I think the ‘Special Soy Sauce Ramen’ is a good choice. For those who don’t understand Japanese or kanji, it might be helpful to remember the button in the upper left corner. The ‘Dried Fish Soba’ appeared to be today’s limited menu item, so it might not be available at all times.
There are only 9 seats available at the counter. If you’re in a larger group, you might have to split into pairs. Once seated, you’ll be told to place your food tickets on the counter, completing your order. It seemed that nobody was making specific requests for noodle firmness or soup richness, so it’s common to have it prepared according to the standard without specifying anything.
There was a note saying ‘Please only photograph the dishes.’ It likely means not to capture other customers.
The staff consists of only the owner (male) and his wife (?). While waiting, you can have self-service water.
It seemed they take orders per group, and they were calmly preparing the dishes. They appeared to focus on crafting each bowl of ramen meticulously, prioritizing that over operational efficiency.
After waiting for about 10 minutes, the served ramen looked exceptionally appealing. As a fan of green onions, I could sense the owner’s dedication in the finely sliced white and green onions, which were truly remarkable.
“The broth had a pronounced seafood essence, so the moment I took my first sip, it felt like savoring Japanese soba broth. The chashu (braised pork) had a satisfying thickness and texture, with a balanced sweetness that didn’t overpower the broth.”
The broth of the dried fish soba had an even more pronounced flavor of dried fish, creating a completely distinct impression. According to my wife, the dried fish on top was incredibly delicious.
The flavored egg rice had a semi-soft yolk. The rice bowl was small, but the portion was quite substantial.
I drank all the broth from my ramen and also finished the rice, so I was quite satisfied and full.
Sasaki Seimenjo
Address: 4-26-10 Nishiogikita, Suginami-ku
Closed on: Sundays, Mondays
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Note: All information in this article is accurate as of August 2023 and is subject to change.