Kissui

The rich aroma of grilled Pacific saury greets you the moment you open the door, setting Kissui apart from standard ramen counters. The flagship shoyu soba is crafted using saury shipped directly from Chikura fishing port, salted, grilled until fragrant, and combined with a seasoning base of tamari soy sauce, sake, and other aromatics. Each sip delivers a gentle, unfolding wave of saury dashi that clings comfortably to the slender noodles.

For a lighter, clearer bowl, the shio soba is an appealing alternative. Saury is salt-grilled and carefully steeped to keep the stock clear, then seasoned with natural Balinese sea salt and a special flavored oil. The broth allows the core ingredients to come through cleanly, leaving an elegant finish quite different from the shoyu version.

Diners seeking richer profiles can look to the gyokai paitan ramen, which simmers chicken and pork bones with dried seafood, or the Ishiyaki Men Seiro, served with a piping-hot stone dropped into the dipping broth. On the side, rice bowls topped with charcoal-grilled Boso pork provide a hearty accompaniment.

Centering around counter seating, the calm dining room offers a relaxed environment for quietly focusing on a bowl on your own. Orders are placed through a cash-only ticket machine, so it helps to have small bills or coins on hand before you visit.