一蘭 道頓堀店別館

Ramen is a noodle soup that is associated with Japan. Originating from Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan, tonkotsu ramen (豚骨ラーメン) is one of the most popular ramen dishes in Japan (note it is “tonkotsu” and not “tonkatsu”). Tonkotsu (豚骨 or とんこつ) translates to “pork bones” and the creamy and fatty ...broth for tonkotsu ramen is exactly prepared by boiling the pork bones in water for up to 18 hours. Besides tonkotsu, the other soup bases include shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt) and miso (soybean paste). Ichiran is a popular informal restaurant chain in Japan that serves tonkotsu ramen. There are two Ichiran restaurants in Dotonburi or Dotomburi – Main Building (一蘭道頓堀店本館, 7-18 (㈱)田舎そばビル)and South Building (一蘭道頓堀店別館, 1-chōme-4-16 Dōtonbori). Do note that the Ichiran Namba Midosuji restaurant (なんば御堂筋店, 2F Gurkas City Building) is serving tonkotsu-free ramen. As the outlet at Main Building is along the canal, my family and I anticipated that it would have a long queue led us to go for the outlet at South Building. We were glad that we did as we queued for only 35 minutes on a weekday noon in late March 2024. The Dotoburi or Dotomburi area can be reached by walking about 6 minutes from the Namba Station (M20) on the (red) Osaka Subway Midōsuji Line. The Ichiran Restaurant and Tonkotsu Ramen experience: we arrived at about 11:50am and joined the queue inside the restaurant on the ground or first floor. When we left the restaurant at about 1pm, the queue started from outside the restaurant. The queue on the first floor moved along to a vending machine where we had to choose what we want to order from the following menu: classic Tonkotsu ramen set with half-boiled salted egg, extra sliced pork and Ichiran’s original tea (¥1630), classic Tonkotsu ramen (¥980), additional ramen (¥150 or ¥210), half-boiled egg (¥149), extra slided pork (¥260), extra green onion (¥130), extra garlic (¥130), Osukaran vinegar (¥130), rice (¥200 or ¥250) and beverages (Ichiran original tea, Coke, orange juice and draft beer). After ordering classic Tonkotsu ramen and paid for the order, we then each filled up an order sheet where we indicated the following personalization of our individual tonkotsu ramen: dashi or seasoning stock (light, medium or strong), richness (none, light, medium, rich, extra rich), garlic (none, drop, medium, ½ clove, full clove), green onion (without, white onion, green onion), chasu or sliced pork (with, without), original spiciness red sauce (none, mild, medium, spicy, 3-10x) and noodle texture (extra firm, firm, medium, soft, extra soft). We followed the snaking queue on the stairs to the second floor. After 35 minutes of queuing, our turn finally came and we were directed to our private booth amongst the whole row of booths where guests were enjoying their tonkotsu noodles. I sat down on the red round seat and placed my order sheet in front of me on the table. Very soon a staff in red and black apparel lifted up the wooden blind and retrieved the order sheet. Meanwhile, I began to enjoy my private booth space – it was separated from the two persons on my left and right by a wooden divider panel and I cannot see what the other person is doing at all. In front of me were a white plastic cup where I could dispense water, unopened chopsticks, a hiring notice with QR code and a red panel with white Japanese words (no English) that narrates the history of Ichiran and details of the tonkotsu ramen (according to my iPhone translate function). On the right wooden panel were extra item order sheets, survey questionnaire forms in Japanese and interestingly four wooden tabs for you and I to make special request without speaking to a restaurant staff – “I am leaving my seat for a moment”, “I don’t know the ordering process”, “I’d like a kids bowl and utensils” and “It’s noisy” – just push the call button in front of the cubicle and present the tab to the staff who lift the booth wooden blind. After 5 minutes, another staff lifted the wooden blind and placed a black bowl (inscribed with “一蘭” (“Ichiran”) and "囍" (double happiness)) of tonkotsu noodles with a large black spoon in front of me. The light yellow medium textured noodles and pieces of chasu or sliced pork were soaked in a thick and oil-droplet broth. From my learnings of the Japanese culture, I first slurped the noodles without the green onions (slurping is a Japanese practice of appreciation of the noodles) into my mouth and it tasted deliciously different from all the other noodles that I had eaten before. Next I sipped the creamy broth and its richness, intensity and flavor simply took me to another level of appreciating Japanese ramen – tonkotsu ramen is really special. Eating the noodles and drinking the broth shows appreciation of the chef’s skills, technique and research before enhancing the flavor with condiments such as the Ichiran original spicy red (chilli) sauce that was made from aging over a long period of time of a blend of 30 different spices and ingredients. I savored tonkotsu ramen in my private booth or stall with both experiences unique to any Ichiran restaurant (except those serving tonkotsu free ramen). I liked the individual booth concept because it offers me privacy and the focus on enjoying the tonkotsu ramen as well as “quietness” since the guests are not talking while eating. We were thankful that Ichiran ramen chain has opened some 80 restaurants across Japan, including Osaka. Our patience and perseverance really paid off – it was really worth queueing especially for people like me (and my family) who only visit Japan once in a blue moon. So I recommend eating tonkotsu ramen at Ichiran the next time you visit Japan and at this South Building the next time when you are in Osaka’s Dotonburi or Dotomburi area; do go early at about 11am if you can, to avoid the long queue.

April 2024に訪問

Satisfying bowl of ramen with delicious and flavorful broth. Staff were nice and attentive. This branch is better because you don’t need to wait out under the sun. Because either way, both branches in the Dotonbori areas are packed with long queues.

June 2024に訪問

We were recommended this place from the guide on Osaka Free Walking tour. And we weren't disappointed. We had to wait 20 mins before sitting at 5pm Thursday evening but it was worth it. You place your order on a vending machine downstairs and pay there (you can order more once sat if you need). You ...get a slip of paper to choose your options on spice, broth, garlic, pork/no pork...once you get to your seat you give this to the server in the hole in front of you and they prepare it. The veggie ramen was delicious, I ate the whole bowl and it was huge! And the salted egg? Oh wow, the tastiest egg I've ever eaten! Around £17 for two ramen, two cokes and two salted eggs

March 2024に訪問

Really great quality ramen given this is a chain restaurant. The place was packed, so expect a wait at times. However once you order you don't wait to much longer and the food is good. If in doubt and you want a bowl of ramen in Japan, this is a safe bet for a good meal.

August 2023に訪問

OMG best ramen! If you're in Japan, you have to eat at Ichiran ramen. Rich, savory, budget friendly, and delicious! Don't miss this place!

September 2023に訪問