Tokyo Shinagawa Ramen Shop – “Shinatatsu TETSU Tsukemen”

October 19, 2023 215 Views

During this Tokyo trip, I stayed at a hotel in Shinagawa. The 4-night, 5-day journey was gradually approaching its end. On the final day, after checking out from the accommodation, I decided to visit a ramen shop near Shinagawa Station for a late lunch.

In Japan, it’s common to find shops lining the paths beneath train tracks, and Shinatatsu is one such place. Shinatatsu boasts various ramen shops, offering a diverse range of ramen.

“Ramen Shop in Shinagawa Shinatatsu – TETSU”

In Japan, you can find various types of ramen, and during this trip, there was one type I hadn’t tried yet – “Tsukemen,” a dipping ramen where you dip the noodles into a separate broth. Fortunately, I could try Tsukemen on the last day before leaving Japan, and one place known for its Tsukemen was “TETSU,” a franchise, meaning you can find it in different locations.

“Dipping Ramen – Tsukemen”

Tsukemen differs from regular ramen as the noodles are served separately from the broth. While typical ramen consists of noodles in a rich broth, Tsukemen features the noodles served on the side, and you dip them into a separate flavorful broth. It’s an engaging dining experience, dipping the noodles into the liquid situated somewhere between broth and sauce.

“Choose Between Cold and Hot Noodles”

When ordering Tsukemen, you can choose between cold or hot noodles. If you opt for cold noodles, the broth tends to cool down as you dip the noodles. In such cases, you can request to have a hot stone added to the broth to heat it up again. However, I didn’t find this necessary and didn’t make such a request.

“Surprisingly Salty Broth”

The broth turned out to be saltier than expected. Initially, I dipped the noodles into the broth without much thought, only to realize that the broth was quite salty. Given my limited knowledge of Japanese language and culture, I assumed this might be the usual way of serving it. However, when I almost finished the Tsukemen, I noticed a container of less salty broth next to me.

If the broth is too salty, you can add the less salty broth to balance the flavors. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize this sooner and ended up eating most of the Tsukemen with the salty broth. Adding the less salty broth later improved the balance.

If you’re tired of the common ramen found in Shinagawa, Tokyo, trying Tsukemen is a worthwhile culinary adventure.

“Japan Tokyo Shinagawa, TETSU Tsukemen”