Kodawari Ramen

If you walk into the Kodawari Ramen location in the 2nd and think to yourself: “Gee, I wonder if they’re trying to make this feel like a market in Tokyo,” you’d be very right. The staff are in white rubber boots, drying fish hangs from the rafters, and styrofoam trays of fresh ones sit on the floor. (And if you’re really paying attention, perhaps you noticed that the soundtrack is an actual recording of the Tsukiji Outer Market).

At the outpost in the 6th, the market chaos is replaced with low lighting, paper lanterns, and a long red counter. The ramen at both is a warm umami hug, especially the “sardine bomb,” with its namesake fish and chashu Iberico pork. There’s always a wait, so scan the QR code to get on the list, then go wander around.