ICHIRAN Asakusa

PROS ➕ Authentic Japanese ramen ➕ Separate booth for single diners ➕ No verbal communication needed CONS ➖ Long waiting line The name ICHIRAN is arguably the most popular brand when it comes to authentic Japanese ramen. You can see it just about everywhere: magazines, travel guidebooks, even word...s from experienced travelers. That’s why I decided to visit ICHIRAN Asakusa for lunch, accompanied by a friend just in case Japanese was needed. We arrived at the shop just after noon. It is located on the second floor, and the only entrance for guests connects with the ground floor via a staircase. I didn’t see the long line of people waiting until we reached the top of the staircase. Fortunately, we were able to order our course thanks to the digital device just outside of the dining hall. It also helped with killing time while we were waiting in line, looking at the back of the people in front of us. As time passed, we moved closer into the dining hall. Decorations and merchandise unique to the brand were placed along the hallway. I could vividly remember two things: cans of seasoning powder of sorts and packs of instant noodles, all borne the brand of ICHIRAN. The dining hall consists of individual booths that accommodate single diners as well as groups. The staff will put a group of diners into adjacent seats as requested. The kitchen is in the center, separated from the booths only by thin curtains. The total time from when we first stepped into the store to when we were seated was roughly 45 minutes. It took 10 more minutes until a hot ramen bowl was placed in front of us. I ordered an extra egg and a few slices of braised pork. The ordering forms on the side of the booth came in handy. The pork ramen tasted just as good as I imagined it would be. The broth was rich, creamy, and not as salty as other ramen shops. The noodles absorbed the flavor well; it was addicting to chew upon. The few slices of braised pork were, well, few but flavorful. They were thin, soft, and almost melted on my tongue, especially the fat. I was so glad I ordered the egg, the soft-boiled egg, because it added a certain jelly texture that the ramen needed and extra protein. I ordered a large size, but it went down so fast I almost wanted another. As for my friend, he didn’t say a word while he was eating. I only heard the sound of intense slurping echoing from the next booth. Some tourists who were sitting beside me ate in quiet. My friend, you see, is a critic. So after all that nonstop eating, he still gave it a mediocre rating, claiming the ramen was not the best he had ever eaten. I think the only downside about this shop is the long waiting time. It’s totally not worth it for a bowl of ramen that I can find just about anywhere in Tokyo. Now, what I can’t find is the solitude of dining alone with minimal communication. Overall, I am happy I have visited this shop and come back with a tale to tell. Service

Visited November 2024

For our first experience of eating Ramen in Japan we thought that there wasno better place than Itchiran. We chose the Asakusa location due to its location near to our hotel. We chose to have the recommended preferences and it was delicious. The whole experience was incredible and enjoyable. Word o...f caution, even the half mild spice still packed a punch so if you don't like spice then definitely go for none.

Visited September 2025

Very good food there. Noodles were served very quickly by kind staff members. Every person got like a private table to eat, and it was a very smart and original system. A great lunch!

Visited December 2024

The ichiran ramen here was delicious and the best ramen I had here in Japan. Absolute must try if you enjoy ramen and a nice bowl of chashu rice

Visited December 2024

Long que, have both table seat or individual seat. Rich of soup taste. You can choose all details of ramen which you prefer. Add egg is the must.

Visited November 2024