Rokurinsha: Slurp it up to the last drop

Tsukemen: Thick, al dente noodles that are cool to the touch, dipped in a highly concentrated broth that has been reduced under the watchful eyes of a master and finally slurped up quickly in one breath, bringing a savoury and chewy sensation to the diner.

The origins of  Tsukemen can be traced back to a certain Kazuo Yamagishi, founder and chef of the timeless Taishoken ramen stall at Higashi Ikebukuro. It's said that Yamagishi discovered this dish while he ate noodles with some left over broth and soy sauce, and hence the concept was born.

In recent years however, the title of "Most Popular Tsukemen" would probably go to Rokurinsha. Ever since their first original branch in Osaki, they have expanded aggressively to 5 outlets. The branch at the Tokyo Skytree (Solamachi) commands queues of up to 2 to 3 hours during lunch/dinner time.

Noodles made in house (Normal Portion)

The advantage of Tsukemen is that diners get to fully appreciate the texture of the noodles in its entirety without worry of carry-over cooking due to the hot soup in normal ramen. Rokurinsha's noodles are about 1.5 times thicker than the average ramen noodle which makes it easier to pick up the broth when dipping. The portions for noodles are generous so order the large portion only if you are absolutely dying of starvation. You have been warned.

Dipping Broth

Rokurinsha's broth is one to behold. Carrying the consistency of a gravy, the broth is made from pork bones, bonito, sardines, vegetables and other undisclosed ingredients then carefully boiled and reduced until it achieves the desired thickness and viscosity. Taking one spoonful by itself, it was akin to drinking liquid umami as all the goodness of the ingredients have been fully extracted and concentrated into a small bowl.


It is practically impossible to take just one mouthful as I found myself slurping continuously, stopping only to catch my breath. The chewy, cool and clean tasting noodles complements the warm and rich broth and the flavours dance and mingle nicely."Shiok" would be the word to accurately describe this.

Rokurinsha
Tokyo Solamachi 6F
Tokyo Skytree
1-1-2 Oshiage, Sumida-ku, Tokyo

Operating Hours
1100-2300 Daily unless otherwise specified.
Last Order at 2200

Nearest Station: Oshiage