Ichiran Shimokitazawa — Restaurant in Tokyo

I really liked this experience when I came to Ichiran. It's a little hard to wrap your head around if you don't have anyone to show you, but you order your Ramen from a vending machine in the entrance and it gives you a ticket. You then look at this board of lights for a section to turn blue to take your seat. and you are given a slip to customize your ramen on. If you don't read Japanese just say "Eigo onegai shimasui" and they will bring you a slip in English.

This whole experience is through a little window and you do not have to make eye contact or talk extensively with anyone. If you order extra noodles from the vending machine, you just put the extra noodle plate on the sensors and someone will come and refill your noodles. Don't drink all of the broth even though it's really good or else you won't have enough for your noodle refill! If you're a ramen buff, the broth is pork-based and is super hearty and salty. It's one of my favorite broths and Ichiran is one of my favorite places for ramen.

I wouldn't bring a large group here as if you want to sit together it may be a long wait. for booths near each other to become available. I would say 2-3 people is an alright wait, when we came back with 4, it was kind of an ordeal to get seats together.

If you're by yourself, I recommend this place as well as you can isolate yourself from everyone and you barely need to communicate...

It’s nice to experience to have once and is convenient and affordable. It’s a good ramen spot for solo travelers since the lure is the individual seating, limited interaction and English menus. As for someone who lives here, it’s more or less a quick bite to eat with no or low wait times and affordable.

The broth was just ok and I ordered the recommended garlic strength at medium and I thought it was too overpowering. And I love garlic! The spicy sauce was a needed addition because for me, the broth didn’t have a lot of depth.

You can customize pretty much everything with your bowl but it’s all the same, it’s just the strength level and firmness of the noodles you can adjust. You will fill out your preferences on a...

Love Ichiran ramen, especially when the wait isn’t long. We came here on a Sunday evening and waited only 10 minutes. You get seated at the bar and can customize the ramen to your liking. I order mine light broth, medium texture noodles, no green onion and I add the soft boil egg and slice of pork. My husband ordered the spicy version, which isn’t spicy so I’d recommend going higher if you want more of a kick. They also sell beers and nothing else but ramen. The food is good and service is quick, it’s a type of “in and out” place but satisfying.

You buy your ticket at the machine and then wait to be seated. It’s a pretty efficient system and there’s limited interaction with the staff and sometimes...