KOJIMACHI/HANZONMON: Sorano-Iro Ramen... colorful orange Vegi-Soba peaked my interest!

During my random scans of restaurants in Kojimachi this ramen shop always pops up with a very high foodie ranking of 3.86pts placing it in the TOP 5000 Tokyo restaurants.

The ramen selections are nicely pictured~.

After scanning thru the ramen pics on my iPhone I couldn't resist the bright orange 800yen Vegi-Soba ramen... Just had to give it a go~.  

Think what most attracted me was this beautiful orange color that's created by adding carrot puree to the ramen soup stock used for their standard Chuka-Soba.  The volume was much less than other ramen shops... seems he found just the right portions so people wouldn't leave any leftovers. 

L shaped counter seating and 5 tables along the wall for small groups and couples.

Few slices of char-sui. Nothing impressive but I assume the quality was better than most.

Flat noodles were very al'dente... color created by hints of Paprika.  Honestly it just felt like I was eating soupy pasta... 

Overall this place failed to impress me as the cost performance couldn't justify the 800yen price point terms of volume... So I can only assume the cost of ingredients were reflected in the price.  The atmosphere was extremely woman friendly as half of the clients were ladies... a very rare sighting at any ramen shop.   If your girl is craving ramen but fears of sitting shoulder to shoulder with salarymen or random slurping guys then this is the place to go.  Spacious and clean...

Shop: Shorano-Iro (Color of the Sky) 

Foodie website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1308/A130803/13126816/

Shop blog: http://ameblo.jp/chihirockkun/

Fellow Foodie Entry: http://www.ramenadventures.com/2012/03/return-to-soranoiro.html

Address J: 東京都千代田区平河町1-3-10 ブルービル本館１B

Address E: Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Hirakawacho 1-3-10
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YOTSUYA: Onaga-Ya Okinawa Shokudou... great Okinawan on a budget!

After having a disastrous Okinawan Soba lunch at Yanbaru in Shinjuku it was a pleasure to stumble upon this new Okinawan Restaurant across the street from Sophia University. Opened on April 16, 2012.

Daily lunch specials begin at 600yen and most surprising was the So-ki Soba and Rafu-te Soba were both only 600yen.. these usually command a premium as the beef used is very good.

Arrived at 1:45pm on a Saturday as lunch was winding down.

Grand opening sale... Okinawan dishes that range up to 600yen are all only 300yen til April 28th.

Went for the So-Ki Soba lunch set for only 600yen!

Little side dishes.

Spice for the Okinawan soba... think it consists of Awamori with little peppers inside.

Meat was extremely tender... yum.

Noodles consisted of both skinny and chunky noodles...  fun to eat.  If you want Oomori (extra) noodles its free!  But after gaining 2 kilo's in the past week on consuming waaaay too many carbs I went for the regular portion... it was still so much!

2 slices of Kamaboko.

Nice cozy interior... playing Okinawan music on the BGM.

Dinner menu.

A great little discovery in the basement of this building... My image of places in these locations are not very positive... normally mediocre franchise style shops but Onaga-Ya was a pleasant surprise.  Value is simply hands down great.  Highly suggest it if you are craving Okinawan on a budget.  You'll get stuffed!

I went back a few days later to try their 700yen Taco Rice Lunch... it was a salty disaster!  Stay away from this and stick to the great Okinawan Soba lunch set :)

Shop: Onaga-Ya Okinawa Shokudou

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1309/A130902/13140486/

Address E:  Tokyo-to, Chiyoda-ku, Kojimachi 6-6, B1F

Address J:　東京都千代田区麹町6-6

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SHIBUYA: Adidas Block Party at Hikarie and Nylon Event (TONIGHT!)

FYI if you are in Tokyo tonight... a free event with some of the best DJ's in town.

Then Nylon 8th Anniv Party at Shibuya Sound Museum Vision from 9pm!  

Free entrance if you show this image at the door.

ROPPONGI HILLS: Ramen Tetsukama... a bit embarrassed to post this but I assume a few beers helped with their lowly 2.84 foodie score.

After enjoying 200yen beer Happy Hour at Havana Cafe prior to...a great Bobby Rush live performance at Billboard Tokyo over some amazing wine and my favorite Bass Ale... then to Roppongi Hills Rigoletto for a few beers I found my self craving some Ramen.

So left my group for a quick bite of Ramen.

There is an alley in the basement level (almost same level as Hibiya Train Line entrance) that is lined with many restaurants and a few Ramen shops.

Randomly decided to give this place a try.

I went for the standard Ramen... I think... a few too many drink in me on this Friday Night.

A bit embarrassed to post this shot... the place was rather empty and I decided to sit next to a lone female ramen goer... I'll refrain from posting the pic of the 2 of us.

My Ramen!

My view!

This is Tsuke-men (a style where you dip the ramen into the soup)... I never did like this style as the noodles can be a bit on the luke-warm side. Oh, this is the girls Ramen... she was kind enough for me to take pics of it.  Tokyo is waaaay to friendly

She had tiny shrimp in hers... cool!

I'll only post this entry as an FYI to anyone craving ramen within a short distance (basement level) of Roppongi Hills.... another great adventure of which I can barely remember.  But be aware... their foodie score is a very very low.  

Shop: Ramen Tetsukama

Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1307/A130701/13021518/

Address J: 東京都港区六本木6-2-31 六本木ヒルズ ノースタワー Ｂ１Ｆ

Address E: Tokyo, Minato-ku, Roppongi 6-2-31, Roppongi Hiills North Tower B1F
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YOTSUYA: Sakura Izakaya for 600yen Lunch... a hidden treasure in the side streets of Yotsuya! So glad to stumble upon you~

After living in Yotsuya for about 1.5 years never have I found such a reasonable and delicious lunch spot!  Prices were in the amazingly yasui (inexpensive) range of 500-600yen... simply wow!

I went for the "nikomi hamburger"... nikomi is used when preparing food within a sauce... in this case the burger was grilled in a bowl of Japanese gravy.

Lunch comes with Hot Tea in a very nice cup.

Just too stunned... all this for only 600yen!?  An absolute deal.

My burger was cooked to perfection... absolutely juicy and so tasty.

Salad had a great korean style dressing on it... a bit of shoyu, onion and salt dressing is my best guess.  Soooo good.

Hot Miso soup

I was seated at the "L" shaped counter that can seat about 8 people.  But there were also private booths and tatami style seating behind the counter.

One thing I absolute don't like during lunch... ash tray spotting.  A guy was smoking bu luckily he was seated at the far end of the counter.

Seems draft beers and mixed drinks are only 300yen... as compared to the normal 500yen price point.

The staff was incredibly friendly and "irashyaimase/arigato" resounded thru the shop.  The 2 Chefs and waitress were Indian in this Japanese style Izakaya... I will definitely be back next week for another lunch. 

Shop: Sakura Izakaya

Fellow Foodies Blog: http://nao0522.blog100.fc2.com/blog-entry-1067.html

Address J: 東京都新宿区三栄町1-2 ＣＳビル１階

Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Saneicho 1-2

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