Shio Gensui Amagasaki Head Shop

Shio Gensui, a popular chain of salt ramen restaurants, was founded in Nishinakajima in 2007 as an offshoot of the famous soy sauce ramen restaurant Sōdaishō. As of July 2025, the chain has 27 locations mainly in the Kansai region. The main store, which oversees all 27 locations, is located in Amagasaki, so I decided to visit the main store in Amagasaki on a weekend lunchtime to try their salt ramen. “Well, what should I eat today… Maybe I’ll compare it with Sōdaishō‘s soy sauce ramen?” I thought to myself as I walked toward the store. However, luckily, at that time, there was a collaboration event with the Nishinakajima Branch, offering a summer-limited menu (June 23 to September 7). As soon as I saw the announcement, I decided without hesitation to order that menu. I will explain what that menu was like later, so please continue reading the article…  

As expected of the flagship store of a popular chain, there was quite a crowd in front of the store… On a certain weekend lunchtime, how long was the wait at the flagship store, Shio Gensui Amagasaki Head Shop?

I arrived at Shio Gensui Amagasaki Head Shop, at around noon on a certain weekend. It was the middle of lunchtime when I visited, but even at that point, there was a crowd outside the store, and it was as crowded as you would expect from the flagship store of a popular chain. Looking at the sign-in sheet at the entrance, there were about 20 people ahead of me… At this point, it was clear that there would be a significant wait time.

It was a sunny day with no clouds, and waiting outside would have been quite uncomfortable, but there was a covered waiting area in front of the entrance, which was a great relief. There was just enough space for one person on the bench, so I sat down there. I was able to comfortably pass the time while playing with my smartphone. The waiting time from signing the sign-in sheet to entering the store was about 30 minutes. The turnover of customers seemed standard for a ramen shop, I think.  

A collaboration project with the Nishinakajima Branch! How was the summer limited menu at Shio Gensui Amagasaki Head Shop, the cold salt ramen with kombu water?

Now, let me introduce the summer limited menu that I ordered at Shio Gensui Amagasaki Head Shop, a collaboration project with the Nishinakajima Branch, the cold salt ramen with kombu water (price: 1,150 yen including tax). After waiting about 10 minutes, the ramen was brought to my table…

The soup is incredibly clear, and if there were no noodles, you could see right through to the bottom of the bowl. The toppings include two types of chashu, green onions, tororo konbu, and shiso flowers, giving it a refreshing feel. Just looking at it makes me feel cool.

First, I took a sip of the soup… It had a light thickness that clung to the tongue, with a slightly strong saltiness and a supporting kelp flavor. This soup is made solely from kelp and water, so there are no other impurities. Except for the strong saltiness, it’s almost effortless on the body, making it a soup you could guzzle down in the summer. This time, I ordered it with the image of ramen and kelp water tsukemen at Ramen Tohichi in mind, but the saltiness was too strong, so the taste was a bit different from what I imagined. In that sense, I think it would have been better if the saltiness was a bit milder to better highlight the kelp flavor…

On the other hand, the noodles are the familiar homemade straight noodles, but the texture is significantly different from when they’re served in hot ramen. The thick soup clings to the noodles, giving them a slippery texture rather than a fresh pasta feel, and they have a strong chewiness that’s different from when they’re served hot. The kelp soup clinging to the surface makes for a smooth throat feel, and the refreshing sensation after swallowing is unique to cold ramen.

Now, the main toppings are two types of chashu: pork shoulder with a slightly ham-like appearance and chicken breast chashu with a hint of pink. Both are low in fat, tender, and have a balanced meatiness that makes them easy to eat. What caught my attention was the pork shoulder chashu. It’s rare but just slightly cooked—how do they achieve this? Just looking at it, you can tell the skill involved. Since it’s a cold ramen, the flavor doesn’t change due to the soup’s heat, so you can enjoy it just as it was served, even after some time has passed.

This is the summer-limited menu at Shio Gensui Amagasaki Head Shop: cold salt ramen with kelp water. The high salt content was a bit concerning, but other than that, it seemed like the perfect menu item for beating the summer heat. It might be great for post-workout meals since it helps replenish salt levels. So, if you order this, it’s probably best to do so during the daytime when the sun is out.

Other menu items at Shio Gensui Amagasaki Head SHop (prices include tax)

• Natural Salt Ramen 890 yen
• Soy Sauce Ramen 890 yen
• Rich Soy Sauce Ramen 1,030 yen
• Miso Ramen 1,050 yen
• Salt Tsukemen 1,050 yen
• Soy Sauce Tsukemen 1,050 yen
• Green Onion Salt Ramen 1,160 yen

Set menus are even more affordable! Access to Shio Gensui Amagasaki Head Shop, is a 13-minute walk from Mukonosou Station on the Hankyu Kobe Line.

At Shio Gensui Amagasaki Head Shop, they also offer affordable set menus with side dishes. The set menus include…

• Fried chicken set: +390 yen
• Gyoza set: +330 yen
• Fried rice set: +540 yen
• Dote Donburi Set +540 yen  
• Full Set (Gyoza and Fried Rice) +760 yen  

There are five types in total. The pricing system adds the set menu cost to the price of the ramen you order (prices include tax), so no matter which ramen you choose, you can add a set menu, even if you order a limited menu like I did this time. Personally, I recommend adding the fried rice, which is said to be the best in Kansai, to your set menu.

Here are the details of the store…

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