ICHIRAN Shibuya

Look, I understand it's "super touristy" and the "McDonalds of Ramen" but I don't care! This place absolutely slaps and is a great experience everyone should try once, especially after a long night in Shibuya or Shinjuku. People always ask why it's so busy, there's so many better places. Sure even in the area I had better Ramen however the experience this place offers is unmatched.

Have a QR Code reader ready another you can know your place before being seated to a 22 seat restaurant. We had to wait for over 2 hours during the mid evening at a 24 hour spot. You order via a machine and pay from the machine. You select your noodles and broth from a server before being seated. Once seated there is a water dispenser and the napkins are locked above and behind your seat. It's pretty much isolated from the rest of the others. You just sit and eat and go.

Needed to eat one last decent ramen after eating at the Halal Wagyu place last night 🫩 Arrived at 12:43 PM only to be greeted by a 60 minute wait time. Contemplated settling for less but the reviews convinced us to stick it out. Shout out to the server in the photo for controlling the line. She’s super kind and was vigilant with two groups that tried to wait on the side and cut the line. Ichiran is very efficient with the queue, ordering and eating system. Our original 60 minutes estimated wait time was only 27 minutes. The ramen is amazing and honestly the best in all of Shibuya. Highly recommend this to anyone in the area looking for delicious ramen.

A famous ramen spot that’s definitely worth a try—the tonkotsu soup is rich, thick, and full of flavor. The solo booth style dining makes it a unique experience, too. But be warned: the queue is very long, so it’s best to eat a little snack beforehand while you wait. Once you’re inside, though, it’s absolutely satisfying and lives up to the hype!

I'm from Toronto and their are a lot of places with Ramen but this place blew me away. The hospitality and taste were extraordinary. I really appreciate the gentleman who I met. The broth was so delicious and I was very happy I stumbled upon this place. Originally I just came to see the Shibuya crossing which was disappointing, but stumbling onto this place blew me away. Best Ramen of my life.

They'll take your order using a QR code and call you to the restaurant when it's your turn. You place your order at the vending machine, mark the ingredients on the order slip, and receive your meal. It's a delicious and filling meal, including pork, broth, and eggs. It's quite good and worth returning for.

If you're keen to sample the famous ramen, you'll find it reasonably priced and definitely worth a try. The wait time is relatively short, but keep in mind that there are other ramen spots that might provide a more enjoyable experience than this one.

Taste is very good, maybe it is because I'm a tourist or the fact that we were searching for food at 10 pm. All the other stores were closed so we went to ichiran and IT WAS SOO GOOD. And we don't even have to see the waiter. It was very private.

Best. Ramen. Ever. Granted this was the first ramen I had in Japan... but I have never had ramen like this before. We were in the area and saw a line of folks trying to secure a ticket from a gentleman standing outside. We thought why not.. 15 minute wait and they would call us when ready to stand in line. The experience did not disappoint. Once you are allowed up the stairs, you pay at the vending machine. Get the large bowl with all the fixins. You wont regret it. It's small and cramped.. and just very humble in the space you get. Our family of 4 had to split into 2 and 2.. so mama and 1 kiddo got to share a little space together.. sitting across the prep way with visuals on papa with the other kiddo. We could barely fit out backpack in between our legs next to the other folks dining in the next stall over (literally smaller than a bathroom stall space). But this bowl of noodle with broth so gentle and so rich.. will change your life. Everything was deliciously prepared.. the soup just the right amount of salty. the egg.. the pork.. the mushrooms.. all carefully crafted. If we come back again, I will absolutely hunt this location down to stand in line and eat ramen again. even the kiddos said: "Best bowl of noodles ever. This is Japan!"

During my Japan trip, I think I visited this Ichiran ramen shop like a total of 4-5 times LOL. It's open late and super convenient. If you go later at night (after drinking/clubbing) you can avoid the long wait time! Also, I loved the seating arrangement, it allows you to be full introvert and dine by yourself, or you can (ask for help) to take down the borders so you can eat and chat with your friends/other diners. * Tonkatsu Ramen - 5/5 stars. You can customize your bowl to your preference for toppings, noodle texture, broth flavor/richness, or spiciness. I opted for spicy, firm noodles and more richness and I enjoyed it a lot.

Wow, the hype is really real. I went during July -- very humid -- but that didn't stop me from stopping in for the viral ramen. It really is so delicious and worth the wait. If you're in a party of more than 2, expect to not be seated together, but know that it doesn't take away from the experience. You're able to tailor your ramen to how you want it. If you want the broth rich, noodles medium, extra egg, extra onions? You got it! There was a little wait but, it's perfection in every sense of the word!

I've had Ichiran during my visits to New York but never in Japan so I had to check it out. There are multiple locations throughout Japan and this location open 24/7 near the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Note that the prices are a little higher from 10pm-6am. You order and pay at the vending machine and get a ticket with your order. Then you wait in line until there are open seats for your party. While you wait you get a slip from the worker to specify your ramen bowl preferences such as spice level, noodle doneness, green onions, chashu, garlic, and broth richness. It's cool that you can actually see the tables and the statuses of each seat on the wall. They only have a tonkotsu broth option but they have a couple different add-ons. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with egg and extra slices of chashu and the broth was so creamy and flavorful. The chashu was so tender with no dry parts. It was not too fatty but just enough. Out of all the ramen I had on our trip Ichiran was definitely our favorite. We even got some of their packaged ramen which is available at stores all over Japan. The unique thing about Ichiran is that the seats are single stalls. You can go by yourself and you don't need to talk to anyone if you don't want to. You give the slip and ticket to the worker, they bring it to you, then close the blinds so you can eat in peace. Then when you're done, you just leave with delicious ramen in your stomach.

Ichiran is such a staple in Tokyo and this store in Shibuya may be one of the busiest. The day I visited they had a qr code mobile waitlist to join and we waited about 20 min before we could join the physical line. All in all, we waited about 40 min around lunchtime before we got seated. Ordering is easy via kiosk (cash only) and then you mark what you want on a paper menu (you can choose noodle thickness, level of salt, etc.). The true star of an Ichiran bowl of ramen is the broth which is super rich with a great pork flavor and the noodle texture is perfect to complement the broth and chashu. It always hits the spot and is a go-to whenever I'm in Japan. There are individual private stalls to sit at so even if you go with a group, you'll be eating by yourself and people rarely speak. This does help the tables turn over faster as ramen is meant to be eaten quickly.

Delicious ramen no matter what time! Our stomachs were still in California time so we visited at 4am with all the drunken youths. Is nice they do have some English translation for tourists like us. Individual booths for each patron. Such an efficient eating experience! Order food from a kiosk, then they seat you or your group when spots open. Will definitely visit again!

Phenomenal ramen, creamy soup base, just right spice, firmness of the noodle, egg is perfectly cooked. Love that we just order from the machine, if we want more meat, we can pay more for it at the machine. There was a worker next to the machine in case someone had any questions; however, there's pictures so it's pretty easy to navigate. After you fill in what you like on the piece of paper, the food comes fairly quick. Definitely recommend if you are looking for some delicious reman.

MY FAVORITE RAMEN EVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrRrRrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrRrRrRRRRrrrrrrrrr!!!! This is a death bed meal for me. In Japan 10 days and had this 3 times. Would've had it 5 more times if my friends had been agreeable. Obsessed is an understatement. I'm salivating just thinking about it right now. FUCK. If there is a wait it's worth it. WAIT FOR THE RAMEN Get an extra egg, extra rich, extra strong, medium-strong spice, and FIRM noodles. Boofable.

Ichiran is a ramen chain and it is delicious. The one in Shibuya is understandably busy, but you can put your name in and walk around Shibuya while you wait. There's plenty to see in the area! We had to wait an hour, but we arrived back at the restaurant at the time indicated and made it in. You order all your food from a touch screen and it prints out food tickets. Once you sit down you just slide your ticket in the cubby and the server will quickly prep and serve your food. Despite being a chain, the ramen and broth are spectacular, better than anything I've had in the US. You can get a noodle refill easily! I also had to try the green tea pudding for dessert, and it was delicious and photogenic. I've been to Ichiran twice and would definitely recommend it anytime visiting Japan.

I am so glad I chose to come here for my first ramen experience in Tokyo despite the long wait. I randomly Yelped this place when I was around the area and it had promising reviews so I got a taxi here on a whim. When I got there the employee outside told me it would be about 1.5 hr wait, so I decided to check-in and received a wait number. Once it got closer to my time, I came back and found out they stopped taking in check-ins so thank goodness I came when I did! My friend and I got inside and there was another small line to get seated. Prior to being seated, there was a machine to take your order where you are able to customize your ramen with how you want your broth and noodles. I also ordered matcha almond pudding for dessert. There are individual private stalls where the chef brings out your bowl and close the curtain. What an introvert's dream!! There are also these little wooden signs that you can leave behind or give to the chef written in English in case there's a language barrier. I appreciate all the details and thought put forth in this. The ramen was amazing!! Noodle texture and thickness was perfect, and I loved the creaminess of the broth. Highly recommend and trust it's worth the wait!

Been to a few Ichiran in Osaka, Tokyo, and back home in Brooklyn, and while I think their ramen is superb, I always wonder if it's worth the perennial 90min wait. Ichiran has 3 rows of 11 individual stalls underground, meaning it serves 33 people at once. Try to refrain from talking or making too much noise; ramen is meant to be eaten quickly and quietly by busy salarymen who want to eat in peace. It's why you get your own booth, shade, and 4 different tablets to indicate a common statement or question (one of which is "it's too noisy") to your server without needing to talk to them. I'm saying this because we had a family with an endlessly screaming baby and a child who wouldn't stop talking in our stall row. Anyway, highly recommend the base tonkotsu bowl with matcha pudding. Prices are very fair and it's a unique experience to eat in your own stall.

I think Ichiran will be better than any ramen you can find at least in the United States, but falls short of the other local, cash only joints with the old school vending machines out front. This location in Shibuya is open 24 hours and I was surprised to find that there was no wait on a Saturday morning around 11 AM. They've got the signature booths so you can eat without talking to anyone, but as this location likely caters a bit more towards tourists so they've got plenty of English on everything as well as collapsible walls between booths if you would like to share a bowl / converse with your friends. I tried the classic Tonkotsu and while I quite enjoyed the super fatty, savory broth, I was pretty unimpressed by their char siu. We got some extra on the side that was ice cold and a bit tough. I personally love a chewy noodle with some bounce, so I opted for the firm noodles, but the texture was equivalent to the standard noodle elsewhere; aka I'd recommend leveling up whatever your preferred noodle texture.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Ichiran is not overhyped! This was one of the best bowls of ramen I had in Tokyo, everything is customized to your taste, and the overall interaction with staff is limited but they are very willing to assist. The Shibuya location has a significantly longer wait than other locations. I waited 70 minutes but they allow you to join a virtual waitlist and come back with your spot is open. There is a PARCO mall close by that can help you kill the time!

Ok, great place to start if you're coming to Japan for the first time. Come in, order and take your ticket and sit down. Give them your ticket and they take care of the rest. We landed super late and got to our hotel late at night. Thankfully this place is open 24/7. My jet lag was destroying me and I couldn't go to bed. So we came here to try it. No line probably cause it was late and it was raining. I definitely would get the egg and side meat. So good!

My experience here was awesome! Ordered large bowl of ramen and a tea and couldn't have been more satisfied. Service was great! Ambiance was quiet and relaxing. An introvert's paradise. Wait time was 40 mins which was a little long but worth it. Definitely would go back.

Food: 4.2/5 - My favourite ramen in all of Japan! A cool 24 hour spot with a very unique vibe and flavours of ramen. First, keep in mind that I'm not a ramen guy. I like it but don't love it. However, while I was here this was my favourite ramen for sure, I went multiple times. I tried the medium and hard noodles.... Everything was good, nothing significantly better than the other... really just depends on the toppings you like in your ramen! Service: 5/5 - of course always efficient and friendly for Japan! English menus as well :) Ambiance: 5/5 Really cool unique self booth style; you order at a machine and fill out the options you want, then you get seated into an individual booth, kind of like the one you seen in an anime!

Ichiran is a ramen chain and it is delicious. The one in Shibuya is understandably busy, but you can put your name in and walk around Shibuya while you wait. There's plenty to see in the area! We had to wait an hour, but we arrived back at the restaurant at the time indicated and made it in. I am so glad I chose to come here for my first ramen experience in Tokyo despite the long wait. I randomly Yelped this place when I was around the area and it had promising reviews so I got a taxi here on a whim. When I got there the employee outside told me it would be about 1.5 hr wait, so I decided to check-in and received a wait number. Once it got closer to my time, I came back and found out they stopped taking in check-ins so thank goodness I came when I did! My friend and I got inside and there was another small line to get seated. Prior to being seated, there was a machine to take your order where you are able to customize your ramen with how you want your broth and noodles. I also ordered matcha almond pudding for dessert. There are individual private stalls where the chef brings out your bowl and close the curtain. What an introvert's dream!! There are also these little wooden signs that you can leave behind or give to the chef written in English in case there's a language barrier. I appreciate all the details and thought put forth in this. The ramen was amazing!! Noodle texture and thickness was perfect, and I loved the creaminess of the broth. Highly recommend and trust it's worth the wait! and i loved the ambiance.

This is my husband's favorite Ramen spot in Shibuya and I agree that it's got some good ramen. There's usually a line - someone says when there's a line that's a good sign - and I've found the wait times to be pretty accurate. You wait upstairs, then wait a little when you get downstairs, then order at a vending machine type thing - there's various customizations on pork Ramen - then wait a little more after you order to be seated. Then maybe a little longer after you're seated. But once you get that steaming bowl of well seasoned Ramen, you'll (probably) forget all that waiting as you begin to experience a delicious, well seasoned, piping hot bowl. Everything is custo.izable, from the texture of the noodles to how much garlic you get and the spice level. I'm a medium everything, but discovered I prefer my noodles soft. Now, I'm a broth person, that's my favorite thing about Ramen. My husband is all about the noodles. Both of us leave satisfied when we're finished eating at Ichiran.

Worth every minute of the 30 minute wait. They do one thing here and they do it perfectly. Best tonkatsu ramen ever

Sorry, I didn't like this ramen very much at all. It was kind of sweet which I don't like. The atmosphere was unique. And the servers were great. The door people were especially friendly. I understand this is a popular place, but it wasn't my kind of ramen. The wait was very long outside and inside, even! Despite all that, it was my first meal in Japan and it was a fun experience. But I didn't like the food.

Such a fun experience at Ichiran in Tokyo! You order from a vending machine when you walk in, and then get seated in your own little booth. The ramen is served through a small window, so it's all about the food and your own space. Definitely a cool spot to check out if you're a ramen fan! There are a couple spots around Tokyo.

JUST AMAZING! When in Japan, you must MUST try Ichiran. I mean to get to experience this in real life other than watching someone on youtube experience is another lever of happiness. There is really nothing to compare how good ramen in Japan is. I was so blown away.

Found ourselves in Shabuya recently and we were all hungry. A friend had it on his bucket list to try this ramen place. This place is in the heart of Shabuya so there's going to be a wait for sure. Anyway, not the longest wait (we waited extra because the three of us wanted to sit next to each other). You order your food while you're still in line and then give the ticket to the chef - a tiny window opens up in front of you when you sit down. They take the ticket and disappear and a while later the little window (actually some bamboo blinds) opens up and your stuff appears magically. Just a great meal. Quality ramen and accessories. We will be back.

This was the first ramen place I went to in Japan. IT WAS SO DELICIOUS! The line was really long so if you want to eat here, I would recommend making time in case you have to wait a long time. They prepared the ramen really fast and the soup was so delicious! I ordered an egg with my ramen, which made a big difference :) The experience was really cool too because I ate by myself in a little booth that was sectioned off from everyone else. This allowed me to focus on my food and really enjoy it. Would recommend!

Our first meal in Tokyo and decided to get...RAMEN! I found this place on Yelp. At the time I didn't know it was a chain but regardless, the place delivered all our needs. I don't remember the name of my order but it was ramen. Not sure what broth I got but it was all delicious. The noodles were perfect! The broth was savory. The staff was great. When you enter, you order from the kiosk and give you number to the staff when you sit down. You get your own person space when eating but it also has an area where you can slide the wall down. You can place your order on the paper which is customizable. I'd come again! We had a great meal here.

staff is very friendly and wait time is very quick. this place is very very hyped up and for good reason. so simple yet so yummy and honestly was some of our favorite ramen in japan. love that the ramen is fully customizable and is a great price.

I'm too fond of Ramen but since I was in Japan I had to try it ! Plus my daughter loves it !

I do not understand why this place has a line, if you are in Japan there are literally 1000s of different mom and pop shops. Do not wait for a chain. You can come here at late nights, that's when I would go. Unique dining style for introverts. It's alright, typical tonkotsu broth. Thin noodles. Not worth the wait.

Good ramen, best out of two places we tried while in Tokyo. Service is simple and it is a ticket system. Order what you want via a kiosk and when your turn comes they take your ticket and provide you a simple space to sit in. No tables that I saw but may be available for a larger group? Line could be long but things do move along.

Small restaurant with individual seating. You can adjust the ramen to your liking. I liked the broth and noodles, really all of it. The service was very quick too. I would definitely come back.

My husband and I stopped by Ichiran Ramen around 11am on a Tuesday, and the place already had a 50 minute queue out the door. The wait actually seemed quicker than that, and we really waited around 30 minutes to get seated. Prior to our trip to Japan, Ichiran Ramen constantly showed up as a place to try. We wanted the whole experience of ordering our ramen through a machine, communicating with our servers through a slotted screen window, and eating in an individually partitioned seat. Additionally, I was interested in customizing my ramen, which you get to do once seated. I'm not a pork eater, so this was one of the few ramen places where I could ask without chashu slices. I got a classic Ichiran ramen without chashu. Funny thing was that I did end up getting 2 slices of chashu, which I just passed along to my husband. Other than that minor slip up, I thought the ramen was great especially for a chain.

Looove Ichiran! The noodles are thin and the broth is delicious. Totally a Japan specialty and it's quick too. Sometimes the line is long.. but totally worth it. Fair warning the stairs are steep but do-able. Love that you have your own individual spot and especially the personal water station dispenser at your seat.. whaaat? So good. If you forget to get something when you first get your ticket order, you can add things at your booth/seat. Such an overall cool experience. Walking distance from shibuya crossing. Totally worth it.

Overrated, all hype. Waited an hour to order and eat. I had better ramen at ippudo unfortunately. I was hungover as shit and needed something to bring me back to life, this wasn't it yall, i left feeling nauseated and had to get back to my flat. Maybe i had to make changes on the ingredients. I did medium on everything and the broth wasn't slapping at all, i need my soup piping hot not no lukewarm shit. Cmon now

Came to the Ichiran Shibuya's shop on our first night in Japan/Tokyo because we knew it was open 24 hours. Even at ~8/9pm, there was a bit of a wait as the line was up the stairs partially, but moved quickly. Order first from a kiosk that now has "English" language option and can pay by credit card! Then you fill out the form for customizing your ramen order and wait for the server to ask how many are your party and seat you at the individual booth style stools and window seats. I actually enjoyed Ichiran more this time than my first time in Osaka Dotonbori area years ago. The broth wasn't as salty this time, it was perfect - creamy tonkotsu broth, ramen cooked perfectly. The experience here makes it so that you're in-and-out rather quickly with little interaction with servers & staff. They have individual water pumps at each seat and even little placards you can put if you think it's too noisy, etc. (which my husband and I found rather amusing). Really can't go wrong with Ichiran Ramen, especially if you love Tonkotsu (pork bone broth) Ramen!

Icihiran is the go to for ramen. It's just a solid broth and great chewy noodles. You'll see a line but it always moves relatively fast. What's great is they are very accommodating to the solo traveler. You also order from a vending machine of what you want. They have ramen cubbies very limited interaction with wait staff. They have translated cards you can share to communicate if you don't speak Japanese. But the ramen is so solid. Clean broth and very filling.

Every time I visit Japan, I make sure to stop by this place. The ramen is absolutely amazing, the service is quick, and the staff is incredibly kind.

Soooo good! The ordering process is easy as you order off a monitor and pay beforehand. The cook hands you a paper where you select all your levels. You select how spicy you want it, how much garlic, how soft the noodles should be, etc. I went with the recommendations on the sheet and the soup was perfect. It was so flavorful and the noodles were cooked just right. Service was super quick and every one sits in their own booth. It's very small and there is always a line, so come early!

Open 24/7!! Come here when everything else is closed! Sometimes the line is long but it typically moves decently fast. This Ichiran is way better than the one I tried in New York, but I suppose that's to be expected. Part of the experience is that you eat in isolation; wall to the front, left, and right. If you come with a group they might be able to sit you guys next to each other but unlikely. You order at the front using as ticketing machine and it's pretty cool. I highly recommend the matcha almond pudding too.

What a cool hidey-hole for a private and delicious meal! FOOD [5/5] For the price and quality, Ichiran serves one of the best ramen I've ever had. The soup broth is divine-- thick, creamy, and salted to perfection. The portion size was perfect for me, but if you're feeling hungry, there's an option to add egg + unlimited noodles + extra chashu! They give a paper where you can customize spiciness, soup base, condiments, etc. I chose extra spicy + softer noodles and really enjoyed the combo! SERVICE [5/5] Ichiran provides a unique setting where everyone sits at a private booth. Groups can be seated together in a straight line. They pull the screen down for privacy while you eat, and there's a service button you can call if you need anything. It's perfect for groups that don't mind a little bit of separation or singles who would like to eat alone! :)

One of the best ramen soups! It was our 1st day in Japan and of course we have to get ramen! It was a 70 minute wait but worth the wait. We walked around Shibuya area and it didn't felt like it was a long wait. The noodles were perfect and the taste was so yummmy! The place was well kept clean! This place is a must!

Absolutely amazing ramen. Every aspect of this was so good, from flavor to texture to the system and environment where you order. It was definitely a long wait from getting to the restaurant to eating the food, so be prepared for that, but was absolutely worth it.

Came here when it opened on a Wednesday morning. We didn't wait too long since we were one of the first few customers. Anyways, this place is located all-around Japan, so you're not missing much if you can't go to this one. The concept of this is nice and it's great for those who wanted some quiet time or is traveling solo. You do not need to know Japanese to eat here. You order your food at the machine, and it will provide you a ticket. That ticket will be given to the staff when you're seated, and you're basically left alone for the rest of the meal. Anyways, lets jump straight to the food. I ordered the Original Tonkatsu Ramen. The broth was very rich, flavorful, and heavy. It wasn't something that I couldn't tolerate but I did need water occasionally. The good thing is that they have a water faucet in every station. I love that they provided a generous amount of green onions. As for the meat, there was a good amount of fat in it. The noodles were also very bouncy and had a nice bite to it. Generous portion of noodles in fact. Overall, I wouldn't say it was the best ramen I have ever eaten but it was good enough.

Heard so much about this place and had to go before I left Japan. The ramen was excellent, very flavourful broth and overall tasted really good. Would recommend others give this place a try. The service is fast and staff friendly. Easy ordering process for foreigners as well. Good for solo dining (individual booths) or with a small group.

A solid ramen spot - can't go wrong with it. Commonly joked as a "tourist trap", Ichiran certainly has earned its reputation. I do not think it's solely for ill-informed tourists as, on it's own, the food is great. It does not blow any of the most well known or "local specials" out of the water though. The experience is perhaps the biggest draw for tourists. You order outside and pay all through a vending machine that prints a ticket with your order on it. Once seated in your private (or double booth if you take down the walls), you hand your ticket under the curtain to the "waiters". They'll take your ticket as well as any modification you selected. The ramen is served relatively quickly too! I'd say it's a worth while place to check out even if you've been to Ichiran locations aboard. My whole group agreed it was much better in Japan.

The infamous Ichiran Ramen! This is the second time I had their ramen (their other location was just as good). We waited in line on a Saturday night maybe 40-50 minutes. While in line, there are /spot the difference/ sheets on the wall going down to pass by some time. And after ordering, a worker gave us the customization sheet so we had it already ready before we sat down. I got their delicious beautiful bowl of tonkatsu ramen and the broth was so flavourful, rich, and creamy (I got medium for all the customization choices). The noodles were nice and firm. The chashu was quite thin but still really good. I got a side of their chashu, egg, seaweed, and fungus. Their half-boiled egg was also so good and we peel that ourselves. The yolk was still slightly firm. The only thing I think would help elevate this dish would be having bean sprouts or more veggies but the bowl itself is literally so so good. I bought some instant ramen kits to bring back home and I have not yet tried them but I hope they'll be just as good.

I saw a line so I picked a number and waited. Had no idea where I was because the letters were in Japanese. Once I made it downstairs I saw it was Ichiran! An introvert's paradise. Picked my bowl and toppings, got my personal cubby and sat down for a nice quiet meal. Others say the ramen here is just ok but I disagree. It's all in the broth. Super flavorful. Everything cooked to your liking. This ramen is definitely in my top 3.

My husband and I enjoyed Ichiran so much we ate there twice. Both occasions we waited outside for 40-60 minutes. When you make it to the front of the line you order at the kiosk (which has an English option) and pay there (we were able to pay with a credit card). You'll be asked how many are in your party and you sit down at a long counter that has privacy screens. From there you never see the staff and you can communicate using the ticket you ordered. The ramen itself was really tasty and came out quickly after we sat down. We got the combo with extra kedema (noodles), pork, and an egg.

Just getting back from a trip to Japan and yes, I'll say it, Ichiran Ramen was a highlight. While this may be a chain restaurant, it is so because it is good and reliable. This location is cool. Wait in line on the steps going down. When finally you enter (potentially 30-60+ minutes later), place your order on a vending machine that does have an option to translate to English. Then wait in another short line for a spot to sit to become available. You'll be seated at a private booth. There are no group tables at this location. To your left and right are wooden dividers, and between you and the staff in back is a roll-down bamboo mat. Enjoy slurping your ramen and staining your t-shirt in private! The ramen is tonkotsu style - thick broth made from pork. I found it to be delicious. I ordered a hard boiled egg, extra green onions, and a bit of additional spice. Best part is the large bowl and toppings were all less than $10. (The basic bowl is around $7.) Definitely recommend Ichiran when visiting Japan, and this location specifically for the booth experience!

MY FAVORITE. LIFECHANGING. prepared so fast and cheap!! One of the best ramens I had in Japan even compared to the truly authentic ones!