In a residential lane near Xinpu in Banqiao, 山居麵所 brings Japanese tonkotsu and Thai-style sour-spicy ramen into a small old house. The shop is on Minyou Street, about a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Xinpu MRT or about 3 minutes from Xinpu Minsheng Station on the Circular Line. Rather than shouting from a busy street, the green-and-white storefront becomes memorable after you turn into the lane. Choose chashu or black garlic for mellow tonkotsu, or switch to Thai-style soup noodles and sides for something brighter.
Interior and atmosphere:
The shop occupies a small old house and keeps the original floor tiles. Green-and-white walls give the retro shell a fresher edge, while wooden tables and warm lighting make the compact room feel homey rather than staged. Music is another clear thread: the owner is a Wu Bai fan, and CDs and records are displayed along the walls. They feel less like generic décor and more like a personal collection naturally folded into the shop.
The address is 新北市板橋區民有街10號1樓, walkable from Xinpu or Xinpu Minsheng stations. Ordering is by QR code. Cutlery, sauces, drinking water, and tissues are self-service from a small table near the counter. Seating is limited, so arriving earlier is useful at peak times. The source visit also notes that extra noodles may be available; if you are unsure of your appetite, finish the original serving first, then ask staff about the current refill arrangement.
Japanese Chashu Ramen
Japanese Chashu Ramen starts with a tonkotsu broth of moderate richness. With less heavy oil and gelatin, it stays easier to drink through the bowl. The chashu is thin but broad, tender with a little spring and evenly distributed fat. Noodles remain bouncy and pick up the broth, keeping soup, noodles, and meat connected in each bite. It is a steady, approachable bowl for people who like tonkotsu aroma without relentless heaviness.
Japanese Black Garlic Ramen + Chashu
Japanese Black Garlic Ramen + Chashu adds black garlic oil to the tonkotsu broth, the dark sheen immediately setting it apart from the basic bowl. The oil brings pronounced garlic and a lightly roasted edge, giving the mellow broth more depth. Broad chashu adds meatiness, and the shop still avoids pushing the soup into extreme richness. It is the choice for anyone who wants a clear aromatic turn within the tonkotsu frame.
Thai-Style Cucumber
Thai-Style Cucumber stacks sliced cucumber into a crisp little mound, driven by bright acidity and a clean crunch rather than heat. It works especially well between the two ramen styles: after a few bites of tonkotsu or black garlic, one cucumber slice refreshes the mouth and resets the next sip.
What makes 山居麵所 fun is that one old house holds both the mellow warmth of tonkotsu and black garlic and the brighter side of Thai sour-spicy flavors and chilled cucumber.
Dining note:Seats are limited, so arriving before the busiest period can help. Once seated, order by QR code; self-service supplies are near the counter. When choosing soup, decide whether you want mellow garlic-rich comfort or brighter acidity and heat—that makes it much easier to find the right bowl.
- About a 5-minute walk from Exit 1 of Xinpu MRT.
- A small old house with vintage flooring and a display of Wu Bai CDs and records.
- Japanese tonkotsu and Thai sour-spicy flavors each have a clear identity.
If you want more than a standardized Japanese ramen shop, 山居麵所 is a residential-lane place with its own music collection and flavor personality. Start with Japanese Chashu Ramen or black garlic to understand the tonkotsu side, then move toward Thai-Style Cucumber or sour-spicy beef noodles for a different direction. One meal can hold two styles, along with the warmth of an old-house setting.
