1st Shinjuku Park Tower Store
Located within walking distance of Shinjuku Station and right in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Sakauchi Shinjuku Park Tower has the homey feel of a ramen shop that you wouldn't expect to find in the middle of a city.
Kitakata ramen and roast pork ramen. There are many "usual menus" that everyone associates with Sakauchi, but it seems that the "usual" of the regulars at the Shinjuku Park Tower store is a little different. When we spoke to Kenji Sato, who values time with his staff and continues to watch over the store, we could feel the close relationship between the regulars and the staff!
Bannai Family Kenji Sato
Bannai experience: 10 years
Profile
A regular customer at the Shinjuku Park Tower store who has been coming here since it first opened. He lives nearby so he often just pops in for a drink.
◯ Favorite menu
Lemon sour, gyoza, Kitakata ramen
Shinjuku Park Tower Store Manager Kataoka
"Is the usual okay?" automatically brings out gyoza and lemon sour.
＿＿＿Today, we have a regular customer at the Shinjuku Park Tower store, Kenji Sato, with us to talk. Please tell us about your history at Sakauchi.
Sato:: I've been coming here since it first opened. It opened in 2010, so it's been a long time. I know all the previous managers.
Manager Kataoka: Mr. Sato probably knows more about the store than I do (laughs).
Sato:: This used to be a McDonald's. My house is nearby, so I've been coming here since it was that McDonald's. A while ago, Sakauchi-san had a campaign where they were offering cheaper draft beer, so I was drawn in and came here, and I ended up meeting some friendly staff members, so I started coming here more often. Many of the people there are very kind to me.
____What pace are you on now?
Sato:: Yes, I still do it about once a week.
Manager Kataoka: There are often even more customers.
______What is your main reason for coming to Sakauchi?
Sato:：I like noodles. Curly noodles are the best. Actually, my father is from Yonezawa in Yamagata Prefecture, so maybe that's why I like Kitakata ramen so much.
Manager Kataoka: That feels like fate.
What is your most popular menu item?
Manager Kataoka: It's that, isn't it?
Sato:: Yes, lemon sour (laughs). The waiter always asks me if I want the usual. When I nod, gyoza and lemon sour are brought out.
Manager Kataoka: It's a tradition at the Shinjuku Park Tower store that when Mr. Sato's lemon sour gets low, a staff member goes to ask if he'd like a refill.
Sato:: That's right, so I'll have a couple of drinks.
Manager Kataoka: We always have our customers finish off with some ramen afterwards.
Sato::When it comes to ramen, I often order Kitakata ramen.
＿＿＿There are many restaurants in Shinjuku, but what is it about Sakauchi that you like so much?
Sato:: Because I come here often, I'm able to talk to the staff and have become friends with them.
Manager Kataoka: There is almost no one who doesn't know about Mr. Sato.
Sato:：Actually, one of our store clerks' children is the same age as our grandchild, and they were in the same class at junior high school. He even spoke to me at a sports day.
＿＿＿This is an episode that makes you feel the closeness between the staff and the customers!
Popular among office workers in Shinjuku, but the interaction with regulars is a tradition
＿＿＿Manager Kataoka, is there anything you usually pay attention to when training your staff?
Manager Kataoka: It's been 10 years since we opened, so we're a well-established restaurant with veteran staff. So we're trying to follow what they've created. There's a tradition of veterans introducing new staff to regulars.
Sato:：That's certainly true!
Manager Kataoka: I agree with this trend, but I'm sure it has helped all the previous managers as well.
＿＿＿Because it's located in Shinjuku Park Tower, I had the impression that it was a shop with many office workers as its customers, but it seems that there are also warm interactions like this with regulars.
Manager Kataoka: Yes, it's true that the turnover is high during the day, but even so, there is still interaction with the regulars. Each staff member is connected to the regulars. Of course, it's the ramen, but it's also about the customers coming to meet each other.
Sato:：I'm happy to chat with you every now and then. That's why I come when you're busy. I'm especially close with Ariun right now.
Manager Kataoka: Ariun is a woman from Mongolia.
Sato:：I think it's amazing how well you study. You always try your best.
＿＿＿Finally, Mr. Sato and Mr. Banauchi, please tell us if there is anything you would like to see from us in the future.
Sato:：Hmm. No!
＿＿＿Everyone: (lol).
Sato:For example, I often see positive changes, such as staff members who initially had a quiet voice now speaking louder.
Manager Kataoka: It's true, Mr. Sato pays close attention.
Sato:: Since I come alone, I look very closely (laughs).
Manager Kataoka: It's a tradition for us to get along well with Mr. Sato! Honestly, Mr. Sato has an incredible love for Bannai.
While talking to Mr. Sato, the manager was surprised at the number of staff members he mentioned. It's like all the staff here are students who have studied under Mr. Sato and are graduating. The presence of customers like Mr. Sato, who keeps a gentle eye on the store, creates a homely atmosphere here at Sakauchi in Shinjuku.
This shop is here
Shinjuku Park Tower store
- address
- Shinjuku Park Tower B1F, 3-7-1 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
- telephone number
- 03-3344-6611
- Opening times
- Weekdays 11:00-22:00
(Last orders 21:45)
Weekends and holidays: 11:00-20:00
(Last orders 19:45)
- Closed Day
- Open all year round
Located in a corner of the Nishi-Shinjuku skyscrapers and adjacent to the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, Shinjuku Park Tower is characterized by its unique triangular roof exterior. We are open every day on the restaurant floor on the first basement floor! At lunchtime, we are mainly used by office workers and office ladies, but at dinnertime and on weekends, we are also visited by many families. Please come and try our famous Kitakata ramen in our spacious restaurant!