Higashi-Ikebukuro Taishoken - Main Shop — Restaurant in Tokyo

I saw this place on NHK as the the birthplace of tsukemen. Well, the original owner passed away a few years ago. The new owner carries on the same legacy. At the ticketing machine there is a laminated paper with an English menu on top. The buttons on that align with the buttons on the ticketing machine so it is very easy to use. I did post pictures of both so please reference those before going. Otherwise you could block up the line. The most popular dish is the regular tsukemen 1,150 yen. This comes with a heaping 320 g bowl of noodles which is hard to imagine if you don't know the metric system. But trust me, it is a lot. When the noodles were cold, they were nice and chewy. You did have to break them apart a few times as you're eating because they stuck together a little bit. The broth was rich and flavorful even though it was not very thick. In the broth or some usual toppings, including a thick piece of pork, green onions, fish cake, and bamboo shoots. We also got an order of gyozo which was a thousand yen. I thought it was a lot until we got there. You get five and they are all massive stuffed, full meat and goodness. My daughter got the regular hot ramen. The broth seemed similar to the different broth but not as concentrated. They were both a wonderful bonito front soy sauce, seasoned broth. All told this was a wonderful experience and is a must for rolling fanatics as you get to eat at a place...

The tsukemen is good! Broth is thick and full of flavor. Yes, the noodle is cold. That's why it's called tsukemen. If you are not familiar with tsukemen style ramen, then you should watch it on YouTube. Highly recommended to try tsukemen style ramen while in Japan from any ramen shop that serves them.

Anyway, I ordered the small size and the size was perfect. I'm trying to cut/ eat less carbs but I cannot say no to noodle 😐 Ordered the small size noodle with extra meat. It was perfect! 😆

Before entering the ramen shop, there's a ticket machine on the left side. Pick your order from there. Don't worry, there's an English bottom/ option on the top side of the screen. Just click on it and everything will be in English.

You will be able to select your options without any problem.

Once you got your food tickets, hand it to the staff. They will ask you if you want "spicy or no spicy?" (If you order the tsukemen ramen). I'm not sure if they are going to ask you that if you order the Tokyo style ramen (which is the noodle in the broth).

Anyway, that's it. Once you are seated, just wait for your orders to arrive. Enjoy your meals!

After telling them what you wanted, they will show...

This place is a must for all ramen lovers, however more for bragging rights than for the flavor. The rumored birthplace of tsukemen, you can enjoy these iconic noodles at the place they were purportedly invented. These cold noodles are served along side the broth and dipped , hence the name ‘tuske men’ or ‘dipping noodles’. I can’t say that the soup is my favorite - a slightly spicy, sour and salty broth with hard boiled eggs and well-done cha-shu. However, the noodles are glorious and cooked to perfection with the just the the right girth and chewiness. The chefs recommendation, marked by an おすすめ sticker on the meal ticket vending machine, comes with a mountain of noodles, so definitely come hungry or try to negotiate a smaller portion.

It’s a little bit hard to find because the Google Maps pin is positioned on the road and not at the building. The front of the building is recognizable enough from the main road, so look for the building facade instead.There are two tables outside on a small terrace facing...