Menya Sho Misodokoro

"Menya Sho Miso-dokoro" is located at Nishi-Shinjuku 7-19-9, a 3-5 minute walk from Nishi-Shinjuku Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. This shop is a specialty miso ramen restaurant from the popular "Menya Sho" in the Shinjuku area, offering rich miso ramen in the style of Jun-sumi-kei (Sapporo Junren style). Its biggest feature is the authentic cooking method, faithfully following the Jun-sumi-kei tradition: miso and ground meat are thoroughly stir-fried in lard before the soup is added, and grated ginger is sprinkled on top as a finishing touch. However, unlike traditional Jun-sumi-kei, bean sprouts are stir-fried in lard and added later, not boiled in the soup, retaining their crisp texture. The soup prioritizes richness and balance over extreme thickness, offering a gently mellow flavor where the umami of miso and the savory aroma of ground meat slowly spread. The noodles are medium-thick, wavy, and chewy noodles from Kanno Seimen, which entwine well with the rich miso soup. The menu offers a wide variety, including Miso Ramen for 1000 yen, Special Miso Ramen, Spicy Miso Ramen (with 1-6 levels of spiciness), Ontama Miso Aburasoba (warm egg miso oil soba) for 1200 yen with free large serving, and Gyoza for 350 yen. One of its greatest appeals is the complimentary service: you can choose either free rice or a free large serving of noodles, and at night, kae-dama (extra noodle serving) is also free. The chashu (braised pork) is slightly thick and tender, with a well-absorbed flavor, making it satisfying to eat. Another way to enjoy the ramen is to let the grated ginger dissolve into the soup in the latter half, creating a change in flavor. The shop operates until ingredients run out for the day, and there may be temporary closures during the New Year's holidays, so checking on X in advance is recommended for peace of mind.