I’ve finally visited the ramen shop in Shinjuku that I’ve always wanted to go to, Ramenya Shima (らぁ麺や 嶋)! It was quite a challenge. Shima has only six counter seats, and its operating hours are limited to weekdays from 8:45 AM to 2:00 PM. Reservations are required in advance via Table Check, and they fill up immediately upon opening!
The exterior of the restaurant is very simple, so you might pass by without noticing it. This lantern serves as a landmark.
The nearest station is Nishi-Shinjuku Gochome Station on the Toei Oedo Line, about a five-minute walk away. If you’re coming from JR Shinjuku Station, it takes around 30 minutes.
Here’s the menu. They offer Shio (salt) and Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen, along with Tantan Tsukemen. The cheapest option starts at 1450 yen, and an additional 390 yen is charged as a TableCheck reservation fee. There’s a ticket vending machine at the entrance.
I ordered the Special Ramen. The bowl is served piping hot. The soup has a beautiful shoyu (soy sauce) color, and it’s quite oily, keeping it warm for a long time.
The roast pork belly is incredibly tender! There are three types of roast meat—pork, duck, and chicken—making it feel more like an appetizer course than just a ramen topping. It also includes ajitama (flavored egg) and two kinds of wontons: shrimp and meat.
Truffle and whole grain mustard add an extra touch of flavor.
The thin, straight noodles are slightly on the soft side, and they pair exceptionally well with the soup. The first seating is at 8:45 AM—if you start your day with such an amazing bowl of ramen, all that’s left to do is go home and sleep. Sweet dreams!
About
Name Ramenya Shima (らぁ麺や 嶋)
Open Daytime
Reservation Required (Table Check)
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