Menya Nukaji

"Menya Nukaji" (麺屋ぬかじ) is a specialty restaurant for rich seafood tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen, located just a 3-minute walk from Shibuya Station's Exit 3 (servicing the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, Tokyu Toyoko Line, and Tokyo Metro lines) at Udagawacho 3-12 monostep2 1F. This highly-regarded establishment moved from Setagaya, Setagaya Ward, and continues to draw crowds with its constant lines in Shibuya, maintaining its status as a popular destination. The menu prominently features two main options: Ramen (1,180 yen) and Tsukemen (つけめん - dipping noodles) (1,280 yen), both highlighted by their rich seafood tonkotsu soup. The ramen offers a simple yet satisfying composition of brown seafood tonkotsu soup, medium-thick straight noodles, large slices of char siu (braised pork), menma (bamboo shoots), and green onions. Its well-balanced saltiness allows for an enjoyable "ajihen" (flavor variation) experience with the noodles and char siu by adding nori (seaweed) (100 yen). The tsukemen is a rich, seafood-infused type, with a thick dipping broth (tsukejiru) boasting a strong presence of fish powder. Its chewy, medium-thick noodles pair excellently with the rich broth, while the thick, melt-in-your-mouth tender char siu is also a perfect accompaniment to rice. For a limited time, "Nukajiro" makes an appearance—a bowl inspired by the Jiro-kei (二郎系 - a distinct ramen style known for large portions and customization) tradition, offering "call" options for extra garlic (ニンニク), extra pork fat (アブラマシ), and extra vegetables (ヤサイマシ). Even with extra vegetables (yasai-mashi), it forms a satisfying "mountain," and the pork fat (abura) is uniquely served in large, chunky cuts, providing a distinct "eating abura" sensation. The noodles, unlike the often firm and dense "washiwashi-kei" type found in typical Jiro-kei ramen, are a slightly easier-to-eat medium-thick variety, resulting in a composition that isn't overly "junk food" style. A welcome addition in this era of rising prices is the free service of Tamago Kake Gohan (TKG - raw egg over rice), with options for just raw egg or plain rice. Soup wari (soup dilution) is available upon request from the staff, allowing guests to savor the flavors to the very last drop. The restaurant features a compact interior with only 8 counter seats, and waiting times of around 30 minutes are common during peak lunch hours.