The men of the Noodle Shop Ramen Bayashi have served up a beautiful menu to tourists and locals alike for quite some time. The establishment sat close to the town's Omotesando so clients alike could sample some very special food; away from the ruckus and inflated fare of what tourists are more used to.

The first time I visited the shop was quite a long time ago, when I visited Narita's old town for the first time. It was an evening of culinary pleasure, slurping noodles that were flavoured by a calm broth while wolfing down plates of gyoza (Japanese dumplings).

I remember the unique decor: Stickers and little labels from various airlines around this small world adorned the welcoming front door. The shop was quite small, and I could observe a sticker from the defunct Canadian Airlines on the upper half of the clear sliding door.

But the food was amazing, and that's all that mattered in a good Mom and Pop shop like this one. I remembered the three men who cooked the food I ate. They were a joyful bunch hurling jokes and talking about life as they served up some of the goodness.

When I visited this time around, the shop I originally came to remembering so fondly was boarded up. Since the December of the previous year, the Bayashi shop had moved in to newer premises.

Then, the flag of a prominent travel agency based in the somewhat nearby island was flown. If it wasn't obvious enough.

Nothing in this shop was inflated still, thankfully.

I walked past their new location, smiling amicably at a young woman who was gently slurping her freshly made bowl of ramen, minding her own business and giving a quiet smile.