Ippudo - Takadanobaba — Restaurant in Tokyo

Let me start with the good things: the soup and the wooden tables.

Now to the bad. My egg was nearly hard-boiled, the pricing is relatively terrible to other noodle places in the Waseda area, the noodles were mediocre, the portions were deceptively tiny, and the number of times I've been told by peers how "great" this place was makes me want to face palm just at the thought.

The chashu was sort of like that of Ichran's, same with the noodles (being thin and stuff).

There are better places than this place, and the differences are even greater if you look at their prices. Some suggestions are "Gakkai" for abura soba and "Budouka" for ramen (&...

This place is quite popular, so expect to wait a bit in line during busy times. They have an outdoor heater in the winter to keep you warm while you wait, which is nice. Service is fast, so the line moves quickly.

Lunch time deals let you get ramen, gyoza, and rice for 850, supper time is a bit more pricey 1000~1500 for a ramen set per person. Additional toppings extra. but there are lots of "free" toppings at the table, like fresh garlic and various pickles.

The broth is milky and has a rich, deep flavour. The noodles are thin and good hardness. You can choose different levels of hardness if you want. I like the "red" ramen, but everything here is...

I loved the 2 times I ate here. It is part of a chain, but certainly is not like a western restaurant chain. It certainly helps to have someone who speaks the language with you, as I did, flavorsome food, amazing service, and on my future trips it will be a regular place for me. Not quite a 'hole in the wall' or 'street food' but an authentic Japanese dining experience. The wheat tea was very welcome as I was there in the hottest part of the year. and beer is the best drink I found when it was...