ICHIRAN Shibuya

Loved it. Was the first time eating ramen in Japan, and went back cause it was reallyy delicious. We did not have to wait for a long time and got our food after just a couple of minutes. The portion sizes were perfect, the broth was delicious, the noodles chewy, the egg perfectly runny and the pork... soft. Prices amazing! If you are not familiar with this chain: you order at a vending machine and have to speak to no one during your whole visit. I loved everything about it.

Visited May 2025

Ichiran is the most prominent ramen chain in Japan, and is credited for popularizing the tonkotsu style of ramen (originally developed in Fukuoka), with its creamy broth made from pork bones. There are several Ichiran restaurants in the Shibuya area of Tokyo; the subject of this review is located w...here Koen Dori meets Fire Dori, a couple of blocks north of Shibuya Crossing. As it is open 24 hours, my adult son and I were able to have breakfast here early one Wednesday morning during January 2026. From the sidewalk you will have to descend a flight of stairs to the basement level to enter the restaurant. This is a good place for those who don’t speak any Japanese, because when you arrive in the lobby area, you place your order on a touchpad kiosk (you can choose an English language option). TIP: The ramen bowl comes with a lot of broth in relation to the amount of noodles you receive, so I would recommend ordering extra noodles that will help soak up the remaining rich broth. After you pay at the kiosk (which accepts both cards or cash) you receive a ticket for your order, and then someone will either seat you or you can check an electronic chart on the wall that indicates which seats are open or occupied. Every person dining sits in their own individual booth (theoretically, it allows you to fully focus on the ramen eating experience). You place your ticket on the counter for the staff to collect and you can fill out a sheet (written in both Japanese and English) that allows you to customize your order (e.g., noodle texture, spice level, etc.) The staff will pick up and deliver your order by raising a bamboo curtain in front of you, but never to the level where you can make eye contact, so if you are an introvert, it’s nice to know you don’t have to speak directly to anyone. In terms of the ramen itself, the broth was indeed creamy and flavorful, with a decent amount of depth, and the noodle texture was firm (as I had requested). By arriving before 8:00 a.m., we were able to avoid the notorious Ichiran waiting lines; it was just us and a couple of Japanese salarymen grabbing breakfast before work. The prices seemed very reasonable, probably due to the favorable exchange rate. Prior to our Japan trip I had heard so much about Ichiran that I really wanted to try it out once we arrived. Was it the greatest bowl of ramen I’d ever tasted? No, but it was still quite good, and the overall experience was definitely worth it. I’m glad we included it on our list of “must do’s while in Japan.”

Visited January 2026

This restaurant is located in the basement and not easy to locate. Can be long line ups. There is very limited space, so it cannot accomodate large groups. But the ramen is excellent and can be tailored to your preference and tastes. Definetely one of the better or maybe even best ramen in Tokyo...! Highly recommend!

Visited March 2026

A really fun experience. We waited in line for about 30 minutes to order and be seated. You order and pay at a machine, customize your ramen and then are seated at individual booths. The order is taken without any communication and then your ramen appears. It was super delicious and really affordabl...e.

Visited January 2026

We found this 24 Hour Ramen joint. It was like the "White Castle" of Tokyo as people started streaming in around 2am. Most interesting as we sat down in divided sections, filled out a menu form, served from behind a bamboo blind that was raised to serve us, then closed. I really appreciated the very... cold water that was on the tap at EVERY seat! We ran into, and ate at, the same restaurant in a few cities as we toured "The Golden Route". They all had different hours. The one in Shibuya was the only 24 hour one we found.

Visited September 2025