Ramen Tanaka Shoten — Restaurant in Tokyo

Ramen Tanaka Shoten is a traditional Hakata Ramen place sort of off the beaten track in Adachi ward. While the company that owns this shop has other noodle places in more central locations in Tokyo, Tanaka Shoten is in a rather obscure residential neighborhood far from any train station and is only their tonkotsu ramen specialty restaurant. One can certainly smell the shop before one arrives at the door as the strong smell of cooking pork and bones permeates the air on the street. Despite its rather remote location, this is a popular restaurant and there was a pretty long line when we arrived a little before 8pm on a Japanese holiday evening. Despite the long line, we didn’t wait more than 30 minutes before we got a seat, and the atmosphere is very “Ramen” shop (the line grew exponentially however as we waited). To add to the rather “gruff” appearance of the restaurant and staff, the AC was broken so it compounded the smell of the pork and was almost unbearably hot. Despite this, we stayed as the suspense had built up, and we had to try this ramen. The pork is perfectly cooked, and the ramen broth is a very strong and hearty tonkotsu broth. Their signature bowl is chashu with negi on top, we opted to have two eggs added to each of our bowls, and ordered and extra side of chashu with negi which ended up being too much food. The menu is simple, there is no alcohol, and aside from extra chashu, rice, and adding eggs, there are no appetizers (gyoza etc). It is a traditionally pure tonkotsu ramen. Hopefully the location will keep away the tourist hoards, but either way this place is already popular with locals so if you decide to make the trek, be sure to get their early or expect to wait. Definitely one of the best Hakata Tonkotsu...

Without question the tastiest tonkotsu outside fukuoka.

I have been to Japan 4 times in 6 years always spend over 1 month & always my first bowl of ramen is here in Tanaka when I land and get sorted in hotel.

The broth is beyond creamy and delicious, It packs so much flavor it needs nothing added to it such as white pepper or chilli oil. ( but if like me add some half way though )

Noodles are nice and fine so they oborsb the broth exceedingly well. And excellent decision to have small instead of thick noodles.

The flavor is just so creamy and silky smooth. This is ideal for when the cold winter months hit and you crave ramen and would like something to warm you up and fill you belly.

I would recommend the spice mince they also sell ( turns your ramen into like a spicy miso ) recommend it - 200¥

Please look no where else but Tanaka shoten.

10/10 ramen 🍜

10/10 service

10/10 - my personal favorite...

tonkotsu ramen done well

the soup is rich and has great body, the toppings are generous, and the many condiments available at the table are yummy

But!! it's not a very exciting flavour. by that i mean the soup is very one-note: plainly seasoned and rather flat. there's not much in terms of aromatics or additional flavorings — pork is what you asked for and all that you'll get

the floors are greasy and the entrance smells extremely porky, but that adds to the charm imo

servers are brusque and kinda hard to understand, but you'd be a fool for going to a ramen shop for the service

tanaka shoten does tonkotsu ramen, and it accomplishes it well. the flavour is good, but the problem is you only get one flavour, so check out the condiments for an ajihen. i'm happy to have had the ramen here, but maybe it's just not the ramen for me and i don't see...