ICHIRAN Sagamihara — Restaurant in Sagamihara

Interesting experience. The outside gives the illusion of a big spacious restaurant but the seating is typically cramped for a ramen shop. That said, the food was good.

Orders are paid for up front at machines in the entrance lobby, which dispense tickets according to your order, which you then hand to staff once seated. That's quite typical.

However, the menu is really basic and is really about building your order around a simple bowl of tonkotsu noodles. Everything is an optional extra, some of which is paid for additionally at the ordering machine, such as egg, pressed seaweed, sliced pork, etc, and some of which is selected free on a check sheet at your table, such as leek, garlic, chilli, etc. Note that the egg is soft boiled and served in the shell, so a bit fiddly to peel.

The check sheet also has compulsory selections such as noodle firmness, soup flavour strength, etc.

Be warned that although the ordering machines have English, the all important check sheet does not so you'll need to be able to read katakana, hiragana and kanji. The tables have basic guidance signs in Japanese and English on the experience but no translations of the check sheet.

And the tables, well, that's an interesting part; they're actually individual booths built onto a counter. I did notice the divides could be unlocked and opened if you aren't alone.

Rather bizarrely, each booth had a window to the staff side that was positioned low so we can only see the servers torso, that is until mine did a rather long bow after serving my food.

I made the mistake of not ordering the free refill noodles, which was not much more in cost, and I left feeling hungry still because the standard noodle portion is tiny. After adding on the extras, which are standard in most ramen shops, the price becomes above average though next time I'll order the free refill option and see how that works out because I'm not sure if there's a limit on refills.

If you go by car, which is highly likely given the location, there's plenty of free parking.

And finally, as I said at the start, the food was good, indeed a perfect tonkotsu ramen, which is my personal preference anyway, so even if there had been a massive menu, I'd still have ordered the same.

This is an update

I’ve been told that there isn’t a free refill option as I imagined. A slightly more expensive option was for a large portion which comprises the standard serving plus an additional serving of plain cooked noodles on a dish for us to presumably put in any...

Very good ramen dish and easy to figure out. Cash only so be prepared. Simple menu, but very tasty. I recommend you try the dashi level normal and up the spiciness/richness one level. If you like garlic, don't order extra until you sit. You can customize your garlic level on the sheet. Don't forget to get a 2nd order of noodles with the silver dish.

If the store is busy, check in at the front and they'll give you a QR code receipt. Scan it and the web page will tell you your place in line.

Once inside, there's a machine. Insert your money first and choose your options. Once done, press change and the machine gives you your change. Take the white tickets around the corner and the waitress will seat you. If you have two people, the wall between can be removed.

Once seated, fill out your sheet with your desired customizations. Press the button and place your sheet near the window. A few minutes later, your food appears. Enjoy! If you want extras, there is a sheet at the table. Fill out the sheet, hit the button and give the cash to the server (extra pork, garlic, etc)

Super simple, very tasty. I...

Easy to order menu with english descriptions. Once seated you are able to select additional options, such as broth richness, preference on how your noodles are cooked, etc. Press a small call button at your booth and the staff will take your order. A short period of time youll jave a delicious meal infront. Incase you did not get enough food, there are forms at your booth where you can order additional food, at an additional cost of course.

Broth was delicious, noodles were cooked exactly how I prefer them and the staff was nice. I definitely recommend this ramen...