Medaka TANTAN

The shop

The owner worked in Chinese restaurants from high school, making soups and cooking at the wok, and trained at the restaurant of the late chef Zhou Fude and at Kihachi China. He later worked in sales and was transferred all over Japan. Eating Hiroshima's soupless tantanmen at Kisaku made him want to recreate it, and he opened the shop in September 2014. Tabelog named it to its Ramen Hyakumeiten list in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The bowl

The thin, straight noodles are made to order for the shop by Nakanishi Seimen and have a firm bite. Unlike many tantanmen, the sauce uses no sesame paste. It is lightly salty, with a shrimp stock flavor. Seasoned minced meat (niku-miso) mixed through the noodles adds richness, and Sichuan pepper gives a strong aroma, heat and numbness.

How to order

Order the shiru-nashi tantanmen (soupless tantanmen) and mix it well. A version with soup (shiru-ari tantanmen) is also on the menu. A 2021 article suggested thick-cut chashu and a soft-cooked egg (ontama) as toppings.

Before you go

• Closed Wednesdays. Lunch 11:30-14:00 on weekdays (to 15:00 on weekends and holidays), dinner 18:00-21:00. It may close early if noodles or soup run out.
• Cards and e-money are not accepted. PayPay and Alipay are.
• The ground floor has 5 counter seats and the upstairs has tatami seating where small children are welcome. Reservations are not accepted.
• 3 minutes on foot from Higashi-Nakagami (JR Ome Line). Partner coin parking is nearby.