ICHIRAN Shinsaibashi — Restaurant in Osaka

This place is fantastic. Great ramen at a decent price and good service.

Here's how it works: Get there early to avoid a queue. When you're at the machine, tap English if needed. Select your ramen and any extras you want. The only extras that really matter are extra meat and eggs. (You'll see what I mean below). Pay, collect your tickets (multiple if you ordered multiple things), and give each person in your party their specific tickets. The staff at the next area will hand you a piece of paper to fill out to customize your ramen. You'll have the following choices (and you'll have dotted lines showing the recommended options - go with those if this is your first ramen in Japan) 6a. Dashi strength - this is the amount of fish/kelp broth they add to the pork broth. In effect, strong dashi means saltier and more savory and less pork taste. 6b. Richness - this is the amount of pork fat they add to it. More fat means greasier and more calories. 6c. Garlic - do you like it garlicky or not? Personal preference, but 1 extra clove is fairly garlicky. 6d. Green onion - do you want green onions or not? (You do.) 6e. Chashu - do you want pork or not? (You do.) 6f. Original spicy red sauce - pick your spicy level. 2 is pretty serious. I like a lot of spice, eat a fair amount of Indian and Chinese food that is spicy, and 4 was a bit much for me. You do you. 6g. Noodle texture - ichiran noodles are a bit thinner than most ramen we've had in Japan, so I get mine a little firmer, but the choice is yours. So you see, at the ticket counter, you only need to add more garlic, green onion, and such if you want more than is allowed on that sheet you just filled out. I usually only get extra green onions because I like their texture, and extra pork if I skipped lunch. Maybe a soft boiled egg if I'm feeling like it. The garlic and spice range is satisfactory without paying extra, for me. Take the filled out form and hand the clipboard back to the staff. Wait until they say there's an open seat. When you get shown a number to sit at, go and sit. Spot to hang your bag or coat on the wall behind you. Put your order sheet and tickets on the counter in front of you and wait. Someone will come up and say some stuff in Japanese and open the curtain and look at your order form and tickets. They'll ask if they have questions. This is your opportunity for any unusual requests (my wife likes the red sauce on the side so she can add it over time, for example). You might need to mime or use Google translate. They'll mess with the tickets and eventually food will appear. Enjoy it! The water is right there at the station, and if you want more noodles or anything else, use cash and the form on the right side. Napkins and chopsticks are above you. If you need to use the restroom, be sure to put down the "I'm coming back" wooden sign so they know. Bathroom is out front. When you're done, leave your dishes there and...

As Christmas approaches, I can’t help but reflect on a time earlier this year—back in April—when I found myself in Osaka, a city of bright lights, delicious food, and moments that felt both fleeting and unforgettable. It was during that trip that I first stepped into the warm, inviting atmosphere of Ichiran Ramen, a place that quickly became a favorite memory.

Sitting in the cozy booth, surrounded by the aroma of rich, savory broth and the sound of sizzling noodles, I felt a sense of peace I hadn’t expected. The simplicity of Ichiran’s concept—the solo booths where you could fully immerse yourself in the flavors of the ramen—was oddly comforting. There I was, savoring every bite of that perfect, flavorful ramen, while reflecting on where I was in life at that moment.

I was single, unsure of what the future held, but somehow the warm broth and the hum of the restaurant made everything feel okay. Now, with Christmas around the corner, I find myself in a similar place—solo once again.

Yet, this time, there’s a sense of growth, of understanding, and acceptance. Looking back to that ramen shop in Osaka, I realize that sometimes, it’s the simple moments of comfort like a bowl of delicious ramen that carry us through the uncertainties of life.

This Christmas, I’m reminded that no matter where we are, or what stage of life we’re in, we can always find warmth and solace in the things that bring us peace whether it’s the taste of a favorite dish, the memories of a past trip, or the promise of new experiences ahead.

So here’s to those quiet, solo moments that remind us how far we’ve come and how much we’ve grown. From Ichiran Ramen in Osaka to now, I’m thankful for every step, every bowl of ramen, and every moment of reflection. Merry Christmas to all whether you're surrounded by loved ones or enjoying the calm...

After their “individual booths” concept went viral, we decided to add Ichiran Ramen to our trip’s bucket list, just to see what the fuss was about. We’ve also seen their brand in quite a lot of stores so we were excited to try their ramen.

Maybe because the individual booths don’t allow for much service, it was concentrated at the front of the house where we were greeted by enthusiastic staff who taught us how to use the vending machine-like ticketing system and use the tickets. From there on, we were guided to a seating area. Because there weren’t too many people around, we were able to pick our choice of seats. We never saw the server who took our ticket but it didn’t take long (about 5-10 minutes) for them to return with our order.

The ramen was… meh While it wasn’t bad, it wasn’t anything to write home about. What I believe is the most important component of ramen - the broth - turned out underwhelming and disappointing. For the most part, it was just salty and one-dimensional. The noodles themselves were barely chewy and the chashu was forgettable. All in all, it paled in comparison to the other ramen broths I’ve had, both in Japan and in my home country, Canada.

The price was reasonable enough; however, I feel like it would be better spent at a different establishment. While the individual booths were interesting, when it’s paired with barely adequate ramen, it just feels gimmicky. I won’t dissuade you from going for the ‘gram, but personally, I won’t be...