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Tantantei is my favorite Tokyo ramen shop
Ramen! I never thought I’d write an article about it. Food and restaurant reviews are rare on this site. I’m not a true foodie, to be honest. But I decided to branch out and write about these legendary noodles. Well, it’s more about one of my favorite shops, Tantantei. It has never disappointed me.
Do you know anything about ramen? There are multiple theories about its origins. One thing is certain. Chinese migrants brought it to Japan in the early twentieth century. Of course, it debuted in Yokohama. Since then, it has spread throughout the country and overseas. It’s legendary for Japanese foodies.
Anyway, Tantantei is in Hamadayama. The area lacks things to photograph. There are no major photo spots there. Well, it has some nice shrines and parks, but they are a little far from the station. It is good for weekend afternoon walks, though. Some of the area’s houses are interesting. And many celebrities live there too!
Am I digressing? I’ll get back on track. When I first came to Japan, ramen wasn’t my favorite food, but it has grown on me. That did take a long time. My favorite shop for it is Tantantei. It is a popular place in Hamadayama. On weekends a line of people will be waiting for the doors to open at 11 am.
Tantantei is small, like many ramen shops. Ten people at the counter feels crowded. You’ll be rubbing elbows with the person next to you. And the menu is only in Japanese. From right to left, the items are:
- Shina Soba (Regular ramen) ¥1000
- Tsuke Soba (Tsukemen style ramen) ¥1050
- Wantan Soup (Wonton in soup) ¥1150
- Niku Wantan Men (Ramen with pork wantans) ¥1300
- Ebi Wantan Men (Ramen with prawn wantans) ¥1500
- Mix Wantan Men (Ramen with prawn and pork wantans) ¥1400
- Chashu Men (Ramen with pork) ¥1400
- Chashu Niku Wonton Men (Ramen with pork wantans and extra pork chashu) ¥1700
- Chashu Ebi Wonton Men (Ramen with prawn wantans and extra pork chashu) ¥1900
- Chashu Mix Wonton Men (Ramen with mixed wantans and extra pork chashu) ¥1800
- Oomori (Extra noodles) ¥150
- Tamago (Egg) ¥100
- Gyoza ¥600
- Beer ¥600
I ordered the Ebi (prawn) wantan this time. It didn’t disappoint. The ramen was voluminous. It also came with two slices of chashu, a slice of dried seaweed, and some scallions. The bowl had enough in it that I didn’t need to order extra toppings. We also got gyoza.
Tantantei’s soup is awesome. It has tons of dried fish, pork, chicken, kelp, and vegetables. The fish and kelp help the intense umami flavor. I love this ramen.
Another thing I appreciate about Tantantei is its beautiful bowls. They are blue and have birds (cranes?) on them. Many ramen shops have simple white ones, so it is good to see something different. Visually, they are pleasing.
Where is Tantantei?
Leave Hamadayama Station and turn right. There is only one exit so you shouldn’t get lost. Tantantei is a couple of doors down.
Address: 3-31-4 Hamadayama, Suginami City, Tokyo
In Japanese, the address is 東京都杉並区浜田山3-31-4
I’ve tested this address on Google Maps in English and Japanese several times. The shop fails to appear.
Here is Tantantei on a custom Google map:
Opening hours
11 AM to 8:30 PM
Website
None
Conclusion
Tantantei offers a cozy, authentic ramen experience. It serves great ramen in beautiful bowls. I recommend the ebi (prawn) wantan ramen which comes in a flavorful broth packed with umami. But then again, everything on the menu is good!
Foodies need to stretch their wings and head to Hamadayama to check out this shop. And please let me know if you have eaten there. I’d love to hear your thoughts about it.
Final note: I no longer have a camera, so I took these photos on my smartphone.
For more food and restaurant articles, look at:
- Dango is my go-to Japanese comfort food
- Mother Palace (Indian restaurant)
- Tsukiji Outer Market
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