Spicy Tsukemen (Spicy Dipping Noodles)

This is one of those meals that we tried without any recommendation or reviews. We just walked around the streets of Tokyo, looking for something interesting to eat. But we did tell ourselves, no more Sushi, no more Yakitori.... no Ramen.....

Then we found this place in the Shinjuku area! Most the restaurants nearby looks very commercialise, and we were hoping to eat some local food, something that we have not tried before... something authentically Japanese... The menu on the outside looks really simple (like only a few items), so we took a peep inside. It was quite crowded, so we decided to give it a ago!

Tsuekemen (dipping noodles) or Spicy Tsukemen (spicy dipping noodles).... with a menu like that, it wasn't too difficult to decide. But from what we noticed in the shops, everybody had the Spicy Tsukemen....

We decided to order the Large set (since its the same price as Medium set) and share. The noodles are served cold in a separate bowl from the Spicy soup. We had to study it a little from all the other locals on how they consume the Tsukemen (SOP)

Remember: Whenever in doubt, just follow the crowd!

Here they have some stuff written in English, obviously for tourist like us to look and try to understand why the noodles are so perfect in texture (chewy and crunchy but not being tough or rubbery).

So according to the instructions, the noodles is served cold, to retain its taste and texture. To eat the Tsukemen, you'll take a serve with your chopsticks and dip it into the Soup and consume. With the first bite, you'll realise that the noodles are truly perfect in texture and taste. The noodles looks like Ramen, but its texture and the taste is so different.

The Spicy soup is very thick in texture, so when you dip your noodles in, it will coat it properly. I can't really describe how it taste, as I have never tasted anything similar to it. All I can say is that, it is tasty, spicy and thick, a little like Curry soup, but without the curry flavour taste.

After you have finished your noodles, you'll pour in some of the provided chicken broth into the left-over spicy soup, which has thicken a little with all the dipping and drink it like a soup!

Here we have a photo of the menu, it was very simple, with only option to choose whether u want spicy or non spicy, in which size, and the side orders.

We tried the Gyoza, it was good. Like I always say, any Gyoza made from pork is always better than those chicken ones in Malaysia!

Here we have some spiced been sprouts side dish. It was a little spicy and had a little vinegar to give it a tangy spicy taste, a little like pickle vegi...

The Spicy Tsukemen was so good and unique, we had to go back there a second time, the next night.... we knew what was at stake, as we probably would never get to taste anything like this ever again....

The 2nd night we ordered with different toppings, like the bamboo shoots, roast pork and soft boiled eggs. One other thing that you'll get to eat alot when you are in Japan is their perfectly cooked soft boiled eggs... with the yolk, semi-cooked, yet still very moist.... absolutely brilliant!

I have marked the location of where we ate in the location link below.