Inose

"Inose," located at Shinjuku Toyo Building 102, 2-20-19 Yoyogi, a 7-minute walk from JR Shinjuku Station South Exit and a 2-minute walk from Toei Oedo Line Shinjuku Station, is a specialty restaurant for konbu-sui tsukemen (dipping noodles served in kelp water) by the Ramen Koike Group. It is a strong contender for those looking to explore a wide range of tsukemen (dipping noodles) options in the Shinjuku area. Its greatest feature is the 1800 yen Special Konbu-sui Tsukemen (Tokujo Konbu-sui Tsukemen), which offers 4 types of dipping sauces (tsukejiru). In addition to the main white dashi soup, there are three sub-dipping sauces: "Tokyo Classic," a Taishoken-style (Taishoken-kei) seafood-based clear soup (gyokai-kei seitan supu) with a sweet and salty classic sauce and a punch of black pepper; "Chilled Soy Milk Tantan" (Hiyashi Tonyu Tantan), a rich style with chunky minced meat; and "Nameko Oroshi," a refreshing style with grated daikon and nameko mushrooms, reminiscent of soba. The noodles are medium-thin and straight, served steeped in katsuobushi-konbu water (bonito and kelp water). The recommended way to enjoy them is to first savor the aroma of wheat and the umami of the konbu dashi on its own, then sprinkle with moshio (sea salt) before eating, and finally, enjoy with the dipping sauces. This sequential approach maximizes the enjoyment. Eating the noodles with moshio (sea salt) is akin to eating soba, and the dish is remarkably complete even with just salt. The chashu (braised pork belly) is the Koike Group's signature low-temperature cooked type, consistently achieving high quality. Noodle portions of 200g and 300g are available for the same price, allowing you to choose based on your preference. The Kamaage Tsukemen (tsukemen where the noodles are served hot from the pot), a different menu offering, features a light soy sauce dipping broth (shoyu tsukejiru) infused with bonito dashi, topped with approximately 8 slices of rare chashu. Wonton (wontan) and seasoned egg (ajitama) can also be added. Both the regular and special versions are highly regarded by repeat customers in the Shinjuku area who seek high-quality tsukemen. The restaurant supports various cashless payment options, making it easily accessible for international travelers. The interior is designed for convenience, with self-service water, tissues, luggage storage, and paper aprons all neatly arranged around the counter.