Harukiya (春木屋) has been serving stunning bowls of ramen since 1949. In short, Harukiya is one of the most important ramen shops in all of Tokyo.
Harukiya – Tokyo’s Most Stubbornly Historic?
On YouTube I watch a good amount of 80s and 90s TV programs about Tokyo ramen shops. While many featured shops have long disappeared, Harukiya has stubbornly remained.
Like some mystical place, Harukiya’s ramen staying power has been extraordinary.
Historic Ramen Looks Like What?
Harukiya does chuukasoba…time-honored soy sauce ramen. The basic chuukasoba is ¥850, with dumplings is ¥1,250, and with extra chashu pork is ¥1,350.
The piping hot broth is salty but light, and a little syrupy from pork and chicken bone richness. Fragrant and tasty, their famed niboshi (dried sardines) add a fishy undertone. Various vegetables are in there too. The broth has over 20 ingredients when you add it all up.
The chashu pork toppings are old-school – on the chewier side. The same can be said for the generous amount of menma (bamboo shoots).
Finally, they freshly make the thin, wavy noodles in-house every morning. They’re beautifully springy.
Recipe for Survival
How has Harukiya survived so long? One big reason – since 1949, they’ve made recipe adjustments along the way. In other words, they’ve evolved with the times.
While their ramen / chuukasoba today is decidedly classic, it’s anything but stagnant. The recipe adjustments might not be recognizable from year to year. But I’m sure a 1949 Harukiya bowl would taste different from today’s.
But make no mistake, Harukiya serves some of the best, classic Tokyo chuukasoba out there. In the ramen-heavy Ogikubo area, this ramen fortress is a must visit.
For traditional ramen in Meguro (one of my favorites), CLICK HERE.