01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
Tucked along a calm Yoyogi side street, Isoji immediately stands out for its house-made straight thick noodles. Boiled to order, each strand carries a firm, springy chew that releases the rich aroma of wheat as you bite into it. Matching the substantial noodles is a soup that joins the hearty weight of pork and chicken with the briny depths of dried sardine and seafood dashi. A touch of fragrant yuzu peel added just before serving lifts the savory richness, leaving behind a clean finish.
The core menu centers on dipping tsukemen and hot chuka soba, supplemented by miso ramen and miso tsukemen for those seeking fermented depth. For a more generous meal, the "Marutoku" topping upgrade adds extra portions of ajitama (seasoned soft-boiled egg), tender chashu pork, and seasoned bamboo shoots. Portions can be tailored further with medium (310 g) or large (400 g) servings of noodles.
Inside, a counter-focused layout makes it welcoming for solo diners dropping in on a whim. Orders are placed through a ticket vending machine that accepts cashless payments. Be sure to ask for the soup-wari broth at the end of a tsukemen order to savor the remaining soup down to the final spoonful.
