Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi

There’s a shop called Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi, which opened in May 2020 as the second location of the renowned Kamishinjo ramen shop, Ramen Shop Akagi. Here, you can enjoy a completely different style of rich, thick dipping noodles compared to the original shop. It seems the owner had always wanted to serve this kind of hearty dipping noodle dish. Unfortunately, due to space constraints at the original shop, they couldn’t simmer pork bones and had to abandon the idea… So, it’s not hard to imagine that this shop is the kind of place the owner truly wanted to create.Well, for us diners, it all boils down to “as long as it tastes good.” But since this is the second branch of Ramen Shop Akagi, the shop that created that exquisite espuma chicken white soup, the flavor is practically guaranteed. Looking forward to seeing what kind of rich tsukemen I’d get to try, I walked from the station toward the shop one evening. Now then…

The stylish interior seems popular with female customers…Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi is this kind of shop.

I arrived at Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi around 5:50 PM on a weekday evening. The shop is located in front of Toyoshin Elementary School, a short distance from Kamishinjo Station. Perhaps due to this location, the pre-opening crowd was a bit sparse that day, and I managed to get pole position even at this time. After that, customers trickled in, and by opening time at 6 PM, there were about 5-6 people waiting. My impression was that the wait might be shorter and easier to get in compared to the first branch, Ramen Shop Akagi. However, by the time I finished eating and left, the shop was full with 5 people waiting inside, so it seems you still need to be prepared for some queueing and waiting time.

Anyway, I bought a ticket at the vending machine and entered the shop. The shop has a narrow front and a long, deep layout. An L-shaped counter with 10 seats surrounds a relatively spacious kitchen area. Unlike the first shop, the interior has been updated. With black wallpaper and overhead lighting, it has a modern, stylish tsukemen shop vibe. This should appeal to female customers too. Oh, and they thoughtfully provide paper aprons, so you don’t have to worry about splashes from the dipping broth ruining your clothes.

This isn’t your typical “Mataoma style” kind of place… How did Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi’s signature dish, the Special Tsukemen, actually taste when I tried it?

So, let me introduce the Special Tsukemen (price: ¥1,450 including tax) I ordered that day at Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi, the shop’s signature dish. About 10 minutes after ordering, the Special Tsukemen arrived before me looking like this…

A rich-looking dipping broth with a fragrant fish powder aroma, topped with thick pork and chicken chashu, a seasoned egg, and menma bamboo shoots on extra-thick noodles… Oh yes, you can choose your noodle portion size: 200g, 250g, or 300g for the same price. This time, I went with the 300g.

Now, let’s try a single strand of noodle straight up… The surface is glossy and easy to slurp, with a firm bite and a pleasantly chewy texture. Plus, with each chew, a rich wheat aroma fills your mouth and nose… These noodles have a seriously strong presence, showing no sign of being overwhelmed even when dipped in the thick dipping sauce.

Next, I dip the noodles into the sauce and slurp them up… The dipping broth is a rich fish-based pork bone broth, what you might call the “Mataoma style.” Compared to other fish-based pork bone broths, I felt this one had a stronger sweetness. Thanks to that sweetness, I think it occupies a slightly different position than the typical rich fish-based pork bone broth of the “Mataoma style.” Also, the subtle yuzu peel adds a nice fragrance, acting like a refreshing breath of fresh air within the rich broth.

Then there are the upgraded, luxurious toppings. Two thick slices of pork belly chashu and two slices of chicken thigh chashu with a crispy, charred skin… These toppings pack an impact that rivals the noodles and dipping sauce. The pork belly chashu is meltingly tender, while the chicken thigh chashu is meaty and juicy, with the aroma of caramelized fat wafting up to your nose… The boiled egg is also perfectly cooked, with a perfectly runny yolk. For just 300 yen more than the standard tsukemen, you get these luxurious toppings. I wouldn’t hesitate to pay the extra 300 yen for them.

Finally, while soup dilution is customary with tsukemen, this time I opted for the rice to finish (free, but requires a separate ticket). The white rice was piled high in a dome shape, with just a little broth added. It looked exactly like the dashi rice at Tokiya in Nishinakajima. Similarly, I added a suitable amount of leftover dipping broth and enjoyed it like ochazuke, slurping it down smoothly.

That’s how I finished Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi‘s special tsukemen in about 10 minutes and left the shop. If it had been a typical “Mataoma style” kind of place, there are plenty of others around, so I might have thought “Hmm…” But it had a slightly different flavor profile, which I personally appreciated. I’d say the noodles themselves are particularly well-made, so next time I might try changing the flavor and go for the mixed noodles or tantan tsukemen. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who’s really particular about wanting delicious noodles! If you get the chance, do give the shop a visit.

Other Menu Items at Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi (Prices Include Tax)

• Green Onion Rice 400 yen
• Tsukemen (Dipping Noodles) 1150 yen
• Special Maze Soba 1450 yen
• Maze Soba 1150 yen
• Special Tantan Tsukemen 1500 yen
• Tantan Tsukemen 1200 yen
• Green Onion Rice with Egg Yolk 500 yen

At the vending machine in front of the shop, you can purchase ramen for takeout… Access to Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi is an 8-minute walk from the nearest station, Kamishinjo Station on the Hankyu Kyoto Line.

At the front of Homemade Noodles Tsukiyomi, there’s a vending machine where you can also buy ramen for takeout…

It seems you could once buy the shop’s tsukemen here, but now it stocks ramen from other popular Suita shops like Ramen Kudo‘s Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen and Gokumen Aonisai’s Niboshoyu Ramen. Well, being able to take home ramen from popular nearby shops is definitely a perk. I do wish they’d reserve at least one slot for the shop’s own tsukemen though…

Now, here are the shop details…

It’s a 12-minute walk from Osaka Metro Imazatosuji Line Daido-Toyosato Station.

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