A rock solid Tsukemen experience is waiting for you at Tetsu, located on Shinagawa’s infamous Ramen Street. Tetsu is one of the shops that helped spark a tsukemen(dipping noodles) boom recently in Tokyo and has long queues often forming in front of this eatery during peak hours. Generally the Japanese believe that the longer the line, the better the offerings and if Tetsu is any indication, I would have to wholeheartedly agree. Tetsu has several features that make it stand out from other noodle restaurants. Most of all is the Tsukemen Noodles that are made from daily with Bread Flour and Udon Noodle Flour, a mixture used exclusively by Tetsu. The Noodles are wide and super chewy, perfect for the thick, deeply emulsified Tonkotsu Broth, which offers a supremely funky, fatty and fishy flavor profile(all of those attributes are good, by the way). Aromatically, there was a strong dose of Bonito and perhaps other seafood in the broth, which not only appeals to my personal taste but also helps balance out the richness of the Tonkotsu base. The seasoned ubiquitous soft boiled Egg, Menma(Bamboo Shoots), and Chashu(marinated Pork Belly) all showed up to the party, as well they should, in fantastic form. I had a hard time finding any faults in the flavor department but man — it got cold wicked fast. After the fact I learned that I totally I missed out on the hot stone, which apparently one can request for the broth in order to keep it hot(and it does, with all the dipping and extracting of noodles, lose its temperature relatively quickly). You can get down with the flavor of Tetsu for a measly $ 7.00USD making Tetsu a no brainier for any American in the Shinagawa area on a rainy or cool day. Make it a point to stop.
Russ K.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Santa Barbara, CA
The Mazemen flavors came together very nicely, egg was cooked perfectly, and noodles were just a great al dente.
Olusola D.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Silver Spring, MD
Tetsu’s tsukumen ramen is my second favorite Ramen place in Yokohama. The broth is extra thick, the pork belly is so tender it melts in your mouth! Go get your belly full. During typical lunch hours, there is a wait due to limited seating. All the ramen spots only have 10 seats or so. Go a little after lunch rush and there’s no wait! Eat here!
Kyle R.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Los Angeles, CA
I have been to Tetsu twice now, it is my favorite tsukemen place in Tokyo and Japan. The first time I went was in 2011 the second in November 2014. I do not recall what I order the first time I was there but I loved it. The most recent time I ordered pushing the red 1200 yen button on the machine outside(see below). It was great but I should have know the red stood for really spicy. lol I was glad I had a draft beer to go with it. The broth at tetsu has a very hearty flavor. I wish I could find a place in Los Angeles that had something remotely similar. The noodles come warm which is nice, just pick them up and dip them. I also added the extra chasu(pork) and tamago(egg) the the broth. I will visit tetsu on my next trip to tokyo, i’ll just be sure to not order the red this time. lol
Anthony H.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 Tarzana, CA
Not bad. Portions are huge. Their tsukemen is katsuo(fish base). I’m not a huge fan of fish based ramen in general. They have a yaki ishi(extremely hot stone) you can order to add to the soup. A bit gimicky but interesting. Currently the most crowded of the ramen shops in this ramen plaza.(Crowdedness can always change with the next competition or ramen TV show). This place only has tsukemen or mazemen(dip or mix). They don’t carry traditional ramen. The mazemen comes with a huge serving of pork fat. You have been warned! The noodles are also aldente and as thick as udon. The tsukemen comes with over a pound of noodles and is closer to the typical thick ramen noodles. Gyoza, they don’t have any so don’t bother looking.
Katink S.
Évaluation du lieu : 4 San Francisco, CA
This place was pretty damn good. The noodles were cooked perfectly and they have a basic English menu but unfortunately it doesn’t give you translations for the extras which usually make a bowl of noodles. The gravy/broth that you dip the noodles in was a bit too salty for me but then I am super salt sensitive. It also had a fishy kinda taste which was not to my liking but my husband thought it was the most amazing bowl of noodles he’s had. Note: you order beer inside and for 500 per it’s not bad at all!
Mike P.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Back Bay, Boston, MA
Agree completely with David Y. Got there around 11AM, and there was a line up. Ordered with the machine — spicy special, no idea what I was getting into. Bam, hot ramen noodle came(1 bowl), 1 flava soup bowl, 1 plate with egg & rich fatty pork(did I say it was sooo fatty good?!) and mushrooms. I ordered it with a beer, had to learn how to enjoy it, but it was love on a first bite or in this case, sex on a first slurp(?) good. What’s more, it’s amazing even till the last drop! The noodle was fantastic. Perfectly boiled, tender and not sloppy, slightly chewy, reminds me of al dente aurthentic italian pasta a bit. Beer was cold, flavor soup bowl was a blast of richness, pork was super tender and buttery in the mouth. Egg, red orange yolk — perfect. You know when you’ve had a super awesome meal and it just made everything much better, like the final satisfying feel when Harold & Kumar finally got their order of white castles, this is it boys & girls!
David Y.
Évaluation du lieu : 5 Las Vegas, NV
Tetsu is one of the best tsukemen shop in town. Most places I have been to in Tokyo serve the men in cold broth. This place can actually gives you hot broth(atsumori style) to dip your men in. If you are a fan of tsukemen, you have to give this place a try. I like to come here to carbo load the eve before the Tokyo Marathon. The broth is very flavourful and concentrated and the men itself are firm and thick, just the way I like them. To get to this place is easy. Just exit the JR/Keikyu Shinagawa station Takanawa(west) exit, turn left at the taxi stand and walk for about 3 minutes to Shinatatsu(aka ramen alley). The shops are hidden away on the lower side of the sidewalk. The ticket dispenser is all in Japanese with no pictures. But for those who can’t read Japanese, don’t worry, you can always ask the waiter to bring you an English menu. There are altogether 7 ramen shops on the left side of the alley and five donburi shops on the right side of the alley. Expect a 15 minutes wait when you go at lunch or supper time.