If You Say Ramen in Nagoya, They Will Say Sugakiya

Independent ramen shops are trendy and gaining all the attention these days. However, in Nagoya, the most well-known ramen chain shop in the area is still putting out new stores. The newest one just opened on December 6th, on the first floor of a building housing a large pachinko parlour, just a few minutes walk from Kamejima station (Higashiyama city subway line).

Recently opened

Sugakiya has come to be considered a food of Nagoya. The company started cooking up their ramen back in 1948 and its flavours are still loved by the people of the city. The older generations like the simplicity and nostalgia of eating it, and the young ones like the well-seasoned tonkotsu (pork bone) broth that is suited to the Japanese palate. It really does look like a simple soup, a smooth, milky broth with nothing fancy floating around in it, seasoned with salt and pepper.

Extra meat ramen (with bean sprout topping) and takikomi rice combo

One other thing that draws people to Sugakiya is its affordability. The simplest ramen, with a topping of bamboo, green onion and one slice of pork goes for just 320 yen, and that's including tax! The weekday set you see above, extra meat topping (5 slices instead of one) with a bowl of seasoned rice is only 500 yen. The bean sprout topping only added about 60 yen to my bill.

Sugakiya is not Sugakiya without the spork! In an effort to reduce waste from disposable chopsticks, Sugakiya, in co-operation with the ceramics company Noritake came up with the design in 1978 for the spoon-and-fork-in-one. You can eat the noodles and drink the broth all with one utensil!  In 2008, it was even sold in the gift shop of New York's renowned Modern Museum of Art (MoMA). Of course, for those who prefer, Sugakiya also provides re-usable plastic chopsticks.

They are also known for their soft cream desserts, which are also very affordable (the mini soft cream being only 100 yen). You can try not only chocolate and strawberry parfaits, but also Japanese sweets combined with soft cream such as coffee jelly, red bean paste zenzai, hojicha-flavoured jelly...the flavours will change depending on the season, but there is always some traditional flavour available!

Restaurant: Sugakiya すがきや

Area: A 3-minute walk from Kamejima Station 亀島駅, Taiho building, first floor

Website and Map: http://www.sugakico.co.jp/shop/sh_AcNagoya/sh_NgNakamura/entry-1418.html

Hours: 11am-8pm (LO 7:30pm)