HACHOBORI: Pizzeria OTTO reception gathering... 500yen Pizza's :)

All you can eat and drink reception party on July 31st... there's also one today August 1st:

https://www.facebook.com/events/275201159284690/

Chef Wada was once the manager at Ebisu Voco and finally opened up his own pizzeria.

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/2012/05/ebisu-voco-500yen-pizzeria-sister-to-my.html

The fresh oysters were massive... I'm not an oyster guy but the girls loved it.

Andy (in the white cap) and his wife who's globally ranked in the top 3 as a cheese sommelier.

https://www.facebook.com/AndyPlanning

Chef and his wife.

Pizza's were nice, interior had a cozy old school Japanesey feeling from carried over from the former Hormone Restaurant that resided here and the staff was super friendly.  Its only one stop from Tsukiji and if you are in the mood for a friendly pizza stop by and say hi to owner/chef Wada-san! Oh, just 15 minutes on the Hibiya line from Roppongi too.

Shop: Pizzeria Otto

Foodie Website: (None yet, will update).

Address J: 東京都中央区八丁堀2-26-6

Address E: Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Hachobori 2-26-6

MAP:

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SAKURADAI: Hagan's Shio flavored Soup-less Ramen... hmm... new chef... not good. (REVISTED)

Craving for Hagan and their friendly service on a very rainy Sunday afternoon... Had to go.

I normally go for the Shoyu "Amakuchi" (sweet) Shirunashi (soupless) ramen but the little sticker below the Shio (Salt) ramen also mentioned "Piri-Kara" (Spicy) so instead of the top left corner button I went for the button below that.

First thing I noticed was that the regular ramen chef and I assume the owner of the shop (they just opened up their 3rd) was missing and in his place was a very quiet guy who didn't say Irrashaimasse.  The shop just seemed dead... there was no hustle and bustle... no smiles... and the Chef was fumbling around in the back so much.　新しいスタッフがちょっと元気がなくて暗い吸気でした。

They no longer serve seasoned bamboo shoots with the ramen... i normally had it replaced with seaweed.

Went for the 200gram 650yen "Nami" (regular size) but upgrades are free up to 300 grams.  The "Shio" is not quite as flavorful as the Shoyu... and there was no soup at the bottom of the bowl.  What surprised me was the chef took out a Tupperware container filled with soup from the small refrigerator vs the usual large ramen soup pot.

The char siu here is cut then placed on a flaming grill prior to being served... outside was luke warm and inside cold.  This Chef must be very new. 珍しく今回のチャーシューがまだ冷えてた、新人Chefはまだまだだな～。

Noodles were unusually al'dente vs the many other times I've been here.

This is one of my favorite ramen spots but without the original owner/chef it was mediocre at best.  This is a picture of him sitting outside on another day with his tablet.  If you don't see him then it would be best to try another ramen spot in the neighborhood.  Hope he returns soon.

My Previous Reviews for Shoyu Ramen and Tsukemen:

http://tokyobelly.blogspot.jp/search?q=hagan

Shop: Hagan Ramen

Hagan Website: http://ramenhagan.hippy.jp/

Tabelog Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1321/A132101/13051251/

Ramen Database: http://ramendb.supleks.jp/s/14710.html

Address J: 東京都練馬区桜台1-5-11

Address E: Tokyo, Nerima-ku, Sakuradai 1-5-11

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破顔, つけ麺, ラーメン, 桜台, Japan, Foodie, Blog, Noodles,

IKEBUKURO: BushiKotsuMen TAIZO Ramen... open til 5am!

Late night ramen but I don't quite remember how it tasted... had a few too many Mugi-Shochu prior to this.  But its respectably ranked at 3.5 points on Tabelog!

Free garlic!

Ramen Shop: Bushi-Kotsu-Men TAIZO

Shop Website: http://taizo-ramen.jp/index.php

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130501/13089691/

Address J: 東京都豊島区東池袋1丁目40-9 第89東京ビル1F

Address E: Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 1-40-9
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節骨, 麺, たいぞう, 池袋東口店, 池袋, ラーメン, つけ麺, Ramen, Tsukemen, Japan, Foodie, Noodles,