神田 いるさ (Kanda Irusa)

0812240135I love the weekday lunches offered by this Japanese restaurant near Jimbocho. There are 3 options in the lunch menu: donburi (Y1000), teishoku(Y1200), bento(Y1500). The menu changes every week and I’m always amazed by how creative the menu for the donburi and the teishoku sound. Sometimes I visit this restaurant twice in a week because both the donburi and the teishoku sound so tempting but I’m too embarassed to order both at the same time.

All lunches come with salad, miso soup, pickled vegetables, and dessert. For the teishoku, you get a main dish, plus a small piece of grilled fish, which you can choose from the list of fish available on that day. In general, I like donburi more than teishoku. I only ordered the bento once and while it was not bad, it wasn’t interesting enough to make me order it again.

Among all my visits, obviously there were times when the food wasn’t so fantastic, but for a ~1000yen lunch, I think this place is just great.

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特製鰻の和風オムレツ丼、¥1000。
Salad. Special Unagi Omelette Donburi, Y1000.
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秋鮭と鮭の白子の天丼風、¥1000。
Salmon and Salmon milt “Tendon”(tempura on rice), Y1000. Dessert.
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お好み焼魚(いしもちの一夜干し)と牛バラ肉の煮込み、¥1200。
Teishoku(Y1200): Your choice of grilled fish(Ishimochi salted and dried overnight). Stewed Beef belly meat.
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お造りと日替わり二段弁当、¥1500。
Two layered bento(Y1500) comes with a small dish of sashimi.
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特製二色とろろ(和布蕪と大和芋)の海鮮丼。
特製鰻と浅利の玉子とじ丼。
Special two-colour tororo(grated mountain yam) Seafood Donburi.
Special Donburi of Unagi and clams cooked with egg.
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お好み焼魚(こちかま)と若鶏とセロリとピーマンの味噌炒め。
Teishoku: Your choice of grilled fish(Kochi’s head). Chicken and celery and bellpepper stir-fried with miso.
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金目鯛とつくね蓮根挟みの照り焼き丼。
梶木鮪と浅利のバターぽん酢焼き丼。
Kinmedai and sandwiched Tsukune and lotus root Teriyaki Donburi.
Donburi with Kajiki-Maguro and clams grilled with Butter and Ponzu.
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お好み焼魚(金目鯛の西京焼き)と鶏ささみ オクラの豚ロース巻き、チーズの豚ロース包み揚げ盛り合わせ。
Teishoku: Your choice of grilled fish(Kinmedai’s Saikyo-yaki). Chicken breast and Okra wrapped in pork loin, deep-fried pork loin roll with cheese.
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鱧の天ぷらとキムチかき揚げの丼。
若鶏と三島おこぜの照焼き丼。
Hamo tempura and kimchi Kakiage(tempura with mixed ingredients) Donburi.
Chicken and Okoze(sting fish) Teriyaki Donburi.
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お好み焼魚(ほうぼうかま)と豚トロの焼きしゃぶ~梅肉ソースで~。
Teishoku: Your choice of grilled fish(Houbou’s head). Grilled Pork belly with sour plum sauce.
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鰆(さわら)と烏賊の南蛮漬けの丼、¥1000。
特製ウニづけ丼、¥1500。
Sawara and Squid Nanban-zuke(deep-fried and then marinated in vinegar) Donburi.
Special marinated Uni(sea urchin) Donburi, Y1500.
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お好み焼魚(すずきのカマ焼き)と変わりメンチカツの玉子とじ。
Teishoku: Your choice of grilled fish(Suzuki’s head). Strange Menchi-katsu cooked in eggs.
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牛肉のすき焼き風丼~温泉玉子添え~。
Beef Sukiyaki-style Donburi with hotspring egg.
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お好み焼魚(あいなめのカマ焼)と自家製コロッケ 鶏肉チーズ巻 烏賊フライ盛り合わせ。
Teishoku: Your choice of grilled fish(Ainame’s head). Store-made croquette, chicken and cheese roll, fried squid.
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鰯のカツとメンチカツの丼~特製甘味噌掛け~。
Iwashi(sardine) cutlet and menchi-katsu Donburi with special sweet miso sauce.
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お好み焼魚(鯵のひらき)と豚の角煮~梅肉ソース掛け。
Teishoku: Your choice of grilled fish(opened and dried Aji). Pork Kakuni with sour plum sauce.
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鰯のさつま揚げとトマトオムレツの丼~フカヒレ入りべっこう餡掛け。
穴子と海老真丈キス巻きととまとの豚ロース巻きの天丼風。
Donburi of fried tofu-skin with Iwashi(sardine) and tomato omelette in shark-fin starchy sauce.
Tendon with Anago, Ebi-shinjo(deep fried prawn ball), Kisu roll, tomato and pork loin roll.
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お好み焼魚(ひらす西京焼)と若鶏と山菜の天麩羅。
Teishoku: Your choice of grilled fish(Hirasu Saikyo-yaki). Chicken and mountain vegetable tempura.
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鰤のマリネ風炙り〆丼、アボカドと温泉玉子のせ。
鱚(キス)と海老真丈(しんじょう)と豚肩ロースの桑焼き丼。
Seared marinated Buri with avocado and hotspring egg.
Kisu and Ebi-shinjo and pork loin kuwayaki Donburi.
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烏鰈の黒酢あんかけ丼。
Donburi of Karasu-karei with black vinegar starchy sauce.
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お好み焼魚(ひらす西京焼き)と豚ロースの香味焼き。
Teishoku: Your choice of grilled fish(Hirasu’s Saikyo-yaki) and grilled Pork loin with herb.
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牛挽肉入り和風オムレツ丼、べっこう餡掛け、¥1000。
Minced beef Omelette Donburi.

Menu(J): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.

神田 いるさ (Kanda Irusa)
Add: 3-14-3 Ogawamachi, Kanda
Tel: 03-3294-3212

BROZERS’ (ブラザーズ)

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A hamburger shop near Ningyocho station in the Nihonbashi area. The shop is very famous but a couple of my friends told me that they went there with high expectations and were disappointed. After trying for myself, I think the beef patty is not as juicy as I would like, but the burgers are still nice because other ingredients such as the veggy, different kinds of toppings, the sauces and the bread are well-prepared. Also if you order the burger, it will come with very nice French Fries and 2 onion rings – I know it’s common in most countries but it’s not in Japan.
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MON Egg Burger, Y1000.
TUE Fish Burger, Y1000.
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WED Chili beans Burger, Y1050.
THU Teriyaki Burger, Y950.
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FRI Pineapple Burger, Y1000.
Chili Beans Soup, Y600.
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Cheese Burger, Y1000.
Minestrone Soup, Y500.
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Red Hot Chili Burger, Y950.
Clam Chowder, Y550.
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Tar Tar Burger, Y1000.
Fried Chicken, Y580.
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Avocado Burger, Y1050.
Chili Beans Dog, Y650.
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Sweet Chili Chicken Burger, Y1300.
Onion Rings, Y400.
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Chicken Cheese Burger, Y1200.
Brownies with Ice-cream, Y580.
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Lot Burger,Y1500. Toppings: Bacon, cheese, egg, pineapple.
Sauces choose from: BBQ sauce, Teriyaki sauce, Red hot chili sauce, or Sweet chili sauce.

Chocolate Shake, Y580.

My favourites are Lot Burger, Avocado burger and Chicken Cheese Burger. If you order the burger from the lunch menu(both “daily special” and the regular burgers), you can get the “hamburger drink set” for Y150. Everything in the Grand Menu is also available at lunch time but no drink set for that. I’ve tried quite a few side menu, soups, desserts etc but I don’t really recommend them. Stick to the burgers!

Lunch menu here.
Grand menu: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

BROZERS’ (ブラザーズ)
Add: 2-28-5, Ningyocho, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku
Tel: 03-3639-5201

三四郎 (Sanshiro)

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特うしお、¥980。
Toku Ushio(salt-base soup), Y980.

I tried this ramen shop without reading up about it beforehand and once I went inside the shop, I thought maybe it was a bad idea because the ramen shop was completely empty at lunch time on a Sunday. But the quality of the “Toku Ushio” turned out to be high; other items on the menu which I tried over a couple of visits, were all good. The shop had more customers on weekdays but still it is never crowded as far as I see. Maybe it’s the problem with the price, which is slightly higher than other ramen shops in the area, and the location is kinda hidden away. I know a ramen shop which is on the main road, the ramen is cheaper and bigger in portion but tastes no good, yet that shop always has queue waiting outside. As I was hoping that Sanshiro wouldn’t close down before I post this entry, it turns out that it is a branch of a very famous ramen shop called “Nakamuraya”. I’ve never visited “Nakamuraya” because it’s far from central Tokyo but I kept seeing it on gourmet show and review blogs etc. Well Sanshiro is good enough for me and I like the fact that I don’t have to wait.
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まさら(カレーらーめん)+ごはん、¥950。
魚粉醤油つけめん、¥800。
Masara(Curry ramen) + plain rice, Y950.
Fish-meal soy sauce Tsukemen, Y800.
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ランチセット: むらさき+ネギ塩チャーシュー飯、¥1000。
Lunch set: Murasaki(soy sauce base soup) + chashu rice with leek and special “salt” sauce.
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ランチセット: かけうしお+チャーシューのたたき飯、¥850。
あじ玉、¥150。
Lunch set(Y850): Kake-Ushio(Ushio with no toppings) + chashu tataki rice bowl with ponzu sauce. I ordered the seasoned egg(Y150) as extra topping after the staff told me that “kake” is a plain ramen. So “Toku Ushio” has the most toppings, “Ushio” is regular, “Kake-Ushio” has no toppings.

Menu: 1, 2.

三四郎 (Sanshiro)
Add: 3-26 Ogawamachi, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3294-5346

九段一茶庵 (Kudan Issaan)

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A fantastic soba place located somewhere between Kudanshita and Jimbochou. Absolutely crazy about the soba here. Been going back again and again since last winter and tried everything in the menu. A lot of items are seasonal and only available for a few weeks or so. I think they have MORE variety during summer, probably because soba is actually a seasonal food that doesn’t taste as good in summer so they offer more variety of toppings to compensate.

For all the hot soba with soup, you can choose between regular soba(“seiro”) or thick soba(“inaka” or “country”). For the other soba(e.g.cold soba), you can change the soba from “seiro” to “inaka” for a charge of Y100. I love inaka soba so I always ask them to change it for me. “Oomori”(large size) is plus Y500.
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五色盛りそば(¥1800): 季節そば(さくら)、黒ごま、田舎、せいろ、けし。
5-colour soba(Y1800): seasonal soba(sakura), black sesame seed, inaka, seiro, keshi(poppy).
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つくねそば、¥1500。 たまご焼き、¥800。
Tsukune(duck meatball) soba, Y1500. Tamago-yaki, Y800.
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おろしそば、¥1100。焼き味噌、¥500。
Oroshi(grated radish) soba, Y1100. (Inaka +Y100)
Grilled miso(with soba flour), Y500.
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鴨南蛮、¥1500。 揚げゆば、¥700
Kamo Nanban(duck), Y1500.
Fried yuba(tofu skin), Y700.
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辛味もちそば、¥1200。 茄子田楽、¥500。
Grated radish and fried mochi(rice cake) soba, Y1200.
Nasu Dengaku(grilled aubergine with grounded meat in miso), Y500.
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胡麻だれせいろ(冷)、¥1300。つくね煮、¥600。
Cold seiro with sesame seed sauce, Y1300. (Large +Y500)
Simmered tsukune, Y600.
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ねぎそば、¥1200。 ぶっかけ、¥1300。
Negi(leek) soba, Y1200.
Bukkake, Y1300. Default is inaka soba.
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夏野菜かれいせいろ(冷)、¥1500。 竹の子そば、¥1300。
Summer vegetable curry seiro, Y1500.
Bamboo shoot soba, Y1300.
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なす茗荷そば、¥1400。すずしろせいろ、¥1100。
Aubergine and myouga soba, Y1400.
Suzushiro(shredded radish) seiro, Y1100.
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湯葉とじそば、1300。 赤なす揚げ煮せいろ、¥1400。
Yuba and egg soba, Y1300.
Fried red aubergine stew seiro, Y1400.
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そばとろ、¥1350。
生のりと梅もずくの冷かけ(冷)、¥1400。
Soba toro(grated yam), Y1350. (Large +Y500) (Inaka +Y100)
Raw seaweed and sour plum mozuku cold soba, Y1400. (Inaka +Y100)
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一本穴子せいろ、¥1900。 豆乳坦々せいろ、¥1500。
Anago seiro, Y1900. (Inaka +Y100)
Soy milk tantan seiro, Y1500.
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仙台地鶏とたたき長芋のぶっかけ(冷)、¥1500。
梅ぶっかけせいろ(梅干、大葉、茗荷、三つ葉、カツオ節)、¥1400。
Sendai chicken and Nagaimo(long yam) Bukkake, Y1400.
Sour plum Bukkake seiro, Y1400.
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天ぷらせいろ、¥2250。
沖縄島オクラとじゃこヘイヤ(冷)、¥1500。
Tempura seiro, Y2250.
Okinawa Okra and dried fish and Molokheya, Y1500.

Menu(J): 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

九段 一茶庵 本店(Kudan Issaan)
Add: 3-6-6 Jimbocho, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku
Tell: 03-3239-0889

勝漫 (Katsuman)

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This tonkatsu place is only a block away from Tonkatsu Yamaichi(The nearest station is Awajicho but it’s less than 10 mins walk from Akihabara). The chef of Yamaichi used to work here so the style are quite similar. Katsuman is a bit more expensive than Yamaichi for the same menu but the portion is also bigger. I find the crust of the tonkatsu much lighter and more delicately fried in Yamaichi, but Katsuman is more generous with the portion and the ingredients. Both are very good tonkatsu restaurants.
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大かつ丼、¥1600。 帆立のクリームコロッケ、¥1500。
Large Katsu-kon, Y1600. It only comes in large size, but you can ask for less rice. It’s nice but I prefer Yamaichi’s Katsudon.
Scallop cream croquette, Y1500. The croquettes are massive and there are generous amount of scallop chunks inside(such that the crust can barely hold up the stuffing ^^;;). I like it more than Yamaichi’s version.
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特ヒレかつ、¥2300。ヒレかつ、¥1800。
Left pic: Special pork filet cutlet(Toku-hire), Y2300.
Right pic: Regular pork filet cutlet(Hire), Y1800.
Both Hire are not as good as Yamaichi.
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特ロースかつ、¥2100。
ロースかつ、¥1500。+帆立コロッケ、¥400。
Left pic: Special pork loin cutlet(Toku-rousu), Y2100.
Right pic: Regular pork loin cutlet(Rousu), Y1500. Extra order: Scallop croquette, Y400.
Rousu are, on the other hand, better than Yamaichi. Very juicy and has right amount of fat.
There is a side menu from which you can order from one piece.
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串かつ、¥1400。 メンチかつ、¥1000。
Skewered pork and vegetable katsu, Y1400. About the same quality as Yamaichi.
Menchi-Katsu, Y1000. More meat than Yamaichi…and nicer!
Menu(J): 1, 2.

勝漫(Katsuman)
Add: 1-6-1 Sudachou, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3256-5504

讃岐うどん 野らぼー (Norabou)

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Sanuki udon(thick type of udon from Kagawa Prefecture) chain restaurant with a couple of branches in Kanda area. Left pic is Jimbochou branch and right pic is Nishikichou Honten(original shop near Awajicho subway station). The udon is soft and springy here, not the hard chewy type I usually crave but I still love it. The large variety of udon and tempura available, and the reasonable price make it one of my favourite lunch spots.
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冷玉生醤油うどん、¥570。 いか天、¥180。ささ身天、¥200。
Chilled udon with raw egg and fresh soy sauce, Y570.
Squid tempura, Y180. Chicken breast tempura, Y200.
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山菜春うどん、¥750。玉子天、¥90。しい茸天、¥130。
Spring mountain vegetable udon, Y750.
Half-cooked egg tempura, Y90. Shiitake mushroom tempura, Y130.
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味噌けんちんうどん、¥780。
さつま芋天、¥100。 茄子天、¥100。ごぼう天、120¥。
Miso Kenchin(miso soup with root vegetables) udon, Y780.
Satsumaimo taro tempura, Y100. Aubergine tempura, Y100. Gobou(burdock root) tempura,Y120.
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本日の定食:しらすご飯(温玉のせ)+讃岐うどん(鯛天付き)、¥800。
Today’s lunch set: Shirasu(baby fish) rice bowl with half-cooked egg, Sanuki udon with Tai(sea bream) surimi tempura, Y800.
For lunch set, you can choose the udon from the basic menu: hot, cold, or mix(hot soup + cold udon).
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鶏天おろしうどん、¥780。エリンギ天、¥130。おくら天、¥120。
Chicken tempura udon, Y780.
Eryngii mushroom tempura, Y130. Okra tempura, Y120.
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本日の定食、鶏すき丼と讃岐うどん(高菜付き)、¥800。
赤ちくわ天、¥130。アスパラ天、¥150。
Today’s lunch set: Chicken Sukiyaki rice bowl and Sanuki udon, Y800.
Red chikuwa tempura, Y130. Asparagus tempura, Y150.
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おろしぶっかけうどん、¥650。豚肉丼(温玉のせ)、¥350。
Oroshi(radish) Bukkake udon, Y650. Pork rice bow with half-cooked egg, Y350.
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ごまうどん、¥780。のり天、¥90。いんげん天、150¥。
Goma(sesame seed) udon, Y780.
Seaweed tempura, Y90. Green bean tempura, Y150.
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釜チーズカレーうどん、¥750。たまごかけごはん、¥190。
Kama(straight from the boiling pot) cheese curry udon, Y750.
Rice with raw egg, Y190.
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釜玉スパイシーチーズうどん、¥720。かぼちゃ天¥100。イワシ天、¥180。
Kama egg spicy cheese udon, Y720.
Pumpkin tempura, Y110. Iwashi(sardine) tempura, Y180.
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釜肉ぶっかけうどん(生玉子入り)、¥750。海老天、¥250。
Kama Niku(pork) Bukkake udon(with raw egg), Y750.
Prawn tempura, Y250.
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辛みそ釜玉うどん、¥600。切り餅天、¥120。
Spicy miso Kama egg udon, Y600.
Mochi(rice cake) tempura, Y120.
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冷やし茄子おろしうどん、¥720。
たけのこ天、¥100。まい茸天、¥130。
Chilled aubergine oroshi udon, Y720.
Takenoko(bamboo shoot) tempura, Y100. Maitake mushroom tempura, Y130.
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辛口カレーうどん、¥670。豚肉小丼、¥150。
Spicy curry udon, Y670. Small pork rice bowl, Y150.
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田舎きつねうどん、¥670。 カレー丼、¥190。
Inaka(country) Kitsune(fried sliced tofu) udon, Y670.
Small curry rice bowl, Y190.
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きつねおろしぶっかけ、¥670。 鳥つくね・厚玉丼、¥330。
Kitsune Oroshi Bukkake, Y670.
Tori(chicken) Tsukune(meat ball) rice bowl, Y330.
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冷やしゴマダレサラダうどん、¥800。 まぐろ中落ち丼、¥400。
Chilled goma-dare(sesame seed dressing) salad udon, Y800.
Maguro rice bowl, Y400.
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梅しそ若布うどん、¥670。 親子丼、¥400。
Ume(sour plum) shiso wakame udon, Y670.
Oyakodon, Y400.

Most of the rice bowls above are only available in Jimbocho branch. The rice bowls are included the udon set(together with a basic udon), but you can also order the rice bown on its own and choose the udon from the menu.

My favourite udon(excluding the seasonal ones that are only available for a short time) are chicken tempura udon, Goma udon and Kama Niku Bukkake udon(with raw egg).

Lunch menu: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.
Side dish menu available at dinner time: 1, 2.

讃岐うどん 野らぼー(Sanuki Udon Norabow)

神保町店 (Jimbocho Branch)
Add: 2-12-3 Jimbocho, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3221-5070

錦町本店 (Nishikichou Honten)
Add: 1-8-11, Nishikichou, Kanda, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-3295-5121

Poppoya (ぽっぽっ屋)

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The owner of this ramen shop used to work in Jiro, which explains the resemblance to Jiro in taste and style. I’ve tried the Suidoubashi branch near Tokyo Dome(left pic) and the Nihonbashi honten(right pic) which is the original shop. The two shops are similar in quality – Nihonbashi branch is a little bit more expensive(talking about ~30 yen difference), and Suidoubashi branch is less shabby and is easier to go in for female customers.

I really love the thick and chewy noodles here. The soup is Tonkotsu(pork bone broth) and soy sauce based, which is nice but I find it too salty to drink on its own. So rather then soup ramen, it’s more like ramen mixed with sauce. Just like Jiro, it’s free to ask for extra vegetable(mostly beansprouts), extra onion, extra pork fat, stronger taste, and garlic.

In the following, left pic is from Suidoubashi, right pic is from Nihonbashi.
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海の塩らーめん、¥780。+味玉子、¥100。
Umi no Shio(Sea Salt) Ramen, Y780. Ajitamago(boiled flavoured egg), Y100.
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油らーめん、¥780。
Aburamen(Y780) is the most popular item. Left one has garlic topping. Right one has ajitamago topping(I didn’t know Aburamen would come with egg already!).
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らーめん、¥700。+味玉子、¥100。
Regular Ramen, Y700. Ajitamago, Y100. Left one has garlic topping.
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つけらーめん、¥780。
Tsukemen, Y780. Left one has extra vegetable topping.
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冷やしサラダらーめん、¥850。
Chilled Salad Ramen, Y850. I only tried it in Suidoubashi branch, not sure if it is available in Nihonbashi. Pretty nice but gets a bit salty towards the end – too much dressing. Right pic is a branch in Yushima(near Ueno park). I just walked past but didn’t try.

Suidoubashi Branch’s menu here and free topping menu here.

English review here.

ぽっぽっ屋 (Poppoya)

Nihonbashi Honten
Add: 16-12 Kodenmachou, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku
Tel: 03-3666-2151

Suidoubashi Branch
Add: 2-21-11, Misakichou, Chiyoda-ku
Tel: 03-5211-8556