Maze Soba Mitubosi - Creative Mazesoba in Nishi Koyama, Tokyo

From Thai tantanmen to pizza dumplings, Maze Soba Mitubosi (まぜそば 三ッ星 and also read as "Mitsuboshi") does things their own way.

Mazesoba in Nishi Koyama, Tokyo

Now settled in Nishi Koyama in Shinagawa (they moved from Ebisu), they're still serving the same inventive mazesoba (soupless ramen) and genuinely great dumplings that built their reputation.

Dumplings First

Start with the Tantan boiled dumplings — soft, generously sauced in raiyu (spicy Chinese chili oil), and buried in coriander.

Then there's the Pizza Gyoza: fried dumplings loaded with melted cheese, tomato, and jalapeño. They sound gimmicky. They're not.

The Mazesoba

Mazesoba is oil-based and soupless. Everything arrives somewhat separate, so you mix it yourself before eating. Mitubosi's signature bowl is pork-based, miso-infused, creamy and a little sweet after you get into it.

Maze Soba with Wagyu

There are seven protein options — wagyu beef, pork, duck, and more. Go wagyu.

The Coriander Ankake Mazesoba is the other must-try. It's sweet and savory, with crunch from spring onions and soft minced meat wrapped in a sticky ankake sauce — somewhere between a chow mein glaze and something entirely its own.

Thai Tantanmen

Not just a mazesoba shop. The 55 Tantanmen is a Thai-leaning ramen with lemongrass and a fish sauce backbone that hits somewhere between Southeast Asian and Chinese.

Creamy, fragrant, and different from anything else on the menu.

Condiment Situation

Garlic oil, tom yum vinegar, multiple hot sauces — Mitubosi takes condiments seriously.

The counter only seats seven, so the whole place feels like somewhere you're in on a secret.

Prices add up a bit if you're getting the dumplings and mzesoba...but it's worth it.

Old Ebisu Branch (Now they're in Nishi Koyama

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