Sawada Shoten

Sawada-Shoten Umeda is a specialty tantanmen restaurant in Nishi-Umeda/Dojima, created by Chef Sawada of the Michelin-starred Italian restaurant "Es Sawada." Its signature "Shibitang Tantanmen" (980 yen) features a unique soup based on bonito flakes (sababushi) fish broth, with the appealing option to customize spiciness (karasa) and numbness (shibire) verbally in 4 levels each. Starting with the aroma of sababushi's Japanese broth, a rich sesame flavor follows, gradually giving way to the numbing sensation of sansho pepper and the spiciness of chili, making it truly an original "saba-dashi tantanmen." The medium-thick, flat, wavy noodles perfectly entwine with the soup, and toppings include tender, juicy seared pork belly chashu, moist and plump chicken ham, and bok choy. Opting for the "Vegetable Tantanmen" (1,230 yen) adds plenty of vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, onions, chives, and wood ear mushrooms. The side "Mapo Don" (300 yen) is a dish of Chef Sawada's authentic Sichuan mapo tofu over rice, and a variety of sets including Mapo Rice, Chicken Rice, and Chashu Don are also available. Enjoy changing the flavor with sansho chili oil, extra sansho pepper, ichimi chili, green sansho, and kombu vinegar available on the table. A regular's tip is to add any leftover Mapo Don into the tantanmen soup at the end for a spicy and numbing "Mala Rice" finisher. The restaurant has a total of 12 seats: 7 at the counter, one 4-person table, and one 2-person table. Paper aprons are provided, which is a thoughtful touch. While closed on Saturdays and Sundays, it operates continuously on weekdays and national holidays until 11 PM.