01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A short walk from Nakano-fujimicho Station into a residential neighborhood leads to Jyunteuchi Daruma, where the first thing that commands attention is the lively craft of noodle making right before your eyes. Immediately before boiling, the owner cuts the high-hydration dough by hand, kneading it firmly before tossing it into the steaming cauldron. The resulting noodles have charmingly uneven thicknesses and an undulating ripple. On the palate, they feel silky and supple, releasing a soft chewiness alongside the warm, wholesome aroma of wheat. Because this tender texture is the defining hallmark of the house style, requests for firm noodles are not accepted.
The accompanying clear shoyu broth is built on an animal base of chicken and pork, gently layered with subtle seafood dashi. While enriched by the mellow sweetness and depth of its soy tare, the finish remains light and clean—a gentle, comforting soup that invites sipping to the last drop without overwhelming the palate. Delicately thin-sliced menma bamboo shoots and tender slices of chashu from different cuts warm through in the broth, seamlessly complementing each mouthful of noodles.
The menu centers on the foundational Shoyu Ramen, flanked by choices such as Ajitama Ramen topped with a soft-boiled egg featuring a runny yolk, Chashu Men piled with flavorful braised pork, and the all-inclusive Zenbunose Ramen. Regular (150g) and medium (200g) noodle servings are offered at the same price, making the medium portion an enticing pick for anyone eager to fully appreciate the distinctive noodle texture. The side bowl of Chashu Gohan is equally satisfying, loaded with diced braised pork steeped in a sweet-savory sauce that takes well to a light shake of table pepper or ichimi chili pepper.
Service runs for lunch from 11:30 to 15:00, with Tuesdays and Wednesdays closed. Inside, the shop maintains a calm atmosphere focused around counter seating, and the ticket vending machine accepts cash only. Because each bowl is prepared with care in a solo operation, waiting patiently on the indoor or outdoor chairs offers time to look forward to noodles freshly cut and boiled to order.
