Mitsufuji, Jiyugaoka: Michelin-Listed Ramen with an Incredible Broth

Hi, it's Yoko! Lately I keep finding myself wanting something warm to eat.

On a recent day off I visited a ramen shop in Jiyugaoka called Mitsufuji, and I want to tell you about it!

Mitsufuji has been listed in the Michelin Guide's Bib Gourmand for four years in a row.

When people hear "Michelin," they tend to think of fine dining only, but the Bib Gourmand section is actually for good food at reasonable prices.

In 2018, 27 ramen shops were listed, and Mitsufuji is one of them.

Four years in a row says a lot about its quality. But maybe because it's a bit far from the station, or just because of the neighborhood, there's only a line now and then and I don't think it's very well known.

The exterior is a cool old-house style, like this.

Inside it feels modern. The Michelin plaque hangs on the left.

The seats have backrests and are nice and relaxing, with just a U-shaped counter for about 10 people. There are spots for your bag and even hair bands, which women will appreciate!

The menu lists where the ingredients come from, so you can tell how much care they put into sourcing.

For the soy sauce in particular, they use one from Yamaroku Shoyu on Shodoshima in Kagawa Prefecture, a 150-year-old maker, aged for three years in huge cedar barrels!

Mitsufuji serves shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt), and chilled ramen, and this day I ordered the shoyu ramen.

Compared with tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen, shoyu and shio ramen can often feel a little short on punch and richness, but the umami here is incredible, probably because the broth is made with lots of ingredients, including bonito flakes and even prosciutto (!).

It's like a French consomme: delicate yet rich and delicious.

The egg was a gorgeous lemon yellow and soft and runny, another surprise. A yolk that bright is rare. The color of an egg yolk changes depending on the hen's feed.

The chashu (braised pork slices) comes in two kinds, pork and chicken, both cooked at a low temperature so they're moist and tender.

The daikon sprouts add a nice peppery accent too. It's simple, but every element feels carefully thought out.

Ah, that was delicious. I'll come back for the shio ramen next time!

Chuka Soba Mitsufuji
1-14-2 Midorigaoka, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 152-0034
11:30-15:00, 18:00-22:00
Closed Tuesdays
070-5563-0032