Ramen in Japan continues to evolve—but did you know there’s a genre known as karashibi or shibikara?
Now a familiar term among ramen lovers, this spicy and numbing category appears to have been popularized by the trailblazer “Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo.”
In the restaurant’s name, the word kara comes from the Japanese word karai, meaning “spicy,” and refers to heat sources like chili peppers, Tabasco, or jalapeños.
When combined with shibire (numbing) spices like the peppercorns found in Chinese Sichuan cuisine, it creates not just a spicy taste, but a stimulating flavor experience with a refreshing aroma and a bold, complex depth.
While this numbing spice profile was once mostly limited to authentic Chinese cuisine in Japan, Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo began incorporating it into their ramen in 2009, helping it catch on with a broader audience.
A unique taste crafted from meticulously selected ingredients
The restaurant’s signature spicy flavor comes from a unique blend of chili pepper spices, specially selected and imported from around the world.
Not simply spicy, these peppers are perfectly balanced to incorporate the sourness, sweetness, bitterness, and aroma notes of each variety.
Sanshō (Japanese pepper) is added to provide a tingling kick and a bright citrus aroma. The restaurant uses a high-grade blend of sansho with Sichuan pepper and vegetables, slowly cooked in oil to create their own richly fragrant numbing oil.
The foundation of the flavor is Shinshu miso from Nagano Prefecture, a famous miso-producing region. They use naturally fermented miso in wooden barrels, which is a rarity these days.
This deeply rich miso is mixed with cheese, peanut paste, nam pla (Thai fish sauce), and spices, then repeatedly kneaded to concentrate the umami.
This miso is then combined with two different broths: a long-simmered stock made from pork bones, chicken, vegetables, and spices, and a fragrant seafood broth.
At Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo they finish each bowl of ramen soup individually in a wok, combining miso, chili peppers, broth, and ingredients over high heat with each order. This method is said to elevate the aroma, umami, and texture.
From your seat, you can enjoy watching the skillful cooking of the chefs and the live experience of flames rising before your eyes. The moment when you catch the aroma wafting up from the wok is truly exciting!
Heartily satisfying! The top-selling “Double Big Pork Ramen”
The undisputed most popular dish at the restaurant is the “Double Big Pork Ramen.” Ingredients include fragrant stir-fried bean sprouts, seasoned eggs, baby corn, green onions, garlic chives, and impressive big portions of braised pork belly.
“肉々カラシビ味噌らー麺,” Double Big Pork Ramen 2,270 JPY (tax included)
When you drink the soup, the deep spiciness and flavor of chili peppers, refreshing aroma, and numbing sensation dance across your tastebuds. It’s a unique taste that will take you by surprise.
The more you sip, the more addictive it becomes, making it hard to put down your spoon.
The ramen is served with house-made noodles crafted from a blend of thin, medium-thin, and medium-thick noodles for a varied and never-boring texture.
Thick-cut slabs of pork belly help gently balance out the spice and numbing sensations. Braised for hours in soy sauce and spiced with star anise (a staple of Taiwanese cuisine), the pork is so tender you can break it with chopsticks, and has a gentle sweetness.
Each bowl of Double Big Pork Ramen comes with two 100 g (about 3.5 oz) pieces of pork—guaranteed to satisfy.
The fresh and aromatic “Coriander Ramen”
If you prefer fresh and herbal flavors, try the “Coriander Ramen”, topped with bean sprouts, 50 g (about 1.7 oz) of braised pork belly, green onion, garlic chives, and a generous forest-like heap of coriander (also known as cilantro).
“パクチーカラシビ味噌らー麺,” Coriander Ramen 1,320 JPY (tax included)
The mint-like freshness and uniquely strong flavor of cilantro adds a different character to the soup and noodles. Many repeat customers reportedly come just for this dish.
You can customize both the spice and numbness levels: “Nuki (none)”, “Sukuname (less)”, “Futsu (medium)”, “Mashi (high)”—all free of charge.
The high level doesn’t simply increase the amount but adds different spices—showcasing the restaurant’s attention to detail.
The medium option is about equivalent to Tabasco in terms of spice, so for those unsure, it’s a good place to start.
Additionally, there’s a paid option for extreme increase called “Oni-mashi (devilish) level” for both spiciness and numbness.
Free original spices available at your table allow you to add even more spiciness and numbness.
Another standout favorite: “Special Ramen”
The Special Ramen with two 50 g (1.7 oz) pieces of braised pork, double the standard amount of bean sprouts, and a seasoned egg is also a signature dish of the shop.
“特製カラシビ味噌らー麺,” Special Ramen 1,780 JPY (tax included)
The Special Ramen’s soup pairs excellently with white rice.
Among the white rice menu items, the “Pulled Pork Over Rice” topped with shredded chāshū (Japan’s version of char siu) is recommended.
Try pouring some of the ramen soup over it for a rice-porridge-like ochazuke experience—it’s delicious.
“おにく飯,” Pulled Pork Over Rice 420 JPY (tax included)
A unique, theme park-like atmosphere
Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo’s location in Ikebukuro boasts top popularity in the area’s competitive ramen scene, with lines forming even on weekdays. However, it’s relatively uncrowded between 3:00 and 5:00 PM, making this a good time to visit.
Orders are placed by purchasing meal tickets at the vending machine, which features both Japanese and English text.
The shop also provides free paper bibs—just ask the staff if you need one.
Oni—mythical demons from Japanese folklore—appear as eerie statues, setting the tone in this exotic and atmospheric space. Step inside and take on the challenge of their intensely bold ramen!
Information
| Store name | カラシビ味噌らー麺 鬼金棒 池袋店 Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo Ikebukuro |
|---|---|
| Address | 1-13-14 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
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| Access |
Ikebukuro Station 4-minute walk from Exit 35
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| Phone number | 03-6907-0095 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
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| Service charge / Table charge | None |
| Hours | 11:00-21:30 |
| Closed | Unscheduled holidays |
| Seating | 11 counter seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://kikanbo.co.jp |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of April 2025.
