Ichibantei Ramen serves spiciest noodles on island
By: Takeshi Yokokawa
Date Posted: 2003-12-11
Ichibantei is a nationwide ramen chain with over 50 branches throughout Japan, including several in Okinawa. The restaurant chain is best known for their spicy ramen called Tantan-men (¥680), which is believed to have originated long ago in China’s Sichuan province, where people basted noodles with a spicy soup. The soup has a perfect balance of sesame and miso flavors, hot pepper and minced pork, resulting in a delicious marriage of soup and noodles that melts in the mouth. These are two variations of Tantan-mei. One is a milder version, the basic Tantan-Mei. For those who enjoy spicier fare there is Super Tantan-men (¥780) and if that is not enough, the customer is able choosing the spiciness level from 1 to 3 (¥30 for each additional level) with the third really putting some hair in man’s chest.
Ichibantei also serves a pork soup-based ramen called Paitanshan-men with a soft-boiled egg, slices of roasted pork and black oil (¥650). Side dishes include crunchy pot-stickers, a perfect accompaniment for beer, as well as the usual fried rice and desert. Ichibantei has four restaurants in Okinawa: the Mihama branch in Chatan Town, Misato branch in Okinawa City, one in Shintoshin, Naha City and the fourth in Nago City. The Mihama branch is open daily from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m.; an English menu is available. For more information, call Ichibantei Mihama branch at 098-983-7655.