Kaminari Tōkyō Honmaru Tōkyō Station — Restaurant in Tokyo

東京駅の構内で早朝から営業しており、しかも平日休日問わず長蛇の列が出来ない日は無いと言っても過言では無い程の人気を誇るラーメン店です。時間帯によっては30分以上待たされることがあります。カウンター席が10席のみという小さな店ですが、友人同士などの複数人で利用しても互いに喋りながら食事をするのは滅多に見られず（ほとんどの客は単身者であることもありますが）、そのため客の回転はそれ程悪くはありません。 入店にしても列に並ぶにしても、必ず券売機で食券を購入しなければなりません。券売機は現金の他電子マネーも利用できます。給仕されるラーメンは、基本的にスープ有りかスープ無しかのどちらかであり、スープ無しの場合は生卵が無料で付きます。さらにチャーシューや味玉等のトッピングも自由に選ぶことが出来ます。 麺は太めの縮れ麺で、少し硬めに感じました（もしかしたら子供では充分に咀嚼できない可能性があります）。麺を始めトッピングの盛り付けはとにかく豪快。スープが有るラーメンにトッピングされたチャーシューの大きさには特に目を見張るでしょう。なるべく多くの客に食べてもらいたいからか、見た目はそれ程こだわっていないように思います。麺及びトッピング（チャーシュー含む）の味はそれ程特徴的なものはありませんが、スープはクセになる美味しさでした。少し辛みがあるものの決して強い刺激というわけではなく、コクもあり麺にもよく絡み合っていました。 硬めの縮れ麺であるため、箸で麺を掬い上げる際に必ずと言っていい程スープが飛び散ります。入店の際、紙エプロンが必ず渡されるので着用した方がいいです。多くの客になるべく早く食べてもらいたい、というレストランの運営方針なのかもしれませんが、テーブル・食器類は少し洗浄が充分ではなく、ベトベトする感触を覚えました。

Open early in the morning in Tokyo Station, this ramen restaurant is so popular that it's no exaggeration to say that there is never a day when there is not a long line of people waiting in line, regardless of whether it is a weekday or a holiday. Depending on the time of day, you may have to wait 30 minutes or more. It's a small restaurant with only 10 counter seats, but even if you visit with friends, it's rare to see people talking and eating together (although most of the customers are singles), so the customer turnover is not that bad. Whether entering the restaurant or waiting in line, you must always purchase a meal ticket from a ticket vending machine. The ticket machine accepts cash and electronic money. Basically, the ramen served is either with or without soup, and a raw egg is included free of charge in case of without soup. If the ramen is served without soup, a raw egg is added free of charge, and toppings such as chashu pork and ajitama (seasoned eggs) can also be selected freely. The noodles are thick, shredded rice noodles, and seem a bit hard (possibly not chewable enough for a child). The toppings, including the noodles, are very boldly arranged. The size of the chashu pork topping on the soupy ramen noodles is particularly remarkable. Perhaps because they want as many customers as possible to eat their ramen, they are not so particular about the appearance of their ramen. The noodles and toppings (including the chashu pork) are not very distinctive, but the soup is addictive and delicious. It was a little spicy, but not too spicy, and it was rich and went well with the noodles. The noodles were hard and frizzy, so when you scooped them up with chopsticks, the soup was sure to splatter. When you enter the restaurant, you are given a paper apron, which you should wear. Perhaps it's the restaurant's management policy to serve as many customers as possible as quickly as possible, but the tables and dishes were not washed well enough and felt...

I always see a line outside this 11-seater ramen shop. It makes me want to know what the fuss is all about.

One afternoon when I saw only four customers inside, I hurriedly bought a ticket from the vending machine and sat with a smile of achievement under my mask. I could finally satisfy my curiosity.

The ramen was definitely different. But I didn’t know if I liked it all the way. It was delicious but it somehow felt like I was eating a bowl that was part ramen and part tsukemen.

I ordered the regular size (並 - 250 grams) and it was filling. I should’ve said no to the spoonful of freshly crushed garlic because I couldn’t rid of the smell of garlic in my mouth that lasted...

The best bowl of ramen of my life! Big fan of the delicious, thick handmade noodles and incredibly flavorful yet simple and meaty broth. The pork is also delicious, flavorful and tender. Lots of ways to customize your bowl. If you like garlic, they ask if you want garlic and they will add a LOT. Even the small portion was plenty and filling. Lots of sprouts that add a nice balance to the rich broth. Very friendly and efficient service. Buy your ticket at the kiosk inside the restaurant first, then get in line. Waited about 20 mins as advertised when we asked...