Karashibi Miso Ramen Kikanbo Kanda Honten

For fans of spicy ramen, there is no better place than Kikanbo. And because I take my ramen very seriously, I always arrive about half an hour before they open to make sure I’m one of the first in line. There is a vending machine to purchase and pay (cash only) for a ramen voucher prior to entry. There are five spice levels, ranging from non-spicy all the way to “Devil Spicy.” While it’s tempting to test my limits, I’ll admit I’m a bit of a chicken and have only worked my way up to level two and even that leaves my tongue on fire. Despite the heat, the miso broth is incredibly creamy and well-balanced, and every single component from the egg to the crispy bean sprouts is executed perfectly. The miso-based broth is deeply rich and complex, simmered for over 10 hours with pork bones, chicken bones, and a variety of vegetables. The heat comes from their signature chili oil, made from a perfectly balanced blend of six different red peppers. The bowl is topped with tender braised pork belly, baby corn, bean sprouts, and a perfectly cooked egg, then finished with an extra drizzle of red pepper to match your chosen spice level. Hands down, this is one of the best bowls of ramen I’ve ever had. It’s so good that I always make sure to squeeze in another visit to Kikanbo before leaving Japan.

Just okay, nothing extraordinary. It's a spicy miso ramen, which we have a lot of in Vancouver. Not worth a 45 minute wait on a week day. We ordered both the medium spice and full spice. The full spice was better (more flavorful) but still not worth a 45 minute way for us. The medium spice was lacking in flavour. Other than the spiciness, I wish the broth itself was more savoury/flavorful. The noodle itself was good and had the perfect texture. We went 45 minutes before opening time, was number 4 in line. You must line up FIRST. don't walk up to straight to the ticket machine without lining up. Please do not line up at the ticket machine. (see picture, line up goes across the street. Resto is on the right hand side indicated by arrow). When you're in a line up, there will be restaurant staff who guides you to the ticket machine to purchase your order. That's how they keep the order and to keep people from lining up at the ticket machine. PS: everyone in your party must be present otherwise staff will tell you that you cannot start lining up.

The karashibi miso ramen here was unbelievably good. The broth was rich, deep, and full of flavor, with the perfect balance of spicy heat and numbing spice that slowly builds with each bite. Every spoonful was comforting and intense at the same time, and it kept me wanting more. The noodles were perfectly cooked, and everything came together so well that it felt like a carefully crafted bowl rather than just a quick meal. It was one of those ramen experiences you keep thinking about after you leave. I definitely want to come back again just for this bowl. Highly recommended if you love bold, spicy ramen.

The Spicy Miso Ramen here is exactly what I was looking for, it actually delivers on the heat without overpowering the rich, savory miso base. I was also impressed by how quickly the food came out; the wait time was very short despite the shop being steady. Perfect spot for a fast, fiery, and satisfying meal!"

Best Ramen I've ever had!!! My teenage kids and husband who are usually pretty critical of ramen also approves! My son and I got the hottest levels and it was still perfect. My husband said putting too much took away the flavor but we loved it. That pork though 🤤 falls apart in your mouth! You won't find that pork anywhere else! We are a family of five and went a little after lunch time but they were still busy. We had just came from the fish market so we weren't too hungry anyways but the staff was super nice, allowing us all to eat at the same time. We know these places with about 12-15 seats we wouldn't all get to eat together but they were very accommodating. If you go to Japan, this place is worth the wait.

I ordered signature spicy‑numbing miso ramen—what a blast! The broth was rich and thick, layered with chilli heat and that sharp “shibi” of Sichuan pepper. I went with a moderate spice level and loved the chew of the noodles and juicy pork. The place was buzzing with energy and excitement, though I queued for a while. Despite the wait, it was totally worth it.

The miso ramen here is absolutely delicious — highly recommended! The broth is rich and flavorful, and you can choose your preferred spice level. The combination of spicy heat with the thick miso broth is a perfect match. The bean sprouts are fresh and crunchy, and when you have them together with the noodles, pork, and broth, it’s incredibly satisfying. This is definitely a place I would revisit on my next trip to Tokyo. If you enjoy rich broth and spicy flavors, this spot is a must-try!

Karashibi Miso Ramen was easily one of the best ramen bowls I’ve ever had—if not the best. The noodles were incredibly delicious with a perfect, springy consistency. The pork belly came in a very generous portion and was so tender it practically melted into the bowl. Speaking of portions, the bowl itself was massive. They offer different spice levels, and I went for the spicy one—it was absolutely delicious. The broth was rich and slightly thick from the heat and the pork fat, creating a deep, impressive flavor that tied everything together beautifully. The service was outstanding, they were guiding you to get your ticket from the machine to them make a line on order to get to the restaurant. Went I was there I waited about 20 ish minutes, but the wait was worth every second. Overall, it was one of the best ramen experiences I’ve ever had. I would love to go back, and I highly recommend it.

The wait was an hour, but the meat was worth it. That meat is legendary. It falls apart in your mouth and the flavor is PERFECTION. Not dry at all. That is some perfectly rendered, moist, flavor bomb meat. The broth itself is a little too spicy/salty to drink much of, but it was solid as well. The noodles, egg, and corn were all solid as well, but the star of the show really is that meat. Medium level of spicy definitely had a kick. I was sweating buckets since it was already a hot summer day. If it's already a hot day outside, I would just stick to mild level.

Ramen done right! We followed others' recommendations and were not disappointed with the flavor or price! Be ready for a bit of a queue, it's popular with locals and travelers a like (always a good sign) and the seating is limited. The vending machine ordering is genius and efficient. I think it simplified everything. However, some people seemed a bit confused around us. Here's how it's done- Step 1. Order from the machine (highly recommend the pork rice) Step 2. Pay Step 3. Get your ticket from the machine(super important) Step 4. Find a table and confirm order/spice level Step 5. PUT ON YOUR BIB! Step 6. Enjoy! A few extra tidbits- the cooks are friendly and speak some English. Water is free at the table.

Honestly don't miss this place, beautiful rich ramen, fresh noodles and the best Chau Su pork I've had. Also great atmosphere. I can't recommend these guys highly enough

This is one of my favorite ramen spots...ever. My friend Jim W. found this spot from a ramen blog and we were all sold on the idea of finding this place to try it out. On my first trip here, we walked over from Akihibara station. It's a bit of a walk, but if you want to access it from a closer station, use Kanda. When you arrive, you'll see that the restaurant is located on a corner. Oddly, it is split into 2 spaces with a common hallway in between, so if one side is busy, you might want to check the wait time on the other side. Everything is purchased through the ticket vending machine at the front. Everything is in Japanese but one of the workers can speak limited English and help you out. Now, this place is known for their spice. It's a different kind of spice than I have ever tasted before...it's not mouth-on-fire really, but more of a flavorful and numbing kind of spice. It's definitely addicting and will get your sinuses open and sweat flowing...make use of the Kleenex dispensers on the counter. Aside from the broth, the rest of the ramen is delicious. They pan fry the bean sprouts to give it a bit more flavor. This also helps out with the texture (not a huge bean sprouts fan here). The charsiu is good too, very savory. If you are in the area, I would DEFINITELY recommend trying this place out. It's a quick meal at a counter, so start to finish will take less than 45 minutes, but it's 45 minutes of bliss. ENJOY!

Karasibi has two meanings. Kara is how spicy, Sibi is Japanese pepper. You can choice how much spicy and Sibi 1 to 5 levels. If your first time I recommend you normal one. More than 3 levels it's unbelievably spicy hot. But it's addictive taste.

A lot of the English reviews seem to be confusing this place for the establishment next door, which is the ramen joint. This is the sister restaurant, which serves tsukemen (dipping noodles). I originally went to the ramen place, and had an amazing bowl, probably the best I've ever had, and when I was leaving, I noticed this other place next door. So, I did a little research, and found out that it was run by the same people, and just served a slightly different dish. The ordering process is similar to how it is done next door, where you go in and order from the machine, and then wait in line. Unlike, next door, however, there is no English on the menu anywhere. I figured it had to be a similar layout to the ramen ordering machine, which had the "delux" ramen in position 1, so I just punched that and hoped for the best. When I sat down, they asked a question in Japanese, which I was guessing was how spicy (5 levels, from not spicy to devil spicy, plus choosing between traditional peppers or "numbing" sichuan peppers), and I was right. I pointed to the sign on the wall, which was similar to the one next door, that indicated what level I wanted. Then I just had to wait. If you've never had tsukemen before (as I hadn't), it basically comes in two dishes, one full of the noodles (thicker and flatter than ramen), and the other with the broth (also thicker than ramen broth). You can pickup the noodles and dip them in the broth, and then suck it up, or you can do as I saw a salary man did, and just dump all the broth over the noddles at once. Either way, it's still amazingly good. Highly recommended if you are looking for something different, or if the line at the ramen place is just too long.

One of my top 3 ramen along with nagi in shinjuku and ichiran (any of the locations). Bring cash.

I found myself next to カラシビつけ麺鬼金棒 while I was making my way to Akihabara from Kanda Station. I decided to stop in, as friends Jim W., Richard K., and Jon K. had all raved about the face numbing hotness and deliciousness of the ramen. This spot has two locations - a larger, main station on the corner and a small annex a couple doors down. There is a vending machine next to door, none of it in English, put your money in, hit a button (Top Left is usually the most popular bowl), collect your ticket, push the change button, and head for the counter. As I had arrived towards the end of the lunch, there was no line, but I found myself at the annex rather than the main. Don't worry, you will get the same great ramen. Unable to read Kanji, I hit the button for the second priciest item available. I had no idea this was the tsukumen until it arrived. I collected my change and my ticket and took at seat at the empty counter. The chef took my ticket and after a bit of back and forth, asked me how spicy I wanted the bowl of ramen to be. I opted for regular-regular as I like spicy, but I still want to be able to taste the food I'm eating . . . and the next meal. Since it was tsukumen, the broth was thicker than usual and the noodles were quite thick as well, and they were perfectly chewy. What makes this ramen so spicy is that they top each bowl with a spoonful of sichuan pepper. Or maybe it is sansho? At any rate, it is a spicy heat that is also a little numbing. Here is the thing though, they have it perfectly balanced so that while the heat comes through, the umami of the broth and fruity spice of the other chilis also comes through. The cha su was excellent, tender and full of flavor. Normally, I am no fan of bean sprouts in soup, but the bean sprouts in their broth add another layer of texture and flavor (I think they stir fry them just a touch) to the meal. Of the ramen I had in Tokyo, this was by far my favorite bowl. If you find yourself in the Northern part of the city, such as in Asakasa or Akihabara, do yourself a favor and make your way over to カラシビつけ麺鬼金棒.

Ahhh yess. This place. Such memories. I've been back home for 3 weeks now and all I can think about is how darn tasty this ramen was. It haunts me in my sleep. I want it so bad. But alas, reality kicks in and I'm on the other side of the world and will have to wait till I'm back in Tokyo. To all my lovely readers who stumbled on this ramen joint you will not be disappointed. Of all the ramen my friends and I ate in Tokyo THIS place was our favorite hands down, no competition, nothing even came close. The noodles and chasu (pork) are the best here, and the miso broth. The pork is really out of this world. There is an option to get a ramen with extra pork and I highly recommend you just get that one and you'll be blasting off to taste bud heaven with every bite. Don't get any extra spiciness even if you love spicy. The "non spicy" is still very spicy and I love spicy and take it like a champ but wow, still very spicy. Don't leave Tokyo till you've had a bowl at this place!!!

Really good ramen, not your traditional broth but tasty AF! Also I'm an avid spice lover and their medium spicy level is not too bad, I will get super spicy next time. Wasn't to fond of the "numbing" spice, but they give you option on the level for this too! Their used pulled pork in our dishes and holly molley was it good! There a line in the morning so just mentally prepare. Everyone is really nice the guy gave us hot tea while we waited outside.

We were hungry and yelp and the good reviews pointed us in the direction of this place. Not being a ramen expert (more a sushi lover, the night before I just had dinner at Ichikawa, one Michelin star and #4 on the Tokyo sushi list) I was looking for a great experience. Having read in another review that one can "see Jesus" in a great ramen I was hoping for an equivalent experience. As described in other reviews, ramen and extras are orders via a ticket machine. One of the options is the spiciness. As I love and can eat without problem the most spicy Indian curries one can find, I opted for the most mouth numbing spicy option available. Well dear reader I don't know how they managed but I managed to "see Satan" in my ramen. Never eaten something so incredibly spicy. My lips were without feeling. My air pipe closed and my mind went light due to the mix of spice and lack of oxygen. As a warning my ramen was served in a black bowl. I had taken as extras extra pork, an extra egg and extra coriander. The extra coriander was too much of a good thing as my entire bowl was covered by a layer of 1 cm of coriander. Anyway, after managing just half a bowl I had to give up. The spice became too much. Luckily I could cool down with the left over broth in the bowl of my partner (who had taken normal spiciness level). Overall a great ramen experience. Just avoid the two highest spice levels.