10 days in Tokyo, I was surprised for many things, and one was just how many Sichuan Ma La restaurants there were around. I long knew about this shop (Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo) in particular from one of the Youtube videos by Mark Wiens. Since I was in Tokyo, it was time to try it for myself.
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| Devil level! |
We thought we better be early to avoid the queue, but at 11h30, there was already a queue anyway. Apparently it was quite renowned around the neighborhood. You knew the shop was serious in their spices when they let you choose separately the level of spiciness / the amount of mixed chilies, and the level of numbness / the amount of Sichuan peppercorn, 4 levels each to choose from, and max out at "Devil" level. Arrogant, I chose "Devil" level for both. Unknowingly I chose my own demise...
The waiter reconfirmed my order and then we entered the shop. The atmosphere and decoration made you feel like you were in hell, literally. But nothing would be as scary as the bowl of ramen that I'd ordered. The waiter came with my ramen, introduced me to spices in this concoction of hell. If you know what is Sichuan peppercorn and if you ever bite into one,
you would know the numbing sensation it gives. So in my bowl of ramen, the top layer was thoroughly covered with an inch thick of ground Sichuan peppercorn. And the cherry on
top was a teaspoon full of some imported Mexican, extremely spicy
ground fresh chili paste.
I gave it a stir and the soup just became so thick
from the amount of spices mixed in. I first tried a sip of the soup and damned! I knew then it was going to be an odyssey. The shock was real from my first bite of the noodle. The burn was something I'd never experienced before. I couldn't feel my mouth, as if I was just injected with a shot of anesthetic. Sweat immediately squeezed out from all over my head. Second bite, and my mom told me my face was all red, and the nerves were bursting out of my forehead, screaming for help. Not sure if it was true, I was told that the waiters and cooks all were looking at me suffering with a worry face. To be honest, the spicy chili mix was still manageable for me. It really was the insane amount of Sichuan peppercorn that was killing me. Not only my mouth, my throat, my stomach, my entire digestive system, I could feel each bite of noodle moving down my body.
After just over half a bowl in, my mind was totally lost. No amount of water could help me go through this Herculean obstacle ahead. The only way left was the way out. So I gave up. Then we went to the 7-11 opposite for some cold yogurt drink in desperate hope of putting out the Californian wildfire that was burning inside me.
I have always considered myself to be very high tolerant to spicy food. But for once in my life, I am humbled by a bowl of spicy ramen...
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| The vending machine to personalize your own doom. |
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| The happy face prior. Ignorance is bliss. |
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| 3rd level of spicy and numbness. |
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| Normal - no extra add on chili nor peppercorn. |
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| The aftermath. |
