Trying out a new ramen spot in Shibuya for the first time in a while.
Stopped by while running some errands.
Chuka Soba Sakurazaka
@ Sakuragaokacho, Shibuya
The shop is tucked away on a side street halfway up Sakurazaka.
Unlike the area around the station, this part of Shibuya is much quieter, making it easy to drop in.
They close at 9 p.m., and I arrived a little after 8.
The place was about 90% full, but I was able to get a seat without waiting.
I hit the ticket machine and went straight for their signature dish,
the Special Chuka Soba.
After a short wait…
“Special Chuka Soba coming up!”
Boom.
Special Chuka Soba
Wow — that looks seriously good… gulp.
As I pull the bowl closer, it feels surprisingly heavy.
This is nothing like the chuka soba I had imagined —
the color is closer to a rich miso ramen than a classic clear broth.
First sip of the soup.
The bonito flavor hits hard — deep, concentrated umami.
Feels like a chicken + bonito base.
It reminds me a bit of Ramen Nagi’s style,
but the balance here is spot on: rich chicken depth paired with savory seafood umami.
It’s bold and intense, yet surprisingly clean and not heavy.
The generous pile of green onions adds a crisp, refreshing crunch,
cutting through the richness perfectly.
The noodles are medium-thick and pleasantly chewy,
grabbing onto the soup beautifully.
And the chashu… incredibly tender.
Thick-cut and so soft it practically falls apart at the touch of your chopsticks.
Honestly, it’s memorable enough to visit just for the chashu alone.
Even the standard portion is quite filling and satisfying.
It would probably pair well with rice, but the ramen by itself is more than enough —
consider yourself warned.
The shop is run by a single person, which must be tough,
but everything was prepared with great care and attention.
Totally understand why they push the “special” version.
Thanks for the meal!
Chuka Soba Sakurazaka
1F Yoshino Building, 17-10 Sakuragaokacho,
Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan
Hours: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Closed: Sunday