Ramen Hajime

A tiny joint found far out in Itabashi, Hajime's nine seats are practically always filled with noodle-lovers appreciative of the outstanding shio ramen (¥750), served in a golden yellow, chicken-based soup spiced up with seafood and combined with thin straight noodles from Mikawaya Seimen, the famed Higashi-Kurume manufacturer. Although the delicious chicken fat tends to rise to the surface of the soup, this is no greasy nightmare: in fact, friends of crisp salt concoctions are in for a treat. Take note of the toppings, too: fatty, aromatic chashu, chicken meatballs, leek and bamboo shoots make for a fresh mix. Those already familiar with the main offering might want to explore alternatives like shoyu ramen (¥750) and shio tsukemen (¥800).