Originally opened near JR Nada station in 2016, Enishi is a small, humble-looking noodle shop specializing in tantanmen, a spicy Chinese noodle dish served with chili oil and minced pork. Tantanmen is quite common in Japan, with many ramen shops serving up their own version of the dish. But if you’ve ever seen the lines of eagerly waiting Enishi customers snaking out the door and down the street, you’d know that the noodles served in this particular shop are something truly special.
In fact, Enishi is one of only a few ramen shops in the Kansai region which have the distinction of earning a Michelin star. And eating their signature tantanmen is an experience which you’ll probably never forget: in addition to the usual spicy chili oil, meat, and greens, the dish is also topped with a generous portion of sour and salty Japanese pickles, chopped raw onion, cashews, and a unique blend of dozens of different spices. For under 1000 yen for most dishes, that’s a lot of bang for your buck.
Even as a spicy food aficionado, I was completely unprepared for the pleasurable assault of flavor on my naive palette the first time I tried Enishi’s famous tantanmen. The blend of spices, the pungent freshness of the onion, and the saltiness of the pickles all mixed together were almost overwhelming. The chefs of Enishi are well aware that their dish may be a lot for some unsuspecting patrons to handle, and they recommend mixing in a raw egg to take the edge off. A side order of white rice, or a craft beer, can also help by serving as a palette cleanser. As for me, overwhelmed though I was, after my first visit I found myself wanting to come back again and again.
Among Enishi’s regular customers, there may be some especially adventurous souls who’d like to take their flavor voyage even further. For them, there is a selection of homemade vinegars, dried chili peppers, and extra chili oil which they can add to their noodles. I especially liked the orange vinegar, though I enjoyed trying all of them.
In addition to the original location south of JR Nada, there is also a newer location in Sannomiya. Visit their website here and pay a visit to one of their shops to try some amazingly flavorful noodles — if you’re brave enough!
