Ramen Hunter Ramen Schmoe

In the Ramen Hunter annual tradition,  we get Frank from 5AM Ramen and Brian of Ramen Adventures back on the pod to discuss the Ramen Walker 2024 Tokyo guide. This is the 15th edition of the Ramen Walker Tokyo Guide, and there are some new things to check out in this issue.

First we get to hear about Brian's recent Germany/Poland trip. He brought some well regarded Ramen Masters to run pop-ups out there, so we get some cool stories. We also touch on Ramen Festival season and highlight some that are happening now, or coming up.

The guys break down the Ramen Walker 2024 Tokyo issue. Frank and Brian touch upon some recent trends and new shops highlighted in the Walker. We also run through the annual Grand Prix and New Rookie lists. Do you agree with the rankings? Who would you put in?

Shops mentioned in the pod:
Maikagura　らーめんMAIKAGURA
Koike　らぁめん小池
King Seimen　キング製麺
Yatagarasu　八咫烏
Food Technique Berlin
Kodawari Ramen
Nagi　すごい煮干ラーメン凪新宿ゴールデン街店 本館
Gokan Japanese Ramen 五感
Sakura Josui Funakoshi　桜上水 船越
Watanabe　渡なべ
Mochiko　

Grand Prix
Takano　中華そば 多賀野
Ramen FeeL
Shichisai　麺や 七彩八丁堀店
Tengokuya　超純水採麺 天国屋
Benten　中華そば べんてん

Top New Shops
there is ramen
Napoleon Ken　釜玉中華そば ナポレオン軒
Kamei　手打麺祭 かめ囲

Tokyo Ramen Festa
Dai Tsukemen Haku
Hokuriku Ramen Expo
Ramen Expo

Guest links:
Ramen Adventures
5AM Ramen

Ramen Pharmacist's most recent hunting expedition took him to Wakayama, an underrated spot in the Ramen wilderness. This was a great chance to get him and other fans of Wakayama Ramen on the pod.  Joined by Keizo Shimamoto as well as first time guest and Kansai based hunter, The Gourmet Bear.

Keizo shares some updates, including a rare appearance of the Ramen Burger. We dive deep into the OG shops in Wakayama, and the fellas share some tips for navigating your way in this part of Kansai

Shops mentioned in the pod:
Ide Shouten　井出商店
Marutaka　本家アロチ 丸高 中華そば

Urashima Shokudo　うらしま食堂
Seino　和dining 清乃本店
Marutaka Kobe Branch　丸高中華そば神戸二宮店
Birdman BIRDMAN
Fukumimi 中華そば ふくみみ
Shibata　中華そば しば田
Macchibo　紀州和歌山ラーメン まっち棒溝の口店
Noriya Shokudo　のりや食堂
Yamatame Shokudo　山為食堂
Marumiya　元車庫前まる宮本店

Guest links:
Ramen Pharmacist
Keizo Shimamoto
The Gourmet Bear

What happens when a prominent Ramen Chef/YouTuber takes subliminal shots at the biggest Ramen YouTuber? Sparks fly!! Is there a right way and wrong way to eat Tsukemen? Are Ramen otaku's going overboard with their detailed description of the bowls? Listen as Ramen Beast and Ramen Guide break down the details and share their opinions of the drama. 

Shops mentioned in the pod:
Totonoe　ramen club トトノエ
Gokan Japanese Ramen 五感
Hinari Ryuou ーめん亭 ひなり竜王
Shinsen 一番だしラーメン しんせん
Hachan Ramen ハちゃんラーメン
Taisei 麺家 たいせい
Kizunaya 輝道家直系 皇綱家
Kidoya 横浜家系らーめん 輝道家
Musashiya 横浜ラーメン 武蔵家中野本店
Komuri 支那ソバ 小むろ
Hachimitsu 手打ち正麺 Hachimitsu
Tsumugi 麺庭 つむぎ
Tsumugi らーめん紬麦
Waka Seimen 和渦製麺
Kanekatsu らーめん かねかつ
Orandaken オランダ軒
Chitose 麺庵ちとせ
Tsujita つじ田
Bario らーめん バリ男
Seika ら～めん盛華

Tsujita Box video
Tsujita Box apology
SusuruTV response

Guest links:
https://www.ramenguidejapan.com/
http://www.ramenbeast.com/

Have you listened to this podcast dreaming of making a Ramen trip to Japan? While it is fun to imagine, it can also be a bit daunting to figure out the logistics and scheduling. Ramen Fiendd and Ramen Pharmacist are two US based Hunters who join the pod to break down their recent excursion to Japan.

With the overwhelming number of options, the fellas discuss their strategies for how to maximize their time on the ground. Get some tips for navigating Ramen Shops, the train system, and more with limited Japanese skills. They guys also break down their top three memorable bowls, so be sure to take notes!

Shops mentioned in the pod:
Kirimen らーめん 桐麺本店
Yoshimuraya 家系総本山 ラーメン吉村家
Uezu 中華蕎麦うゑず
Tomita 中華蕎麦 とみ田
Debuchan 博多ラーメン でぶちゃん高田馬場本店
Ganja 頑者
Eifukucho Taishoken 永福町大勝軒
Bizentei 支那そば びぜん亭
Umemuraya 
Marucho 丸長荻窪本店
Ramen FeeL 
Crab Typhoon crab台風。
Kurosu 神保町黒須
Le Dessin ラーメン ル・デッサン
Soupmen
Iida Shoten らぁ麺 飯田商店湯河原本店
Mochiko
Mukan むかん
Ganso Nikutama Ochi 元祖 肉玉そば越智越谷店
Miyamoto 煮干しつけ麺 宮元
Kohaku 宍道湖しじみ中華蕎麦 琥珀東京本店
Hiiki らーめん飛粋
NIBOSHIMANIA
Misen 中国台湾料理 味仙今池本店
Ramen Break Beats
Ramen Afro Beats
Golden Tiger ゴールデンタイガー

Join us on this episode of Ramen Hunter as we explore Ramen History with friends of the pod: Abram aka Ramen Beast and Cody aka Ramen Guide Japan. 

Today we look into the legendary Class of '96. A group of shops including Menya Musashi, Aoba, and Kujiraken than pushed the Ramen into the 21st Century. Learn how the things we take for granted in modern shops trace their influence to this class, from bowl construction to design aesthetic.
We also discuss the passing of two significant figures in the Ramen world: Shiroiwa Kurato-san of Nonokura, and Chin Kenichi of Iron Chef fame. The fellas break down their impact on the Ramen world.
As always, a treat to have Abram and Cody share their knowledge.

Shops mentioned in the pod:

CLASS OF 96
Menya Musashi 麺屋武蔵
Aoba 青葉
Kujiraken くじら軒
Tagano　中華そば 多賀野
Chabuya　柳麺ちゃぶ屋

Jiro Hitotsubashi Branch ラーメン二郎一橋学園店
MENSHO
Afrobeats
Konjiki Hototogisu　SOBAHOUSE 金色不如帰新宿御苑本店
Jinrui Minna Menrui　人類みな麺類東京本店
Robinson 自家製麺 ロビンソン
Edmond えどもんど
Michi つけ麺 道
Kikka 吉華 自由が丘
Hashigo 支那麺 はしご
Nakiryu 創作麺工房 鳴龍
Banraien 萬来園
Suzunoki 自家製手もみ麺 鈴ノ木
Shono 麺や 庄の
Kikanbo カラシビ味噌らー麺 鬼金棒
Ashura 拉麺 阿修羅
Eburi 麺屋 江武里

First episode of 2023, and managed to trick Keizo Shimamoto into sitting down with me to talk Ramen.

First we get into Keizo's recent trip to Japan with his family. Learn tips on how to manage family when you are trying to sneak in bowls during your vacation. Hear the story of how the Mochiko/Ramen FEEL pop-up came together. We also dig into current events, including Strawberry Shortcake Ramen (??).

Last year Keizo put out an Onomichi Ramen kit, which prompted me to learn what defines "Onomichi Ramen". Keizo talks about his 2009 trip to Onomichi, and we get into the history of the Onomichi style, as well as which shops should be on your radar.

As always, an honor to have Keizo on the pod. You don't want to miss this episode.

https://www.instagram.com/goramen/