Nakamoto Ramen

Ikebukuro has a lot of famous ramen shops, and this one, Nakamoto Ramen, on the West side near Rikkyo University always has a line up. It is famous for having "spicy" ramen. Since I am a devotee of all things spicy I felt obliged to try it out. I went early during lunchtime and still had to line up for a few minutes before getting a counter seat (maybe there are 15 seats total). There were a number of menu options ranging in spiciness from two to five stars. Of course I choose to go with a five star selection, Hokkyoku ramen (literally “Artic”) ramen. I asked my students about this, they had heard of the shop and suggested that the name wasn’t ironic rather what you would eat if you were in a freezing area like the Artic. As I was eating the noodles the outside of my mouth was burning and I had the feeling that I probably shouldn’t drink the soup, but when I ran out of noodles I thought I would give it a try.

I have never experienced anything like what happened next. My esophagus contracted and swelled up and I couldn't breathe for seconds (5? 8?) and I almost lost all of my lunch. I recovered in time to clean up the mess stagger outside to recover from the traumatic experience. I have never tasted anything as spicy as the soup broth. The only possible experience that comes close was the time I ate a hot chili pepper from a private garden at a house party in Seattle, where the dotcommer rich kid living there grew his own chilies. And I had to down like three beers to extinguish the fire in my mouth. Needles to say I won’t be going back anytime soon.

Comments

[Michele]

Now THAT sounds like a ramen worth eating!!!!!!!!
I've gotta get over there!

[MC]

I guess having lived in Sri Lanka may have prepared you for this sort of spiciness. But I warn you, I thought I could handle it...and I learned my lesson.

[Brendan aka Blendy of the Firey Mouth]

fucking A. I'm coming with Michele. Bring it ON.

Finally met my match the other day--one of those wing places that has a wall of fame and a siren for the idiot who wants to order Death wings...or the ultimate "Armageddon." Wore latex gloves (learned a lesson with Dave's Insanity in my eye after trying to take out my contacts once).

Made it to 20 wings before I decided the chemical burns weren't worth the glory...

[Trevor]

My friend took me here and I had a similar experience... Afterward we both had to sit outside for 15 minutes before we could walk anywhere. The next day I couldn't leave his apartment cuz my ass was exploding every 15 minutes. But days later going back was all I could think about... We went 3 times. I regret nothing.

[Patrick McCoy]

Trevor, you are braver than Me, I am afraid of returning.