I love ramen. One of the first things I did when I made my return to Japan was visit the Ramen Museum in Shin-Yokohama. We went straight for the most obnoxiously porky ramen — I think it traumatized my wife.
Ichiran Ramen is good, although it may be a chain, not bad at all. I understand that they have Ichiran in the U.S., along with Ippudo, another one of my favorites. I love how Ichiran includes kaedama, a noodle refill.
I think the best part to Ichiran is it’s “Ichiran Model”. It’s like a huge vending machine restaurant, even down to the singular booths you’ll find yourself sitting in. There’s practically zero conversation or interaction with staff — perfect for those who don’t know Japanese or are too intimidated or shy to practice. An introvert’s dream!
They say the hole-in-the-wall spots serve the best kind of ramen. Next time, I’ll need to venture away from the chains and get into those ramen shops. They stink too, the stinkier, the better. I’ll follow my nose for my next ramen fix.
