Ichiran Asakusa — Restaurant in Tokyo

I have been a regular of Ichiran in any country that I visit where they happen to have a branch, I.e. Hong Kong, Taiwan, and etc. During this visit I have been to the same branch twice. This branch has both the table and booth options although expect a bit of wait time if you wish to be seated on the booth. (A must if it is your first time to dine at Ichiran).

Something that I noticed is that in the booth you do not have your own tap water which is typical in other branches. Another thing that I noticed is that their set menu includes the bottled tea however there is no set menu without the tea and just the usual tamago, nori, and mushrooms.

The process is still the same, you order from the machine pay and get your ticket and then queue and wait for your turn to be seated.

You fill out the Ramen Order Form so that you can select according to your liking, dashi, richness, garlic, onion, chashu, and etc.

If you opted for the table you pretty much hand your order form to the counter and wait for the buzzer then you can proceed to pick your bowl at the designated area.

For the booth, you hand your order form and ticket to the server and wait for him to deliver your bowl and do the ceremony until the curtain is closed and you can start enjoying your ramen.

Personally, after having tried different ramen types and brands Ichiran tops the list. The broth has this distinct taste and I always select Level 7 for the Red Sauce for the right amount of kick. We all have different taste preference but I would recommend that you don’t skip Ichiran. Let me know about your experience if you agree. ♡

TIP: Visit during after lunch or dinner hours so that the queue will not be too long. There are two different types of home ramen kit that you can purchase, one has the straight noodles and the other curly but both of them do not have chashu included. You can also purchase the same at some konbinis or DonKi and the prices are pretty...

I recently visited this restaurant and was thoroughly impressed with the quality of the food and overall dining experience. The dish I ordered was a perfect example of how a simple meal can be elevated through careful preparation and attention to detail. The ramen was exceptional, featuring a rich and flavorful broth that was clearly made with great care. The depth of flavor in the broth was complemented by the fresh, perfectly cooked noodles, which had just the right amount of chewiness.

The toppings were another highlight. The slices of pork were tender and succulent, melting in my mouth with every bite. The marinated egg was cooked to perfection, with a yolk that was just slightly runny, adding an extra layer of richness to the dish. The addition of crunchy bamboo shoots and fresh green onions provided a nice contrast in texture, making every spoonful a delightful combination of flavors and textures.

The ambiance of the restaurant also added to the overall experience. The individual seating arrangement allowed for a focused and immersive dining experience, free from distractions. It’s clear that this restaurant prioritizes the quality of their food and the comfort of their guests. The staff were attentive and made sure that everything was to my liking, further enhancing the overall experience.

In terms of value, I felt that the meal was reasonably priced, especially considering the high quality of the ingredients and the care taken in preparation. This is a place where you can truly appreciate the craft of ramen-making. I highly recommend this restaurant to anyone who enjoys authentic and well-prepared Japanese cuisine. It’s a dining experience that leaves you both satisfied and...

This has to be the worst ichiran location I’ve visited in Japan. First of all, the noodles were overly starchy as if the mass production by the line chefs had lost sight of quality control.

The second is the absurd setup. You have the choice of the “classic counter seating” (no issues) or the “yatai” seats. The latter is where we sat, and is quite honestly the most ridiculous display of restaurant inefficiency. You’re asked to wait until it’s time to bring your ticket up to the counter. You then have to wait for your food to be prepped before picking it up at the front counter and bringing it to your own seat. There’s so many things wrong here:

The shop is full of tourists that make poor choices like putting umbrellas or bags in the main walkway, or sticking their feet out to cause a tripping hazard. The staff don’t do anything about this.

Having customers bring soup noodles to their seats is a recipe for disaster. I ended up having hot soup dumped on me right shoulder and leg because some tourist didn’t know how to balance a tray. 🤦🏻‍♂️

I’ve been to Fukuoka and experienced the yatai culture. It’s super fun cramming your way into a small food stall and enjoying food served to you by chefs and shop owners. I don’t recall ever having to carry my food for great lengths to a seat, so not sure why Ichiran would think it’s a good (or safe) idea to have its customers do this.

Skip out on this location - there’s plenty of other independent ramen shops in the area. And if you want ichiran goto another location in town with less manic atmosphere. If you absolutely have to eat here, be mindful of your surroundings and try to sit close to the wall vs the aisle to avoid...