I stumbled upon 9th Keisuke on my first night in Ginza, when an extended shopping trip at the Uniqlo Flagship Store led me in search of food places that were open past 9pm, when most other joints would have closed shop. Little did I know that this was actually the ninth branch of Chef Keisuke Takeda, the founder of the ubiquitous Keisuke Ramen chain in Singapore.
Tucked away at the back of Ginza Six and close to Higashi-Ginza Station, 9th Keisuke is in the company of numerous other ramen chains, such as the hugely popular Kyushu Jangara Ramen. In fact, the street has come to be known as the ramen street of Ginza.
If you’re not up for braving the crazy long queue time at 9th Keisuke’s prolific neighbours, especially after traversing shop after shop in Tokyo’s ritziest district, this is a pretty decent spot to satiate ramen cravings. True to the Keisuke Ramen chain, 9th Keisuke has its own specialty and it is duck ramen.
There are two kinds of soup bases you can choose from – clear and thick. Compared to the traditional pork-based broth, which is known for its rich flavours, the Duck Ramen Clear Soup (¥1,000 – ¥1,450) is comparatively clear-tasting and mellow.
The “extremely toppings” version includes four appetising ingredients – duck breast, duck balls, egg yolk, and burdock root served tempura style. The duck breast and duck balls are tender and meaty, while the egg yolk adds intense umaminess to the noodles and soup. I found the tempura to be on the dry and chewy side, though. I would have much preferred to go without.
Duck Ramen Clear Soup (¥1,000 – ¥1,450)
I wholeheartedly recommend the Duck Ramen with Thick Soup (¥1,110 – ¥1,550). The flavours are more intense and robust, and elevate the other ingredients in the bowl. It’s especially comforting to slurp up in the evening!
Duck Ramen with Thick Soup (¥1,110 – ¥1,550)
Mealtimes are a brisk affair at 9th Keisuke, as it is with most other ramen eateries. Needless to say, its location on this side of Ginza also makes it tourist-friendly. Ordering is done via a ticket machine at the entrance but, the staff will be on hand to guide you with an English menu if needed!
Address: 6 Chome-12-15 Ginza, Chuo City, Tokyo 104-0061, Japan
Google Maps
Nearest Station: Higashi-Ginza
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm daily
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