A note on the words: the miso ramen described here is an old-school bowl with soft, curly noodles, bean sprouts and cabbage. The author orders this bowl, not the apparently well-known “Toda Jiro,” a Jiro-inspired ramen topped with a mountain of bean sprouts. A renge is the ramen spoon; here the author uses it to hold the spicy condiment and garlic so they can be added partway through the meal.
Ramen Senmon Ten Shoryu on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
Boat race fans(?), thank you for waiting! It’s time for Hangover Meshi!
Today I’m in Toda, Saitama. I had a bit of free time and was invited along to the boat-racing stadium in Toda (Boat Race Toda). To my surprise, there’s actually an admission fee — 100 yen. It’s quite a long walk from Toda-koen Station, though it seems there’s also a free shuttle bus running.
Once I paid my 100 yen and stepped inside, it was way cleaner than I’d imagined (rude of me, I know (lol)), with plenty of food stalls, a kids’ play area, and even an event space — the whole place felt remarkably wholesome (again, rude of me (lol))! I’ve hardly ever bet on boat races and don’t really know the rules, but since I was already there, I figured I might give it a little try while having AI teach me how it works.
Anyway, first things first — we decided to grab something to eat before getting started.
Tucked into a corner of the food court on the 3rd floor of the new building at Boat Race Toda is “Shoryu” (Ramen Senmon Ten Shoryu, a ramen specialty counter). From shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt), miso, and tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen to abura soba (soupless oil noodles) and even their famous Jiro-inspired “Toda Jiro,” ramen here starts at 750 yen. You pay up front when ordering, PayPay is accepted, and above all, the food comes out super fast! At a venue like this, I suppose it’s set up so people can grab a quick bowl between races.
Man, everyone around me is drinking beer right from noon (lol). Must be nice…
I couldn’t drink any alcohol that day, though…!
Such a shame!
The Toda Jiro is apparently famous here, but there was no way I could eat that much! So I ordered the miso ramen instead. And after a wait of just 2 to 3 minutes, it was ready!
The chopped green onions are help-yourself, so you can add as much as you like. I piled them on high. Now, when it comes to miso ramen, you’ve got to have chili paste and garlic, right!! Looking around, though, there weren’t any small dishes for condiments. If you stir them straight into the bowl from the start, the whole soup turns into that flavor, so I really wanted to add them halfway through. And here’s what I came up with.
The spoon method — loading them onto the ramen spoon (renge) (lol).
Taking a first bite right away — in a word, it’s old-school miso ramen! The savory aroma of the miso rises up first, and then a rich depth slowly spreads across the palate. Rather than an aggressive, ultra-rich style, it leans toward something nostalgic and comforting. It feels like there’s plenty of MSG in there, but hey, it tastes good, so who cares (lol). Somehow it feels really nostalgic.
The noodles are on the softer side and curly, the kind that picks up plenty of broth with every bite. It’s a generous portion too, and with crunchy bean sprouts and sweet cabbage coming in between mouthfuls of noodles, you never get tired of it right to the end. True to its color, it’s a fairly strong, savory miso ramen — beer would probably go so well with this….
When I stirred in the grated garlic from the spoon halfway through, the aroma jumped right out and transformed the soup all at once into something bold and punchy. With a clear-cut, savory miso ramen like this, I think loading it up with plenty of garlic for an extra punch is the way to go! Gentle in the first half, powerful in the second.
Ahh, I’m stuffed. Totally satisfied!
In the end I only tried betting on two boat races, and thanks in part to my AI buddy’s hard work, I managed to win back about enough to cover the admission fee and my ramen. Lucky me (lol). I got in free, played free, and ate miso ramen free — all in all, a very happy morning. If you ever happen to come here, why not give the ramen a try? The flavor is super bold and clear-cut, and it’s delicious (lol).
Here’s hoping I run into more good food today!
Menu and prices!
Ramen Senmon Ten Shoryu Menu
Ramen
Jiro-inspired style topped with a mountain of bean sprouts
Sets
Pay up front at the register when ordering. QR code payments such as PayPay are accepted (credit cards are not accepted).
*Based on the display samples at the counter during our October 2026 visit. Because Toda Jiro had no price tag at the counter, its price is taken from listings posted in September–October 2026. Please check at the counter for the latest prices.
Ramen Senmon Ten Shoryu (Ramen / Shin-Takashimadaira Station, Takashimadaira Station, Nishi-Takashimadaira Station)
Tabelog lunch rating ★★★☆☆ 3.5
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
One more for the road?
