Nakamozu Mashimashi

On my way home after eating ramen at the main store of Menya Tori no Keiji, I spotted a shop called Nakamozu Mashimashi—the one I’m introducing today—on the opposite side of the Nankai Railway tracks. There’s a Jiro-inspired ramen shop in Tokyo called Tachikawa Mashimashi, and thanks to that memory, I thought, “Oh, a new Jiro-inspired place right here…,” which is how I noticed that a new Jiro-inspired ramen shop had opened in Nakamozu.

“Well then, next time I’ll go there…” I vowed right then and there to return to Nakamozu, but in the end, it took me over half a year to actually make it back… Well, anyway, the chance finally came to enjoy some Jiro-inspired ramen at Nakamozu Masimashi after such a long time. So…

A sister restaurant to the neighboring Berashio Main Store… Here’s what Nakamozu Mashimashi is like…

I visited Nakamozu Mashimashi around 1:30 p.m. on a certain weekend afternoon. Luckily, there was no line outside, so I was able to get a seat right away. Inside, there are a total of 10 seats, including eight at an L-shaped counter. In the kitchen, a young female staff member was running the shop single-handedly.

Since my visit to Ramen Jiro Kameido Branch, this was the first time I’d seen a female staff member at a Jiro-style or Jiro-inspired ramen shop, so I waited for my ramen to arrive while murmuring to myself, “The world is heading in the right direction…” However, she looked so busy that I started to feel sorry for her partway through. After all, she was taking orders, making ramen, and handling takeout and Uber Eats all by herself… But after a while, two or three people came over from the shop next door to help out, which put my mind at ease. The shop next door is “Berashio Sohonten,” a ramen shop that’s been popular in Nakamozu for a long time. I looked it up later and found out that Nakamozu Mashimashi is apparently a sister shop of Berashio Sohonten. Well, I don’t really know much about how the shops are run, but being able to choose between two completely different styles of ramen depending on our mood that day is definitely a good thing for us.

The experience was more intense than I imagined… How did the “Gari Mayo” soupless ramen at Nakamozu Mashimashi actually turn out?

So, let me introduce the “Gari Mayo” soupless ramen at Nakamozu Mashimashi that I ordered that day. I went with 300g of noodles and added two extra slices of pork, bringing the total to 1,220 + 250, or 1,470 yen including tax…

Twenty-five minutes after placing my order, the “Gari Mayo” ramen without broth arrived right in front of me. Just like at typical Jiro-style or Jiro-inspired shops, the staff asks, “Would you like garlic?” right before the dish is finished, so be sure to clearly state your preferences at that moment (by the way, my order this time was “extra garlic and extra veggies”).

So, where should I start with this mountain of ramen…? After thinking about it for a few seconds, I decided to start with the vegetables this time. Though when I say “vegetables,” it’s almost entirely bean sprouts… but whatever. The vegetables were generously topped with oil, mayonnaise, and chili flakes, and a slightly rich yet spicy flavor—with a real kick from the chili—greeted my taste buds.

Next, when I pulled the noodles up from between the vegetables, I found flat noodles that were wider than those in other Jiro-style ramen. Since they’re flat and thinner, the texture is slightly different. The fluttery sensation—something I’d never experienced before in Jiro-style ramen—was quite interesting. Still, the noodles retained a firm bite, so I was able to fully enjoy that satisfying chew.

Next, the pork I added as an extra—two extra slices. There were four slices of chashu in total, each over 1 cm thick. While the fat was melt-in-your-mouth tender, the meat itself was firm, creating a chashu where a melting sensation coexists with a meaty chew. Personally, though, I felt the flavor of the braising broth was a bit too strong.

After that, I mixed the vegetables and noodles together and dug in all at once, but toward the end, something unexpected happened… namely, the chili powder was way hotter than I’d anticipated. When I first tried the vegetables, I thought it would be a breeze… but by the time I finished, I was drenched in sweat—or rather, it went beyond that, with sweat pouring down my forehead like a waterfall. So, the “Gari-Mayo” soupless ramen at Nakamozu Mashimashi was a bowl where the impact of the chili was overwhelmingly stronger than the gari-mayo, leaving a lasting impression. It’s quite intense, and while those who love spicy food will definitely get hooked, people who aren’t used to spicy food might want to think twice before trying it.

Other Menu Items at Nakamozu Mashimashi (Prices include tax)

• Gari Mayo Ponzu (No Soup) – Regular: 1,050 yen
• Ponzu Ramen – Regular: 1,050 yen
• Shoyu Ramen – Regular: 1,000 yen
• Gari Mayo Abura Meshi – 390 yen
• Yasai Abura Meshi – 300 yen

Coupons available when you post to Instagram Stories! Nakamozu Mashimashi is just a 1-minute walk from Nakamozu Station on the Nankai Electric Railway (Osaka Metro Midosuji Line).

At Nakamozu Mashimashi, they’re offering coupons when you post to Instagram Stories…

I wonder what kind of coupon this is? I stopped using Instagram a few years ago, so I couldn’t check it out myself… But if you happen to visit the shop, I’d be super happy if you could grab the coupon and let me know what it was like in the comments below.

Now, here are the shop details…

P.S. If you’re looking for delicious ramen in Osaka, be sure to check out this article as well…