Chūkasoba Seijo Seika

Been meaning to try this ramen shop out for a while now. Given it’s the next town over and since it once again made the Tablelog Top 100 Ramen Restaurants for 2024, finally we visited a few days ago. It was on a holiday, so we decided to do a late lunch to avoid the inevitable crowds. Arrived 2:00pm and…there was a long line- more than 10+ people were in front of us. However a mere 30 mins later and we were next to go in! A very friendly young lady came out, showed us a menu, and happily answered all our questions. My wife decided to try a Shoyu (soy sauce) ramen and I went with Shio (salt) ramen set- which included a chashu don (pork over rice) which I had to try as I read other reviews that raved about it. We paid for the meal while still outside, which was a first for me, and she promptly returned with our change. Several minutes later, we were ushered inside to a very clean, bright, inside that seats about 7 people if I were to guess. Went to wash my hands and when I emerged the meal was already served! Seems they time it that they prepare your meal while you are still outside, so once you enter the store, you are served! As you can see from the photos I’ve included, they served up a very nice looking meal! More importantly, was it tasted GREAT! The predominant flavor in my shio soup base was niboshi, but it was not overpowering at all. The thin noodles were nice and delicate, but had a nice springiness to them which made them perfectly complement the soup. My chashu don didn’t disappoint either. Very nice flavors and the fried onions were also a nice touch. Overall had a very memorable and tasty meal. One would think that given the location, it would be slightly pricey, but on the contrary, their prices are very reasonable. We will definitely be returning here again. Suggest you try this place and I’m sure you won’t be disappointed!

This is a place I’d been curious about for a long time, and I finally had the chance to visit today. I arrived about 10 minutes before opening and was standing in front of the shop trying to read the instructions on where to line up. Before I could even finish reading, a staff member came out and told us, “You can’t stand here, go over there.” It wasn’t outright rude, but it was said without any politeness and felt a bit abrupt, so it wasn’t the best first impression. Regarding food preparation, there were several things that honestly concerned me. The younger staff member making our ramen was not wearing gloves and was touching non-food items as well, such as the air conditioner remote. I really wish there had been clearer separation between tasks, or at least hand sanitizing in between. In addition, another older staff member suddenly entered the kitchen during preparation and began touching the food without any visible hand washing. I have no idea what he had been doing beforehand—opening prep, carrying boxes, or even using the restroom—and from a sanitation standpoint, this was quite unsettling. Hygiene overall felt lacking. We also purchased a separate ticket for their wontons, which was disappointing. The filling tasted slightly sour, almost as if it had started to go bad. The chashu was also not great, with a strong pork odor that may not appeal to everyone. On a positive note, I did appreciate that they had peppercorn (hua jiao) available at the counter. That was a nice touch and allowed some customization. As for the ramen itself, it was good. However, after driving 40 minutes to get here, it felt a bit overrated. The atmosphere inside the shop was pleasant, and service was fast, which I appreciated. Overall, this might be a decent spot if there’s no line and it’s nearby, but unless the sanitation practices improve, I personally wouldn’t be eager to return.

Located in the outskirts of the Tokyo city, this ramen shop is definitely worth visiting due to its outstanding quality. Also it opens till late at night so it is relatively easy to visit for a famous shop. Had the Shio ramen; the ramen is beautifully arranged which gives it a very attractive and pleasant first impression. The soup is clear and poignant, and goes well with the slow-cooked charsiu (For more, see Instagram: Gaga.bichon)

A restaurant serving very stylish ramen. The restaurant is very clean with only counter seats. You purchase a meal ticket from the ticket machine located right next to the entrance. This time, I bought a set of soy sauce ramen and a bowl of meat on rice. The meat bowl looks very beautiful and is topped with roast beef-like pork and fried onions. The wasabi (Japanese horseradish) on the side goes surprisingly well with the pork. The ramen was also very beautiful to look at, and the soup was very delicate and appetizing with a subtle scent of yuzu (citrus fruit). It was a soup that made me want to drink it all up.

TLDR: A must-go ramen place with top-tier taste but super budget-level price. It’s just good. —————— Pro: 1. Ranked as 6th among all ramen places in Tokyo on Tabelog, so the taste is great. The soup is umami but not heavy at all. Medium oil feeling on the top, but not oily at all. It’s like the chicken soup you’ll expect during the winter night 2. Super great value. Ramen + Don set is just 1100 yen is I didn’t remember wrongly. You could only get one ramen in most other top ranked places with this price; they give you big meat. 3. Friendly staffs, new interior makes it feel clean and tidy. —————— Cons (have to be picky!): 1. A bit far away from Tokyo center. But, it’s definitely worth if you love food. 2. The chashu is a bit lack of seasoning I guess, but still great considering it’s comfortable smoking smell, but not top-5 great.

Affordable and delicious ramen, served quickly with beautiful presentation. The environment was relaxed, clean and pleasant to eat in. How perfectly placed are those noodles?! In a bit of a local area, but it was a nice bike ride there and back. Thankyou!

The Shio Ramen is so tasty. The inside of the restaurant is so clean. The staffs pay attention to cleanliness against COVID-19. You are able to stop by safely! I ordered a Shio Ramen and a tasted egg. They are very affordable price and the quantity is great!

Ramen submerged in nectar of marine essence requires slow and attentive savouring. The low-temperature cooked pork slices need to be rescued promptly from the soup to maintain their pink colour and tenderness, which is perfectly preserved on top of a rice side dish.