Daikan Head Sho@

Have you ever wondered ”what the first ramen in Japan tasted like?” The oldest Chinese noodle shop in Japan is said to be Raikaiken, which was founded in Asakusa, Tokyo in 1910. This store remained in business until 1976, after temporarily closing during World War II, but closed due to the lack of a successor.

On the other hand, the oldest “existing” Chinese noodle store in Japan is called Daikan Head Shop in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. It was founded in Kobe in 1923, and moved to Amagasaki, where the current store is located, in 1954 after World War II, where it remains to this day. Can we still enjoy the same prewar Chinese noodles at this restaurant, which will celebrate its 113th year in business in 2025? With such expectations, I took the opportunity of my recent business trip to Amagasaki to visit the Daikan Head Shop…

The store has been in business for 113 years, but the atmosphere is not at all like an old shop… Daikan Head Shop is a ramen shop like this.

I arrived at Daikan Head Shop at around 11:30 on a weekend. At this time of the day, about 30 minutes after opening time, there was a short line of 5-6 customers waiting to enter the store. From this point until I was invited into the restaurant, the wait time was about 20 minutes. For a ramen shop, I had the impression that the customer turnover was a bit slow.

While I was waiting for about 20 minutes, I observed something interesting around the restaurant. There is a branch of Tenka Ippin, which has nearly 200 branches nationwide, centering on the main ramen store in Kita-Shirakawa, Kyoto, next to the Daikan Head Shop on the left side, and from the time I started waiting in line until I entered the restaurant, not a single customer entered. Meanwhile, at the Daikan Head Shop, there were people standing in line behind me and people going into the store to get takeout… When I finished my meal and left the store, there were no customers when I looked inside Tenka Ippin. I was surprised to see no customers at all at Tenka Ippin…

That aside, Daikan Head Shop frankly did not give off the atmosphere of a long-established restaurant at all. The storefront is new and clean, with the exception of the electric signboard. The interior was white and clean, with digital signage introducing the history of the restaurant and its specialties. A quick count shows that the restaurant seats 28 customers at seven tables for four people. The waitstaff was very attentive, and the place was very comfortable….

A total of 12 levels of customization available… How was the Chinese noodle + yakimeshi set I ordered at the Daikan Head Shop?

Let me introduce the Chinese noodle + yakimeshi (fried rice) set that I ordered at the Daikan Head Shop. The ramen shop offers three levels of ramen noodles (normal (160g), mini (80g), and large (240g)), and a set menu with one of four levels of fried rice (mini, small, medium, and extra large). The set menu allows for a total of 12 levels of customization, and this time I ordered the combination of normal and ordinary…

From before entering the restaurant It took me only a couple of minutes to be seated and my Chinese noodle and yakimeshi were brought to my table. When ordered separately, Chinese noodle (regular) is 960 yen including tax, and yakimeshi (ordinary) is 990 yen including tax. I was surprised that the fried rice was more expensive than the fried rice. Before ordering, I honestly thought, “What?” But when I saw what came out, it was about twice the volume of fried rice at other restaurants, so I was convinced of the price…

Chinese noodles (regular)

Let’s start with the Chinese noodles (regular)… The soup has a slightly unusual flavor that is difficult to describe in words. The base is a mild pork bone white soup, but in addition to the flavor of soy sauce, there is a sharp sourness to it. It’s a flavor I’ve never experienced before. Could this be the taste of the restaurant’s secret aged soy sauce, which has been passed down for 100 years? It’s not about whether it’s delicious or not—it’s hard to explain, but for some reason, it’s addictive.  

On the other hand, the noodles are medium-thick straight noodles with a smooth surface. The shop calls these noodles “homemade foot-stomped egg noodles,” and just from the name, you can tell how they’re made. These noodles also have a unique chewiness that’s different from other shops, and when I bite into them, I think, “Wow!” I don’t know if this is how noodles were in the Taisho era, but it’s definitely different from the noodles at recent ramen shops. 

Looking at the toppings, there were two slices of chashu that looked melt-in-your-mouth tender, bamboo shoots, and wood ear mushrooms. Especially the chashu was so tender that it could rival other popular ramen shops, even in today’s era, and I thought, “There’s no way this existed in the Taisho era!” When I tasted it, the fat was as creamy as it looked, melting away in my mouth. I thought, “I want more of this chashu…” I really regret not ordering the chashu ramen this time…

This is what the Chinese noodles at Daikan Head Shop are like. After trying them, I thought, “This definitely doesn’t taste the same as it did back then!” If you’re seeking the exact same taste as when the shop first opened, you’re bound to be disappointed, so keep that in mind. However, on the other hand, the flavor of the shop’s secret aged soy sauce broth, which has been passed down for 100 years, is something that couldn’t have been achieved back then. So, there’s definitely a unique flavor that can only be found at the current shop, and I personally think it’s a bowl of ramen that ramen lovers should experience at least once. 

Yakimeshi (Fried rice)

Next, let’s try the yakimeshi, which is said to be the most famous dish at Daikan Head Shop. As you can see in the image above, it has an overall black color and gives a slightly different impression from the fried rice served at typical ramen shops.

When I tried it, I could taste a sharp sourness similar to that found in Chinese noodle soup, which made me think that it was probably made with the same aged soy sauce that has been added to for over 100 years. In addition, as you can see, the rice is fluffy, but it is even fluffier than you might expect, and although it is oily, it is not greasy at all. The flavor is rich, but the oil is very light, making it easy to eat. Furthermore, for some reason, each grain of rice feels larger than usual… It has a firm texture, and the impression of the rice grains really stands out in this fried rice.

The table condiments at Daikan Head Shop include chili powder, mustard, pepper, kelp & vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. I tried the Worcestershire sauce with the fried rice, as it was said to go well with it. It’s hard to put into words, but it definitely goes well together. In this way, I feel that this restaurant’s fried rice offers a unique flavor that can’t be experienced anywhere else. It’s easy to see why it’s called a specialty, and if you have room in your stomach, I recommend ordering the mini size with Chinese noodles.

Other menu items at Daikan Head Shop (prices include tax)

• Spicy Chinese noodles: 960 yen

• Jajamen: 960 yen

• Champon 1,180 yen

• Chinese rice bowl 1,040 yen

• Half & Half Steamed Chicken (Aged Sauce & Bang Bang Chicken Sauce) 1,120 yen

• Fried Chicken 1,120 yen

• Black Vinegar Pork 1,450 yen

Note: Daikan Head Shop also offers takeout.

Rakuten Marketplace offers online shopping! Daikan Head Shop is located a 4-minute walk from Amagasaki Station on the Hanshin Railway.

Daikan Head Shop has an online shop on Rakuten Marketplace, offering online shopping. When I checked out Rakuten Marketplace, I found that in addition to the Chinese noodles and fried rice I ordered this time, they also offer a wide variety of other dishes such as jaja noodles, champon, and steamed chicken for delivery. Why not try the taste of Japan’s oldest Chinese noodle shop at home? I’ve included links to the store’s online shop page, so feel free to use them if you’d like.

Here are the details of the ramen shop…

P.S. If you are looking for delicious ramens in Hyogo, please stop by this article below…