Mendokoro Niboshiko ASOBUILD

A ramen shop specializing in niboshi (dried sardine) broth, located on the 1st floor of "ASOBUILD", a multi-purpose complex directly connected to Yokohama Station's Minami-Higashi Exit passage, just a 2-minute walk from the station. It's a popular shop, selected for Tabelog's Ramen KANAGAWA Hyakumeiten (Top 100 Ramen Shops in Kanagawa) for two consecutive years in 2024 and 2025, and is widely known as a representative niboshi-style ramen shop in the Yokohama Station area. Their signature "Niboshi Soba" (1,000 yen) is a refined clear shoyu (soy sauce) broth, extracting only the umami of niboshi. While a rich aroma rises, harshness and bitterness are suppressed, leaving an amazingly clear aftertaste. The soup features thin straight noodles, low-temperature cooked pork chashu, diced onions, and iwanori (rock seaweed), simply arranged, with the refreshing coolness of the onions acting as a salty accent. For those seeking more impact, the classic route is to go for the "Noko Niboshi Soba" (1,150 yen), characterized by its grayish, thick, and rich broth. A unique pleasure of this shop is its wide variety of "Aedama" (seasoned extra noodles). Variations include pork back fat, oyster butter, crab miso butter, and black vinegar, and a method recommended by regulars is to first enjoy them as they are, then dip them into the niboshi soup for a second delight. Daily changing limited menus are also a highlight, with luxurious bowls such as Lobster Soba, Watarigani (swimming crab) Soba, Hiyashi Nodoguro (chilled blackthroat seaperch) Soba, and Mud Crab Soba appearing one after another, tailored to the season and ingredients. Taking advantage of its location in an entertainment district at night, the shop also offers Japanese sake, and on Friday nights, it operates as a "Sobamae" (pre-ramen appetizers) establishment where Japanese sake is a must, showcasing a unique operational style with two facets: ramen and a Japanese izakaya.