Mendokoro Ginzasa (麺処 銀笹) boasts one of the best bowls of shio ramen in Tokyo. They're just a stone's throw away from Shimbashi and Ginza stations.
Ginzasa Rules Shimbashi and Ginza
The masterchef / owner at Mendokoro Ginzasa has 20+ years experience in Japanese cuisine. His ramen certainly reflects this. Their signature bowl is shio (salt) based. It's salty and radiant, which is just the way I like it.
The soup is delicate blend of fish, kelp, chicken and pork bones. In short, it's fantastic. The negi (spring onions) and mizuna (Japanese mustard greens) toppings add brightness to the already bright soup.
Other toppings include shrimp and fish meatballs, broiled pork chashu, bamboo shoots, and an egg. Also, aonori (green laver) and fried negi (spring onions) come in a separate dish (top right). They're an enjoyable way to change the flavor of the soup.
Lastly, the noodles are on the thinner side. They're properly springy though.
Other Ramen Dishes
Every ramen dish that Ginzasa serves is quality. The tsukemen (dipping ramen), for example, provides a different experience. The soup is shoyu (soy sauce) based and it's more fish forward than the ramen soup.
Look out for seasonal ramen as well. Below is a burnt white miso ramen. The thick and rich soup is chicken, pork, fish, potatoes, onions, carrots, ginger, dried maitake mushrooms, potage juice, and three types of miso.
It's quite the contrast to their shio ramen.
To summarize, Mendokoro Ginzasa is one heck of a ramen shop. Despite the big praise it's received over the years, it doesn't get too crowded.
