Japan, brimming with culinary culture, is essentially a treasure trove of food.
Many visitors from overseas specifically make eating their way through Japan a primary goal of their travels.
There are many unique and original restaurants throughout the country, and one such place is the ramen shop “Nikujirumen Susumu” in Akihabara.
“肉汁麺レベル３,” Nikujirumen Level 3 1,180 JPY (tax included)
The distinctive feature of Nikujirumen Susumu’s ramen is its high-calorie, rich soup and substantial toppings.
As the name of the store suggests, the signature dish of the restaurant is the “Nikujirumen,” a ramen bowl generously topped with meat. In Japanese, the word nikujiru translates to “meaty broth” or “meaty juices,” whereas men translates to “noodles.” The restaurant has quite the appropriate menu for its name!
The sweet and spicy sauce soaked into the ingredients is irresistible!
You can choose the amount of meat toppings on the Nikujirumen from level 1 to 3 and the MAX level, offering four options in total.
The restaurant uses pork belly for the meat topping, coating it with potato starch, frying it in oil, and then tossing it in their special sweet sauce. That’s the level of commitment at Nikujirumen Susumu.
The sweet sauce is soy-based and contains ginger and yuzu. Despite its richness, it surprisingly doesn’t have a lingering or overpowering aftertaste.
Moreover, the potato starch coating on the pork belly adds thickness to the sauce, preventing the umami of the pork from blending too much with the ramen soup. This ensures that the meat topping maintains a distinct flavor presence in the dish.
Finally, after it’s torched with a burner, the Nikujirumen is complete. The aroma of the seared sauce fills the air.
When the Nikujirumen is brought to your table, you can use the provided egg yolk separator to top it with a raw egg yolk.
Coating the pork belly with the egg yolk adds another level to its richness.
The pork belly is cut with a suitable thickness, providing a satisfying bite. With each chew, the flavor of the sweet sauce and meaty juices spreads throughout your mouth.
The noodles are thick, providing a firm texture and chewiness, really completing the overall hearty experience of the meal!
They have a strong presence that doesn’t get overshadowed by the other ingredients or the soup, and are an essential component of the Nikujirumen.
Additionally, with condiments such as garlic and pickled ginger available on the table, you can customize the flavor to suit your preferences. This is one of the reasons the store is so popular.
Garlic, in particular, pairs well with the rich soup. This gives it an extra kick, making it highly recommended!
A side of rice is a must-order at Nikujirumen Susumu!
If you want to fully experience the charm of Nikujurumen Susumu, an additional order of white rice is a must.
The concept behind the creation of the Nikujurumen at the restaurant was the idea of having ramen and white rice together.
That’s why the ramen at this shop, including the Nikujirumen, features such rich flavors and generous toppings.
You can order white rice for an additional 100 JPY, and the price remains the same whether you choose a regular or large serving.
The combination of heavily seasoned pork belly and white rice is unbeatable. Eating the pork belly as a side dish will make you keep coming back for more rice.
If you add the pickled ginger from the table condiments midway through, it adds a refreshing flavor. The slight touch of tartness elevates the taste, making it a recommended way to change the flavor.
When your white rice is running low, pour plenty of ramen soup over it to make ojiya (a type of Japanese rice porridge) which is a style unique to the store.
Keep pouring until the white rice is almost submerged.
The soup at Nikujirumen Susumu is made from chicken, pork, bonito meat, bones, and fat.
To eliminate any unwanted smell and unlock a milder flavor, a carefully crafted sauce with kombu (kelp) is added to the soup.
Ojiya is the perfect way to savor the soup at Nikujirumen Susumu. It’s a nice technique that keeps you engaged until the last bite.
The store also has a beverage distinct to the Akihabara area!
Nikujirumen Susumu offers a drink that has a unique tie to the Akihabara area. That would be Dr. Pepper.
“ドクターペッパー,” Dr. Pepper 300 JPY (tax included)
Dr. Pepper appears in the popular visual novel videogame Steins;Gate, in which Akihabara is a setting, and is well-known among fans of the series.
The protagonist of the series is often depicted enjoying Dr. Pepper in the story. As an homage to this, Akihabara’s very own Nikujirumen Susumu serves the soft drink.
Given the abundance of games, anime, and manga set in Akihabara, it’s a pleasant addition for fans!
Proud gluttons! Gather up at Nikujirumen Susumu!
Nikujirumen Susumu opened its doors in 2016.
Bucking health-conscious trends, their high-calorie ramen has garnered attention, being featured in magazines, TV programs, and popular YouTube channels, making it a well-known and popular restaurant.
Nikujirumen Susumu’s exterior
While many people today are conscious of their diet and health, Nikujirumen Susumu is a place where you’re encouraged to set aside such concerns!
Indulge in your stomach’s desires, and a moment of culinary bliss will be waiting for you!
Information
| Store name | 肉汁麺ススム 秋葉原本店 Nikujirumen Susumu Akihabara Honten |
|---|---|
| Address | 3-7-12 Sotokanda 1F, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Suehirochō Station 2-minute walk from Exit 3
Akihabara Station（AKB） 9-minute walk from Akihabara Electric Town Exit
|
| Phone number | 050-5827-1832 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
|
| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 11:00-21:00 |
| Closed | No fixed holidays
Unscheduled holidays |
| Seating | 30 seats 14 counter seats, 16 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://twitter.com/nikujiru_susumu |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of February 2024.
