New ramen places keep rolling in. This month I tried Shin Shin Men Men in Cupertino. It features three broths – shoyu, tonkotsu and miso - that can be prepared in a range of spice heats from 0 to 6. I asked the cashier if tonkotsu was the most popular. She nodded, then I asked her which stock was her favorite. She said the shoyu was the best for her taste, and that’s what I went with. You order and pay at the counter, and receive a hand-written receipt and claim ticket.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/9490663827/
You help yourself to water or genmai cha. When your order’s ready, it’s placed on a cafeteria tray on the counter to pick-up.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/9490664615/
Arriving here at 6:30 pm, there were no other parties eating here to allow a glimpse of their food before ordering. When I saw the amount of chile flakes piled high on my bowl, I was grateful I’d picked Level 3 in the mid-range and not any higher. Eyeballing the amount, I’d say it was about two tablespoons worth. Thankfully, the chile was not incorporated into the stock. While I did not scoop it out, the amount that diffused from around the edges of the mound of chile was enough heat for me. When the place filled up after 7pm, I noticed that most of the orders had no chile at all and I saw none with more than my Level 3.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/9490666339/
The shoyu stock was plenty fatty and porky. According to the website, it’s slowly matured for two weeks. The shoyu tones were quite mellow, imparting the fermented flavor of soy sauce but not the sharp saltiness. Other than the richness, this stock was quite easy to quaff, and provided in a generous portion greater than I could finish.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/9493457080/
The crinkly yellow-toned noodles had the firm bite imparted by alkali treatment.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/9490665291/
Two thickish slices of chashu were very tasty. On top, a piece of what looked like loin that was more chewy than typical but I preferred this to the dried out brittleness prevalent at too many places. Underneath it, a softer slice of pork belly striated with fat. Both had griddle marks and were served more than warm bringing out more flavor.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/9490667543/
The whole seasoned egg was close to perfection: subtle soy sauce-based seasoning, tender white, and the jelly-like rich yolk still runny in the very center.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/9493463344/
Other standard toppings included two sheets of toasty nori, crisp marinated bamboo shoots, perky plucked bean sprouts, and chopped scallion.
All in all, quite a nice bowl of noodles. I look forward to returning. Shin Shin Men Men enters the ramen ranking at #9.
Shin Shin Men Men
21265 Stevens Creek Blvd
Cupertino, CA
(650) 450-6765
http://www.shin2men2.com/
All photos from Shin Shin Men Men (click center-bottom arrow for slideshow)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/9493458740/in/photolist-fsUsx7-fsE8GX-fsUsLq-fsE8Wx-fsUrXJ-fsE99c-fsUs3u-fsE9hz-fsE9sg-fsE9P2-fsUtUu/lightbox/
PERSONAL RAMEN RANKING
1. Ramen Halu, 375 Saratoga Ave Ste M, San Jose
2. Tsujita, 2057 Sawtelle Blvd, Los Angeles
3. Tatsunoya at Mitsuwa Kyushu and Okinawan festival, 675 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
4. Himawari, 202 2nd Ave, San Mateo
5. Orenchi Ramen, 3540 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara
6. Santouka, 675 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
7. Maru Ichi, 368 Castro St, Mountain View
8. Izakaya Mai, 212 2nd Avenue, San Mateo
9. Shin Shin Men Men, 21265 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino
10. Gaku Japanese Charcoal Grill, 5152 Moorpark Ave, San Jose
12. Yonsei Ramen Shop @ Hopscotch, 1915 San Pablo Ave, Oakland
12. Ajisen Noodle, 47890 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont
13. Maru Ichi, 530 Barber Lane, Milpitas
14. Ramen Dojo, 805 South B St, San Mateo
15. Shalala, 698 W Dana St, Mountain View
16. Tanto, 1063 E El Camino Real, Sunnyvale
17. Izakaya Restaurant, 1335 N 1st St, San Jose
18. Alexander’s Steakhouse Lounge, 10330 N Wolfe Rd, Cupertino (closed)
19. Santa, 1944 South El Camino Real, San Mateo
20. Do-Henkotsu House of Tokushima Ramen, 4330 Moorpark Ave, San Jose (closed)
21. Ramen Tenma, 487 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
22. Hapa Ramen, 1 Ferry Bldg, San Francisco
23. Ryowa, 859 Villa St, Mountain View
24. Orson Restaurant Bar + Lounge, 508 4th St, San Francisco (closed)
25. Izakaya Sozai, 1500 Irving St, San Francisco
26. Sumiya, 2634 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara
27. Gen Ramen, 47890 Warm Springs Blvd, Fremont (closed)
28. Hana Japanese Restaurant, 101 Golf Course Dr, Rohnert Park
29. Ken Ken Ramen, pop-up at The Corner, San Francisco (closed, moved)
30. Kyora Japanese Restaurant, 1217 Wildwood Ave, Sunnyvale (closed)
31. Sobo, 988 Franklin St, Oakland
32. Kotetsu Ramen, 2089 El Camino Real, Santa Clara
33. BY Grill, 3226 Geary Blvd, San Francisco (closed)
34. Norikonoko, 2556 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley
35. Dohatsuten, 799 San Antonio Rd, Palo Alto
36. Hana, 4320 Moorpark, San Jose
37. Ozumo, 2251 Broadway, Oakland
38. Men Oh Tokushima Ramen, 5120 Geary Blvd, San Francisco
39. Muracci’s, 244 State St, Los Altos
40. Katanaya, 430 Geary Blvd., San Francisco
41. Tadamasa, 34672 Alvarado Niles Road, Union City
42. Masa's Sushi, 400 San Antonio Road, Mountain View
43. Ippuku, 2130 Center St, Berkeley
44. Nombe, 2491 Mission St, San Francisco
45. Gochi, 19980 Homestead Rd, Cupertino
46. Shimo Modern Steakhouse, 241 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg (closed)
47. Oyaji, 3123 Clement St, San Francisco
48. Ramen Misoya, 3541 Homestead Rd, Santa Clara
49. Chubby Noodle, 570 Green St, San Francisco
50. Ame Restaurant, 689 Mission St, San Francisco
51. Yu-Raku, 104 S El Camino Real, San Mateo
52. Namu, 439 Balboa St, San Francisco (moved)
53. Halu Restaurant, 312 8th Ave, San Francisco
54. Sanmi, 3226 Geary Blvd, San Francisco (closed)
55. Hatcho, 1271 Franklin Mall, Santa Clara
56. Kahoo, 4330 Moorpark Ave, San Jose
57. Tomoe, 810 3rd St, San Rafael (closed)
58. Ringer Hut, 1072 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
59. Noodle Theory, 3242 Scott St, San Francisco (closed)
60. Watami Shabu Shabu and Ramen, 5344 Geary Blvd, San Francisco (closed)
61. Where’s Buta by Elgin Espiritu and June Lee, Eat Real Festival, Oakland
62. Kumako, 211 E. Jackson Street, San Jose
63. Japanese Restaurant Hoshi, 246 Saratoga Avenue, Santa Clara
64. Ramen Club, 723 California Dr, Burlingame
65. Saiwaii Ramen, 2240 Irving St, San Francisco
66. Ryowa, 2068 University Ave, Berkeley (after ownership change)
67. King Won Ton, 1936 Irving St, San Francisco
68. Tazaki Sushi, 3420 Judah St, San Francisco
69. Ramen Rama, 19774 Stevens Creek Blvd, Cupertino (closed)
70. Ogi-San Ramen, 10789 Blaney Ave, Cupertino (closed)
71. Kaimuki Grill, 104 S El Camino Real, San Mateo (closed)
72. Tanto, 1306 Saratoga Ave, San Jose (now Dan Izakaya)
73. Okazu Ya SF (Noriega), 2445 Noriega St, San Francisco
74. King's Garden Ramen, 39055 Cedar Blvd, Newark (closed)
75. Sushi Bistro, 445 Balboa St, San Francisco (closed, moved)
76. Genki Ramen, 3944 Geary Blvd, San Francisco
77. Mitsuwa Hokkaido festival booth, 675 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
78. Dan Izakaya, 1306 Saratoga Ave, San Jose
79. Lakuni, 325 E 4th Ave, San Mateo
80. 100% Healthy Desserts, 1155 Taraval St., San Francisco
81. Mifune, 1737 Post St, San Francisco
82. H2A Noodle, 42318 Fremont Blvd., Fremont (closed)
83. Iroha, 1728 Buchanan St, San Francisco
84. Miraku Noodles, 2131 N Broadway, Walnut Creek
85. Manpuku, 2977 College Ave, Berkeley
86. Tanpopo, 1740 Buchanan Street, San Francisco
87. Sushi Yoshi, 39261 Cedar Blvd, Newark
88. La Shang Niang Ramen (OEC), 42 Dixon Rd, Milpitas (closed)
89. Oidon, 71 E. 4th Avenue, San Mateo
90. Taraval Okazu Ya, 1735 Taraval St., San Francisco
91. Suzu Noodle House, 1581 Webster Street, San Francisco
92. Bushido Izakaya, 156 Castro St, Mountain View
93. Fresh Taste, 2107 El Camino Real, Palo Alto
94. Asuka Ramen, 883 Bush St, San Francisco (closed)
95. Sapporo-ya, 1581 Webster St, San Francisco
96. Tokyo Ramen, 678 Barber Lane, Milpitas (closed)
97. Kamakura, 2549 Santa Clara Ave, Alameda
98. Mama-san!, 312 8th Ave, San Francisco (closed)
99. Katana-ya Ramen, 10546 San Pablo Ave, El Cerrito
100. Hotei, 1290 9th Ave, San Francisco
101. Bear's Ramen House, 2521 Durant, Berkeley
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