IKEBUKURO: Menya Musashi... Late evening Tsukemen! FREE Noodle Upgrades!!

Once again I follow my ramen connoisseur friend into the Ramen battle grounds of Ikebukuro... this night we hit up Menya Musashi.

All three of us went for Tsukemen... and the greatest thing about tsukemen is that upgrades in noodles are normally always free vs ramen.  Regular, Medium, Large and Extra Large portion of tsukemen noodles were all the same price.  I went for the Medium "Chu-Mori"

All counter seating

The noodles had a nice shine to it... Unless you ask for it the noodles will come out cold to hold its texture but if you prefer hot just ask for atsu-mori.

Only if I could remember what the soup tasted like... from vague memory (had a few too many beers prior to this at Koike Izakaya) it was a medium slightly light broth.

There were very small chunks of tender pork in the soup.

And of course always great to have a little red pepper to spice up the flavor... less boring.

After you are done with your noodles don't drink all your soup!  Ask for soba-yu (hope its the correct word)... they'll add hot soba ramen water to the soup so the flavor isn't as intense.  Great stuff.

Overall how can you go wrong with paying the same price for huge upgrades in noodles~.  Great atmosphere and nice and clean... I'm sure I'll be back.  There are locations all over Tokyo http://www.menya634.co.jp/

Shop: Menya Musashi Ikebukuro Branch

Ikebukuro Branch: http://www.menya634.co.jp/niten.html

Musashi Website: http://www.menya634.co.jp/

Foodie Website: http://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1305/A130501/13005593/

Address J: 東京都豊島区東池袋1-2-4

Address E: Tokyo, Toshima-ku, Higashi Ikebukuro 1-2-4

MAP:

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SHINJUKU: Men-ya Musashi. 1000yen Ramen!

There's always a line at Musashi and I just had to check it out.  

If you are lost then hit the top left button... that'll give you the house recommended special.  But never ever have I seen 1,000yen Ramen!  Just had to see what this beast was... 1,000 yen ($11) bye  bye.  I think actual cost to make a bowl of ramen without all the toppings is 100-200yen.  Some of these shops can make an excess of  USD1 million per store.

All counter seating and a lively ramen staff.  I sat next to a nice couple and the dude kept coughing to clear his throat... dude... enough already.  Its a hit and miss who you sit next to.

And there it is!  The Ramen dude will ask if you want "Asari" (Light soup base) "Kotteri" (A more oily flavorful soup base) and what type of noodes "Futsuu" Regular or "Futo-men" Fat noodles.  I went for the Kotteri Futo-Men noodles!  

Very tasty ramen and so filling.  Its not ranked very highly on Tabelof at 3.20 points but worth a try if you are in the area.  I probably will never go back because consuming such heavy ramen just kills me in the calorie department.  The meat was so melty tender, noodles thick and chewy.  There' garlic in a tiny container for taste.

SHOP: Menya Musashi
Location: Shinjuku (Near Prospect AXE or the former Oakwood Shinjuku Apartments).
Foodie Website: http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1304/A130401/13001013/
Shop Website:  http://www.m634.com/634/
Address J: 東京都新宿区西新宿7-2-6
Address E: Tokyo, Shinjuku-ku, Nishi Shinjuku 7-2-6
MAP:

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