The first time I ever heard about or tried dan dan noodles was at this very restaurant: Szechuan Tantanmen Aun (四川担担麺 阿吽 湯島本店). It has been quite a while since my last visit. Since Yushima is far from me, I’ve been going to DENO in Ginza instead, as I also like their offerings. But today, it’s a nostalgic reunion.
The menu and the atmosphere of the restaurant haven’t changed much. There are still some partitions between the counter seats, just as before. The restaurant is located very close to Yushima Station on the subway. It’s also within walking distance from Ueno and Akihabara.
AUN is synonymous with dry dan dan noodles. They also offer a soupy version, which I remember being quite delicious too. Both versions are available with white or black sesame. You can choose the level of spiciness and numbing heat (from 0 to 6), with level 6 costing an additional ¥100.
When I first visited, I couldn’t drink alcohol. It’s quite nostalgic to think back. Back then, they only offered medium-sized bottles, but now they also have small bottles available. The options are Yebisu and Tsingtao Beer. I chose Tsingtao Beer since it was the same price as Yebisu.
…And here it is: the Dan Dan Noodles that I was obsessed with for a while. I always went with level 5 for both spiciness and numbing heat, and this time was no exception. Before digging in, I want to thoroughly mix the noodles. The chewy, thick noodles are quite hefty, so it can be a bit tiring to mix them😂 But it’s worth it—mixing the minced meat, Sichuan pepper, mizuna greens, shrimp, and noodles creates a perfect bite.
Ah, the shrimp! The texture and flavor of the shrimp are just delightful. The freshly ground Sichuan pepper gives off an amazing aroma. All the sauces used in the dish—like the chili oil, sweet bean paste, and doubanjiang—are handmade. No other dan dan noodles can compare to these. While I love DENO, AUN’s noodles have their own irreplaceable charm, making them worth a regular visit.
About
Name Szechuan Tantanmen Aun (四川担担麺 阿吽 湯島本店)
Open Lunch, Dinner
Reservation Unavailable
Credit card Unavailable
URL Website / Instagram
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