Minmin Ramen Honten

The shop

Minmin is often introduced in TV and web features as one of the shops that made the name 'Hachioji ramen' widely known. A Tabelog feature describes it as founded in 1982. ASCII also connects it to Tantan in Koyasu-machi, which it says was opened in 1978 by the Minmin family's mother, and notes that the owner of Chuka Soba Yasaka trained here.

The bowl

The broth is a clear, soy-forward Hachioji-style soup with a layer of oil on top. The onion comes two ways, part minced almost to a paste and part coarsely chopped, so the texture changes as you eat. The chashu is soft pork belly, and the straight noodles sit between firm and soft.

How to order

First-timers should order the standard 'Ramen'. The menu also lists kake chuka, a simpler bowl with onion and nori, plus side plates of menma, chashu and onion and rice in full or half portions. Prices are not published officially, so check the menu in the shop.

Before you go

• It is far from the train: about 2.7 km from JR Nishi-Hachioji. The easiest way is the Nishi-Tokyo Bus to the 'Ippommatsu' stop, 1 minute on foot.
• Open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00-16:00 and 17:00-20:00 (last orders around 15:40 and 19:40). Closed Mondays.
• Credit cards and e-money are not accepted. PayPay is.
• 23 seats: 5 at the counter and 18 on tatami. There is a parking lot.