If you’re looking for the perfect combination of the numbing sensation of Sichuan pepper and the spicy heat of chili peppers, tantanmen noodles (Japan’s popular ramen dish inspired by Chinese dan dan noodles) is the perfect meal for you!
“175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO,” a sub-branch of Hokkaido’s “175°DENO Tantanmen,” is a shop in Shinjuku that specializes in this spicy noodle dish. The restaurant was born from the owner’s passion to explore an obsession of tantanmen noodles, and delivers the ultimate experience in that regard!
“白ごま汁なし担担麺,” White Sesame Brothless Tantanmen Noodles 1,000 JPY (tax included)
Homemade seasoning is the key! “White Sesame Brothless Tantanmen Noodles” have an irresistible spice!
One of the special features of 175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO is their homemade chili oil. Made by slowly frying over 10 kinds of aromatic spices in low-temperature oil, it unleashes a rich flavor and umami across your palate.
Homemade chili oil is available at your seat
Another feature distinct to the restaurant is their Sichuan pepper. They use Sichuan pepper that the founder of 175°DENO Tantanmen personally sourced from Sichuan Province, China, the birthplace of dandan noodles. Because the founder personally selects and purchases the pepper, its quality is top-notch.
As you eat, the Sichuan pepper gradually tingles your tongue, increasing the numbing sensation. Yet, you can also enjoy its refreshing aroma, which is the key point of the pepper used at 175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO.
The exceptionally fragrant Sichuan pepper and chili oil are essential condiments at the restaurant. You’ll be captivated by a stimulation that’s spicy and numbing, yet you can’t stop eating it!
A third element that enhances the deliciousness of the tantanmen noodles is the toppings. 175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO makes not only their chili oil but also tianmian (sweet bean sauce) and doubanjiang spicy bean sauce in-house. These toppings extract the ground pork’s umami to the fullest.
The slight sweetness within the spiciness creates an excellent flavor balance with the Sichuan pepper and chili oil.
Furthermore, cashew nuts add a nutty flavor, and dried shrimp soaked in a secret sauce elevates the overall taste to another level. Each topping complements the others, creating the best combination!
The noodles used in the restaurant’s signature “White Sesame Brothless Tantanmen Noodles” are custom-made flat noodles using Hokkaido wheat flour. They have a good chewy texture with a firm bite.
They are paired with a special sauce made from clear chicken broth (chintan soup) simmered on low heat and a white sesame base.
Mix thoroughly until there’s no liquid left, and it’s ready to eat. As you slurp the noodles, the flavor of Sichuan pepper and chili oil fills your mouth, followed by a wave of umami.
You can clearly taste the special sesame sauce and the aftertaste isn’t heavy, making it enjoyable to the last bite.
At 175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO you can customize the amount of Sichuan pepper and chili oil used in your order. Each can be selected from levels zero to five, with the recommendation being level one for both “numbing spice” and “spiciness.”
This allows you to enjoy the flavors of the soup and toppings without overpowering them, while still experiencing the umami of Sichuan pepper and chili oil.
Choose your preferred level of numbing spice and spiciness at the ticket machine
Inagorō tantanmen noodles are topped with giant chāshū pork!
While there are many tantanmen noodle specialty shops, the “Inagorō” (noted on the English menu as “Jiro styled sesame ramen”) is a bowl unique to 175°DENO Tantanmen.
It’s a rare dish only available at 175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO in Shinjuku and a few stores in Hokkaido where the main store is located.
“一七五郎 ブタ入り,” Jiro styled sesame ramen four slices of chashu pork 1,600 JPY (tax included)
Unlike the White Sesame Brothless Tantanmen Noodles, it uses a rich paitan soup made by boiling chicken on high heat, with plenty of white sesame added, resulting in a robust flavor.
It has the characteristic richness of paitan soup, but maintains a gentle mouthfeel and memorable taste.
The noodles are also different from those used in the brothless tantanmen noodless, being thick and curly with a firm texture. The restaurant says they repeatedly refined the recipe to emphasize Inagoro’s uniqueness and make its brand more memorable.
The most standout feature of Inagoro is undoubtedly its toppings, which completely turn the image of traditional tantanmen noodles on its head!
As its English menu name suggests, it follows the style of ramen called “Jiro” (a type of hearty ramen in Japan), topped with boiled bean sprouts, cabbage, fat, and a large amount of garlic.
You can choose the amount of toppings, another characteristic of Jiro-style ramen. Options range from “none,” “little,” “normal,” “more,” to “much more.” The price remains the same regardless of topping amount, so if you’re confident in your stomach capacity, “much more” is the way to go!
Inagoro with the “more” option
The chāshū pork (Japan’s version of char siu) is seasoned with the same sweet and rich soy sauce-based sauce as the fat. It’s so tender that it easily falls apart with chopsticks and melts in your mouth. It’s seared before serving, melting the fat and evolving into an exquisite texture!
Choose from two, four, or eight slices of char siu (prices vary accordingly)
The sweet and rich soup with melted fat and the appetizing garlic flavor characteristic of Jiro-style ramen are flavor elements not found in traditional tantanmen noodles.
Yet, you can still clearly savor the numbness and spiciness of the Sichuan pepper and chili oil that 175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO is dedicated to crafting.
Due to its large volume, it’s recommended to change the taste using the condiments and seasoning available at the table as you eat.
You can freshen the aftertaste with vinegar, adjust the numbness to your liking by adding more Sichuan pepper – the flavor variations are endless depending on the combination!
(Left) Sichuan pepper (Center) chili powder (Right) vinegar
During weekend lunch hours, there is a constant flow of customers at the restaurant.
Having maximized the potential and appeal of tantanmen noodles, 175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO is sure to continue to captivate many people in the future.
175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO’s exterior
Information
| Store name | 175°DENO担担麺 TOKYO 175°DENO Tantanmen TOKYO |
|---|---|
| Address | Shinjuku MS Building 1F, 7-2-4 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
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| Access |
Nishi-Shinjuku Station 2-minute walk from Exit D5
Seibu-Shinjuku Station 4-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station Main Exit
Shinjuku Station（SJK） 7-minute walk from Shinjuku Station West Exit
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| Phone number | 03-6304-0175 |
| Reservations | Not accepted |
| Payment |
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| Hours | 11:00-22:00（last order 21:45） On weekdays, the schedule is irregular, and there is a break of about 2 hours before dinnertime |
| Closed | No fixed holidays Unscheduled holidays |
| Seating | 22 seats 14 counter seats, 8 table seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://www.175.co.jp |
| Other information |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of July 2024.
