Niboshi (dried sardine)
Medika Soba Kingyo
メヂカそば 吟魚
A seven-seat counter near Manganji Station in Hino, open only Thursday to Sunday at lunchtime. Its soup alternates between medika (frigate mackerel, also called soda-katsuo) and niboshi (dried sardine), and the color of the noren curtain tells you which one is on.
The shop
The shop began as 'Chuka Soba Uosei'. That shop closed suddenly and was rebranded, reopening as Medika Soba Kingyo on 25 May 2022. Tabelog named it to its Ramen TOKYO Hyakumeiten list in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
The bowl
The soup changes with the day: medika on red-noren days, niboshi on white-noren days. On niboshi days it is a soy soup that draws as much flavor from the sardines as possible without turning bitter. The noodles are soft but springy, and a marinated egg is among the toppings.
How to order
Check the curtain at the entrance: a red noren means a medika day, white means niboshi. Buy a meal ticket at the machine. It takes only coins and ¥1,000 notes, but staff will change larger notes.
Before you go
- Open Thursday to Sunday, 11:00-15:00; arrive by 15:00. It closes when the soup runs out. Closed Monday to Wednesday.
- Cash only.
- The shop asks you not to save places or cut into the line.
- Latest news is posted on Instagram. 4 minutes on foot from Manganji (Tama Monorail), 14 minutes from Takahatafudo (Keio Line).
FAQ
What is medika?
Frigate mackerel (soda-katsuo), the fish the soup is based on during medika days. On other days the shop uses niboshi (dried sardines) instead.
How do I know which soup is on today?
Look at the noren curtain: red for medika, white for niboshi. The shop's Instagram also posts the latest information.
Is there a ticket machine?
Yes. It accepts coins and ¥1,000 notes only; staff will change larger notes.
Featured in Fish broth