Ramen Jiro Meguro — Restaurant in Tokyo

To the owner: Please write down the restaurant rules on a sign or poster, so that new visitors understand the expectations.

Biggest advice to customers: Definitely read about the service system before you go! And eat quickly. Seriously.

I really enjoyed the taste of the ramen! Especially the softness of the pork, and the large amount of vegetables.

Unfortunately, the service was so disappointing, I would give 0 stars... My friend and I were yelled at very rudely for talking while eating. Of course, it was very quiet inside and there was a long line of people waiting to get in, so I agree that we deserved a warning for not reading the atmosphere well. However, there's a difference between informing someone of a bad manner, and shouting at them in front of the whole restaurant.

Afterwards, I guess I was still eating too slow, because the owner told me to move to a different seat on the other side of the counter. He took my ramen bowl and told me 走って, meaning to "run" (even though I was already in motion and getting my things)...I moved seats and left soon after.

I said ご馳走様でした (thank you for the meal) before I left, and the owner ignored me... His attitude was quite unpleasant, and I'm shocked this is the "jirou culture"...

I think they would avoid such incidents if they wrote down all the unsaid rules on a signboard outside. Relying on people to know the culture ahead of time is a bit unfair to those who are new to the restaurant.

I researched afterwards, and apparently there's this whole system where they prepare a certain number of bowls for the next batch of customers while the current ones are eating, so you need to eat very quickly, and that's why my seat got moved unexpectedly. Anyway, to avoid such troubles, I would recommend at least reading about the service system before you go in order to understand the expectations.

One nice thing, though, is that when I asked if there was fish in the soup (I'm allergic), he answered...

People comes to this ramen to: 1 .- eat delicious ramen 2.- to SHOUTED by the owner (but is part of the experience)

Long story short, I saw there was a line of 5, so I bought a ticket (usually there's line of 40 or more). I followed the Japanese people just put myself in the line. Suddenly out of nowhere the owner started to Shout out loud and japanese people get panic, I just followed and we end in a corner making the line. Again suddenly the owner started to shout again and people from the line told me YOU ENTER, I said you first and everyone started to said NO NO YOU YOU, I was "why me 😳" so I just enter confused got my Ramen and I saw everyone eating fast to I better do the same and thought about a photo but because I was not sure about the context I preferred not to take a picture. Everyone there even though they got SCOLDED by the owner still give thanks and respect manners and the owner said as well thanks,the owner is an old person. I said as well Thanks for the food (Gochisousama) and I got a nice Arigatou Gosaimashita.

So I thought probably the second time the owner shouted he still wanted to kinda be nice by letting me enter first 🤔, at least is what I prefer to think.

My conclusion: there's places where you pay to be scolded or shouted,in Mexico there are several places that are viral because the owners are just like that, always angry but is part of the experience and people keeps going.

Here you see a line everyday around 40 people at least and probably since Japan has so many places were you're treated like a king this place just makes things different and perhaps people likes to experience that.

Ahh the ramen just delicious by the way.

So those people giving 1 star review I think they should think twice...

A must try ramen shop. I actively search for delicious and unique ramen. This place hits both categories. Their pork broth is strong and tasty. 🤤

Their portion sizes are huge, be weary of the large (大らめん). Even if your starving, be prepared for an uncomfortably full belly if you get the large size. 😆

Some tips: Bring a (bottled) drink and napkin with you. It’s a small shop and it’s just easier to have a drink ready to go. I didn’t see any napkins in there when I went either.

Questions and phrases: They will ask you if you want garlic (ninniku-wa?/にんにくは？) right before serving your bowl. This is how they ask for your specialized order. They might also just ask what you want by saying; “the person who order the small ramen” (in Japanese).

My recommendation for your first time is to just say futsu (ふつう), for a regular order. They will give you their recommended bowl of ramen 👍🏽

OR, you can also ask for additional customization for your vegetables, pork fat, etc.

Essentially, you can add extra or less of any toppings. To ask for more you say “[the topping] mashi (まし)”. For example 野菜まし(yasai-mashi) for extra vegetables. Or mashi mashi (ましまし) for extra-extra.

The topping choices are: Vegetables (yasai) (野菜) Garlic (ninniku) (ニンニク) Pork fat (abura) (脂) Spice (karame) (辛め)

If you want extra of everything, you can say zen-mashi...