ICHIRAN Shibuya Spain-zaka — Restaurant in Tokyo

Best ramen and experience, hands down! 10/10 would go again. This place is definitely somewhere you should go when traveling to Japan. It is a very unique experience. I will explain the process as best as I can!

THIS PLACE TAKES CASH ONLY.

There was a line but it was only about a 15 - 20 minute wait from the bottom of the stairs. Near the end of the line, when you can almost get a seat, there is a vending machine-like device that you use to pick the ramen and extra toppings you want. Don't worry if you can't read Japanese because the instructions are also in other languages on the machine. The ramen with the basic toppings (no extras added) is about 890 Yen. There is also a combo of all the extra toppings with the ramen for about 1,500 Yen Unfortunately, there is only one flavor of ramen. The only thing that you can change with that is the richness of the broth.

Then, after you give the machine the correct amount of money and choose what you want, you get your leftover money back and a ticket, which I will explain soon.

Then, the receptiontist/waiter gives you a piece of paper for which you circle all the basic toppings (this does not include the extras if you ordered any at the machine) and such you want with your ramen, including the strength of the broth. I went with the recommended level for everything (which the options will be circled with dashed lines).

Then, when it's your turn, you are taken to your seat(s). There are 2 rows of long tables and each table has a smaller divider per seat.

Then, the waiter/cook from behind the table, at a little window, takes your paper that you circled on and ticket from the machine and gets your order ready. You are given a paper back which you use if you wish to order more items as you eat. Soon enough, they bring out your order and you can enjoy your meal!

If you do wish to order more food, circle what you want on the paper, have the correct amount of Yen already on the counter, press the little square button near the window on your table, place the paper and money there, and wait. The waiter/cook will then make sure they get your order right and the right amount of money was given to them. After that, you just wait until your extra order arrives as you confinue to eat. They are pretty fast with maybe 1 - 3 minutes between you pressing the button and receiving your food.

Also, the faucet on the left is water. The cups for water are above you on the left. I love restautants in Japan because you don't have to wait on someone to bring you more water and you don't...

Even though I had already visited Ichiran once before, I found myself craving that bold, creamy tonkotsu flavor again — so I decided to try a different location in Shibuya. This time, I went to the branch near Center Gai, and honestly? It was just as good as the first, maybe even better in a few ways.

One thing I love about Ichiran is how consistent they are. Everything from the entrance, the vending machine, the quiet booths, even the smell of the broth in the air — it all hits you the moment you walk in. But despite the uniform system, each visit still feels like a personal experience because of how customizable the ramen is.

This time, I changed up my order a bit: I went for extra garlic, firm noodles, medium richness, and level 5 spice. The result? Absolute perfection. The broth had this deep, savory punch from the garlic, and the spice added a fiery balance without drowning out the pork flavor. It’s one of those bowls that makes you stop halfway through and say to yourself, “I’m definitely getting kaedama.”

I also tried the matcha almond pudding for dessert — something I’d skipped the first time — and I actually really liked it. It’s light and just a little bitter, which pairs nicely after a heavy bowl of ramen. A nice surprise.

One thing that stood out about this particular branch was how smoothly they handled the queue. Even though there was a decent line (I came around 8:30 p.m.), it moved quickly. Staff were super efficient, and I was seated in less than 15 minutes. They also had English forms and staff who gave simple, polite directions without making anyone feel awkward — which I really appreciated.

Another detail I noticed: this location had a slightly roomier booth layout compared to the first one I visited. Still cozy and private, but with a little more breathing room. A small difference, but it made the meal feel more relaxed.

To be honest, Ichiran isn’t just a “first-time tourist” stop — it’s somewhere I could easily go again and again. The food is excellent, the experience is unique, and even with multiple locations, they’ve maintained the quality across the board. That’s not easy.

If you're wandering through Shibuya and craving ramen, don't hesitate — Ichiran is worth it every single time. Whether it's your first bowl or your fifth, it delivers that same comforting, umami-rich punch that just...

台灣人不要來吃這間 一直被員工當成中國人對待 自己犯錯沒有收到任何道歉 反而被處處刁難

Around 9:30 PM today, I visited the Ichiran Ramen Spain-zaka branch in Shibuya. I ordered a bowl of ramen, four slices of chashu, and a half portion of noodles. The staff handed me a ticket for the half portion.

After finishing my meal, I thought the half portion had already been included in the ramen, so I ordered an extra full portion (210 yen) and gave the staff 1,010 yen, expecting 800 yen in change.

Later, the staff came and said, “We haven’t given you the half portion yet.” So I replied, “Then I don’t need the full portion, just give me the half portion.” He said, “Okay.”

However, they ended up bringing both the half and full portions. I repeated that I only wanted the half portion and didn’t need the full one. They took the full portion away, but I never got my 800 yen change back.

After waiting for a while and no one came, I pressed the call button.

Another staff member came, but he only spoke English. I tried to explain the situation using the VoiceTra translation app, but he rudely told me to use Google Translate instead. Then he handed me a smartphone with Chinese pinyin input and told me to type using that.

I said, “I’m not Chinese, I’m Taiwanese. I don’t use pinyin.” But he replied in a harsh tone, “Just type it, it doesn’t matter.” It was extremely uncomfortable and disrespectful.

Even though I explained multiple times that I’m Taiwanese, he ignored that and kept insisting I use pinyin, which was very offensive.

Eventually, the first staff member came back and refunded my money, but never apologized.

The issue started because he was training a new staff member while handling my order, and failed to give the correct change.

I remained calm throughout the situation, but the second staff member’s attitude made me feel like I was the one at fault.

At other ramen shops in Japan, I’ve had no problems using VoiceTra to communicate. Only this location treated me so poorly.

It was truly a terrible experience. This kind of service is an embarrassment to Japan. I say this as a customer from Taiwan who has always respected Japanese...