Menya Garon

“Menya Garon (Garon)” is located on a small street in Shinjuku's Golden Gai. As part of the 5 Gallons Group, which operates restaurants primarily in Golden Gai and Yotsuya Arakicho, it's a ramen shop specializing in additive-free (無化調 mukachō) ramen, operating in a unique space converted from the first floor of a bar. Its most striking feature is its unconventional, dim atmosphere with skull lighting, a departure from typical ramen shops, and a compact interior with only 12 U-shaped counter seats. The soup is an additive-free creation made from whole chicken, pork, and konbu (昆布 kelp) dashi (出汁 broth) extracted with carbonated water, offering a clear (淡麗 tanrei) yet distinctly flavorful and easy-to-drink taste. The signature Yuzu-scented Clear Salt Ramen (850 yen) is designed so that adding yuzukosho (柚子こしょう a spicy citrus paste) served on a separate plate midway through tightens the overall flavor with a sharp spiciness and richness. The Clear Shoyu Ramen (Special) is also a classic menu item, with the “special” version featuring a rich variety of toppings: chashu (チャーシュー braised pork), ajitama (煮卵 seasoned egg), menma (メンマ bamboo shoots), shredded green onions, kaiware daikon (かいわれ大根 daikon radish sprouts), chili threads, and chopped onions. The limited-quantity Nira-men (1250 yen) is a high-impact dish, characterized by a presentation where an entire bunch of chives (ニラ nira) is finely chopped and spread over the soup, then hot sesame oil is poured over it with a sizzling sound to finish. The generous volume, which hardly diminishes even when scooped with a ladle, and the unique flavor of chives coated in sesame oil create a distinctive experience. The noodles are thin and straight, retaining a firm chewiness, pairing well with both the clear soup and the abura soba (油そば oil noodles)-like Nira-men. Due to its location in the Golden Gai area, it attracts a high proportion of foreign customers, and service, handled by the owner alone, is leisurely, taking around 6-10 minutes per order. During lunchtime, free rice is offered, allowing customers to enjoy Nira-men by topping the rice with chives.