When Kazuteru Kanehira took over this small ramen shop in Shibuya in 2015, he had one main goal: to make the ramen better. So he took inspiration from the Hakata style of ramen, which comes from Kyushu and features a rich pork-bone broth with thin noodles. The result is a thick, creamy, meaty soup packed with a heap of knotted noodles – which you can order soft, regular or only just-cooked – and your choice of topping.
We went for the Roasted Pork Noodles, adding a dash of garlic to the broth for extra oomph, and ordered a side of crispy gyoza. Vegetarians will be happy to hear that they do indeed have a meat-free ramen (yes, even the broth is safe), and those who can't read Japanese will appreciate the English menu.
With its white-painted brick walls, basement location and pop soundtrack (Justin Bieber, Adele and Carly Rae Jepsen all got some airtime while we slurped up our soup), Hikarihishio lends a hip edge to Japan's ramen scene, making it an ideal place for a vibey pre-clubbing meal. It's also an easy introduction for ramen first-timers – uncomplicated menu, nothing too intimidating – so it's now officially on our list of 'recommended restaurants for visitors'.