Tantanmen Tamasippin｜Motomachi, Kobe

※This restaurant appears to have permanently closed.

This is an introduction to Tama Shippin, a specialty tantanmen restaurant located in Motomachi, Kobe.

It’s located about a five-minute walk from Motomachi Station, and you’ll find it on the street north of the shopping arcade (on the opposite side of Nankin-machi), with a hemp-like fabric noren hanging in front of the shop.

It’s a relatively new restaurant that likely opened within the past year, and when you step inside, you’re greeted by the staff’s energetic and cheerful shout of “Irasshaimase!”

You purchase a meal ticket from the vending machine inside the restaurant, and at a glance, the main offerings seemed to be tantanmen, soupless tantanmen, and chicken paitan ramen, along with several set options and toppings.

This time, I ordered the Tantanmen Set (¥1,050), which includes tantanmen, rice, and two slices of yodare-dori (steamed chicken with sauce).

The seating is arranged in a U-shaped open counter, so while you’re waiting, you can watch the cooking process inside, and I noticed them mixing the soup with an agitator. I’m not sure what it’s for since I’m not an expert (lol), but it was the first time I’d seen that process, so it might be one of the secrets behind the flavor.

It took about five minutes or so—service was fairly quick—but even just looking at the bowl of tantanmen, you can tell it’s a carefully crafted dish.

The flavor featured a very mild, creamy broth that paired perfectly with the thin yet firm noodles, making it an exceptionally delicious bowl of tantanmen.

They also let you know when serving it, but the minced meat sauce settles at the bottom, and you’re given a special spoon to scoop it up and eat it. The minced meat sauce was seasoned with just the right amount of sweetness, and when you scoop it up from the bottom and eat it together with the noodles, the meat sauce and creamy broth coat the noodles perfectly, making it extremely delicious.

The spiciness is kept fairly mild, and each seat is stocked with chili powder and Japanese pepper so you can adjust the heat to your liking. I recommend tasting it first and then fine-tuning the flavor—it makes it even more enjoyable. The yodare-dori that comes with the set was also delicious with a nice kick of Sichuan pepper, and when eaten together with the tantanmen soup, it really made the rice go down easily.

It’s a great place where you can enjoy a carefully crafted, unique style of tantanmen that stands out from the rest. I highly recommend it, so if you’re a fan of tantanmen, be sure to give it a try.