Ramen & Noodles · Kamiitabashi

Moko Tanmen Nakamoto Kamiitabashi Honten 蒙古タンメン中本 上板橋本店

The spiritual home of Tokyo's cult spicy ramen: the original Chinese diner Nakamoto opened here in 1968, and after it closed in 1998 a devoted regular revived it in 2000 as Moko Tanmen Nakamoto.

About

In 1968 a Chinese diner called Nakamoto opened in Kamiitabashi, and its fiery dishes built a cult following. When it closed in 1998, a devoted regular, Shirane, trained with the founder and reopened it in 2000 as Moko Tanmen Nakamoto, now a chain with branches across Tokyo. The Kamiitabashi honten is the head shop. The signature Moko tanmen is a miso-based tanmen loaded with stir-fried vegetables and topped with spicy mabo tofu; the Hokkyoku (North Pole) ramen is a notorious red-hot challenge. Spice levels are shown on the ticket machine from 0 to 10, and the honten sometimes has exclusive menu items. It is far from the sights but a pilgrimage for spice lovers.

Highlights

• Lineage from the 1968 Nakamoto Chinese diner
• Head shop of the Moko Tanmen Nakamoto chain
• Moko tanmen with spicy mabo tofu on vegetable tanmen
• Hokkyoku ramen, the famous extreme-heat bowl
• Spice ratings from 0 to 10 on the ticket machine

Tips

• Start with Moko tanmen (around level 5) before trying Hokkyoku
• Have milk or a lassi-style drink nearby; the heat lingers
• Queues build at weekend lunch
• Check for honten-only menu items

Open in Google Maps · Info checked 2026-10-09

Nearby

• Johoku Chuo ParkPark · 960 m away
• Don Quijote NerimaUnique Store · 1.1 km away
• Maenohara Onsen SayanoyudokoroOnsen & Sento · 1.6 km away
• Chuka Soba IbukiRamen & Noodles · 1.8 km away
• MEGA Don Quijote Itabashi ShimuraUnique Store · 2.2 km away
• Happy Road OyamaShopping Street · 2.8 km away
• Akatsuka ParkPark · 2.9 km away
• China Soba OsadaRamen & Noodles · 3.1 km away