Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta - byFood x GTJ Collaboration Experience

Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta

This may be the first ramen shop ever to hold a Michelin Star, but Tokyo’s Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta feels like you are having a warm bowl of soup with family. 

“Go Beyond Yesterday’s Star” - Onishi Yuki

On January 26, 2012, Chef Onishi Yuki opened Tsuta Ramen in Sugamo, a neighborhood in Toshima, Tokyo. The restaurant started serving soy sauce ramen using black truffles. This unique method quickly gained a reputation and became highly praised by customers both in Japan and abroad. He also started using Western food in ramen, which is another reason why his versions are so well-known across the globe.

Yuki felt that calling his creations “ramen” didn’t do enough justice to the legacy of noodles in Japan. Did you know? Udon and soba have far longer histories, and ramen was also previously known as shin-soba. So, he decided to call his restaurant Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta.

The family of staff members at Tsuta pride themselves on serving authentic Japanese-style Ramen, with no chemical condiments, and it brings out the original taste of natural ingredients. These ingredients have been thoroughly researched and are deemed some of the best in Japan. The noodles are homemade in-house and made from naturally occurring Inner Mongolian kansui with organic wheat from France, domestically grown wheat, and homemade flour. There are even vegan noodle options available to order!

Three types of broths are mixed to create a distinct broth unlike any other: chicken broth, fish and clam broth, and your choice of shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt), or the limited special menu. Within each broth, a variety of special sauces, spices, and herbs bring out the rich flavor of the noodles, meats, and vegetables combined.

But what makes this ramen more extraordinary than the rest is the water used inside of it. Water is the primary basis of any bowl of ramen. However, this water is used in every aspect of the restaurant, from cleaning the vegetables to boiling the noodles, and even washing the dishes! 

You read right, the water used at Tsuta is not only used to keep the food fresh before preparation, but it is also served complimentary with your meal! It has anti-aging properties and is served at room temperature to keep your body regulated while you consume your meal! But why do they use it to wash the dishes, you ask? It even has antibacterial properties! Talk about GOing above and BEYOND.

Pro Tip: When you are eating, start from the clear side of the broth (closest to you) and eat outwards. Don’t mix the layers! Everything is placed in the bowl in a specific way for you to enjoy the ramen the way Yuki had intended!

But things haven’t always been easy. In 2022, when Yuki suddenly passed away, the restaurant closed its doors for many months. Yet the words of Yuki’s legacy echoed in their minds, “We have to keep walking.” Eventually, the restaurant was revived and now lives in Yoyogi-Uehara, just outside the station, and one stop from Yoyogi Park. It’s still arguably the city’s most famous ramen shop.

Who are these amazing individuals behind the magic of keeping Yuki’s dream alive? We were able to meet most of the staff members during our experience tour. Chef Takatoshi, who had been working with Yuki since the beginning of Tsuta, perfects every bowl in the kitchen. Watching him work is like watching a master in his craft. Sous-chef Taisei is so full of energy and life. You get excited knowing that the finishing touches he is putting on your bowl of ramen, along with the special heat lamp to give it that final blast of warmth, are going to make it worth the wait.

Chef Yusuke, who went to high school with Yuki and has known him and his family for a long time, kept the day-to-day operations in check. The floor staff, Misa and Yumi, made sure the restaurant was looking its best with bright smiles on their faces. 

Our tour guide, the wonderful Mitsuyo, who has only been there for about a year, said Yuki was like a brother to her. She has known him for over 25 years, when Yuki was working in the fashion industry with the “producer”, now owner, Yuka. Hence, the restaurant looks fashionable and the food tastes upscale.

Yuki was well known and well loved across the community. He even had Takashi Sato, a famous painter, create a piece for him that hangs up in the restaurant to this day. It was even said that Sato painted in five minutes! Talk about inspired! Also, the ‘Walking Walking Walking’ series can be found in the restaurant's merch line. This official day for Yuki, once a year, was started by his chef friends in honor of celebrating his achievements.

We also can’t forget about their newest service, SORATSUTA.

"SORATSUTA" is a premium catering service that delivers the ultimate bowl of Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta (SORATSUTA special menu) for special occasions such as live performances, concerts, stage performances, photo shoots, corporate events, department stores, and commercial facilities. You can enjoy the unique taste of the high-quality broth and carefully selected ingredients in a special space.

What is offered: Japanese Soba Noodles Tsuta Ramen (Ura Tsuta special menu)

Occasions: Live performances, events, filming locations, corporate parties, department store events, etc.

Check online or call for more details and information on booking!

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Additional information: 

Michelin Guide accolades:

2015: Bib Gourmand

2016 - 2019: 1 Michelin Star

Ramen Walker GP accolades:

2013 - 2015: 1st place in Tokyo and nationwide

Ramen Walker GP Hall of Fame

History: 

• In 2015, the restaurant became the first ramen restaurant to receive a Michelin star. Since then, the restaurant has received a Michelin star for four consecutive years.

• In 2016, the restaurant opened its first overseas store in Singapore with the aim of spreading Japan's Umami culture to the world.

• Since then, the restaurant has operated stores in Singapore, Thailand, and the United States (NY).

• In December 2019, the restaurant moved to Yoyogi-Uehara.

• In December 2022, the restaurant will be relaunched under the owner Yuka Asakura.

• In February 2023, the restaurant started the members-only ramen restaurant "Yatsuta," which continues to this day.

Visiting Information:

Japanese Soba Noodle Tsuta is a 2-minute walk from Yoyogi-Uehara Station on the Odakyu and Tokyo Metro Lines.

Frontier Yoyogi Uehara B1F, 3-2-4 Nishihara, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 151-0066

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