Tabelog ratingRaamenya Shima (らぁ麺や 嶋) is a temple for ramen lovers, where a single chef prepares bowl after bowl to intense demand at an intimate six-seat counter. The experience is theatrical and focused, centred on a layered, clear 'chintan' broth that balances poultry and dried seafood umami with high-end notes like truffle oil or seasonal budo sansho pepper.
Reviewers consistently praise the broth's depth and the generosity of the toppings. The most lauded bowls are the 'Tokujo' (special) versions, particularly the Tokujo Shoyu Raamen (special soy sauce ramen) and the Tokujo Shiro Shoyu Raamen (special white soy sauce ramen with truffle oil). These come loaded with multiple cuts of chashu pork, some roasted over charcoal, plus two kinds of wontons (pork and shrimp). The silky, medium-thin noodles are also a highlight for many.
Any criticism is minor and a matter of personal taste. A few diners find the noodles softer than they prefer, or the soup a touch salty. These are stylistic choices, not flaws, in a bowl celebrated for its intense, complex flavours.
For ramen of this calibre, prices are considered fair by enthusiasts. Reviewers in 2024–2026 typically paid around ¥2,000–¥2,250 for a 'Tokujo' bowl, such as the Tokujo Shoyu Raamen at ~¥2,000 or the seasonal Tokujo Budo Sansho Raamen at ~¥2,250. A side of seared chashu over rice is about ¥450. Expect to pay a reservation fee of around ¥390 per person online, then pay for your meal in cash at the shop.
- Reservations: Booking is mandatory and extremely competitive. Reservations open on the TableCheck website at 8:00 AM Japan time for the following day and sell out within minutes. Walk-ins are generally not possible, except in the rare event of a last-minute cancellation.
- Getting There: The restaurant is a 5-minute walk from Nishi-Shinjuku-Go-Chome Station (Toei Oedo Line), Exit A2.
- Payment: Cash only. You purchase a ticket from a vending machine inside the shop. Bring sufficient yen.
- Seating: There are only six counter seats.
- Rules: A strict one-bowl-per-person policy is in effect.
- Age Restriction: Children are not permitted unless they are old enough to eat a full adult portion.
- Smoking: The entire restaurant is non-smoking.
- Parking: No parking is available.
