01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Sliding open the door to Taikei along Nakasugi-dori in Asagayakita reveals an unpretentious dining room arranged with counter and booth seating. Welcoming to solo diners, it draws steady crowds looking for a comforting bowl from lunchtime into the late-night hours.
The house specialty is the miso ramen. Rich with pork back fat yet remarkably clean to eat, the mellow broth blends pork bone, seafood, and a gentle hint of sweetness, clinging naturally to medium-thick curly noodles. Slices of tender chashu pork absorb the broth nicely in the miso chashu ramen, while toppings such as bean sprouts, wakame seaweed, and nori let diners customize each bowl to taste.
Beyond miso, the shop offers a versatile lineup. Options include the signature ramen with thin noodles, pork back fat, and a broth mingling tonkotsu, bonito, niboshi, and clam; a chemical-free niboshi ramen enriched with chicken oil and whole-chicken broth; and a garlic-rich tonkotsu shoyu paired with thick noodles, chili oil, and pork fat. Diners can also turn to extra-thick noodles for tsukemen or a mildly spicy dandan noodles seasoned with sesame and sweet bean sauce.
To accompany the noodles, crisp-bottomed pan-fried gyoza can be ordered from 3 pieces, alongside reassuring sides like quick stir-fried vegetables and chashu rice bowls. With draft beer, bottled beer, and sours on hand, lingering over gyoza and a drink before finishing with noodles is another popular way to visit. Payment is cash only, making it wise to bring coins or bills.
