About food in Japan

Ichiran (一蘭) - unusual but best environment to enjoy tonkotsu ramen

Ichiran (一蘭), providing tonkotsu ramen, is one of the most popular ramen operators originated from Hataka (Fukuoka), Kyushu region which is proud of tonkotsu (pork-flavor) ramen, as its local specialty.

The word of "Tonkotsu"(豚骨) means "pork bone" in Japanese. Soup of tonkotsu ramen is made with stock soup from "pork bone" cooked for long hours. The stock of pork bone is richer than chicken or fish, with collagen. The soup of tonkotsu ramen has white color in most cases and it can be easily recognized by the color from other flavors such as miso and soy sauce in brown color.

Some people do not like the strong flavor. But especially the best ramen restaurants, like Ichiran, have made efforts to remove the strong uncomfortable smell from a bowl served to their clients. Then it becomes the best Tonkotsu ramen.

Well, speak more about Ichiran ramen restaurant, the biggest feature is the table. Ichiran has obtained a patent for the table style, which they call "aji shuchu counter" (味集中カウンター = "Concentrate on the flavor" counter). At Ichiran's counter table, unusually each seat is surrounded by walls in three dimension so that each guest can concentrate on enjoying the flavor of ramen. You won't be seen or disturbed by the restaurant staff, nor by neighbor diners, while you are enjoying your bowl of ramen. The high counter with walls seriously reminds us a "voting station"!!

Yes, Ichiran is not a place to enjoy chatting with your accompanying friend/family or partner, while you have a meal. All guests at Ichiran are expected simply to enjoy the flavor of ramen and the restaurant provides the best environment and system to do so.

Make sense ? as long as you know the rule.

Ichiran is also eager to promote tonkotsu ramen in the world and welcomes non-Japanese guests. It has a unit in New York, U.S.A. (Check the address at the bottom of this page). The official home page has an English version, which is rare as a non-large ramen restaurant chain and it tells you the restaurant's system in detail.

Steps to your Ichiran's experiences...

 http://www.ichiran.co.jp/english/html/oshokuji.html

 Roughly as steps to enjoy ramen at Ichiran,

first buy a ticket for your meal from an automatic machine at the entrance.

Then check the seat availability board and take a vacant seat.

At your "Concentrate on flavor"counter table, fill out a form there for your taste customized, such as taste (mild, strong, soft or rich), volume of seasoning and ingredient (garlic, leek, original hot pepper sauce etc), noddle (how much cooked, hard or soft).

Water tap is equipped at each seat with glasses.

Help yourself for a glass of water!

The wall in front is actually bamboo blind which will be opened by a staff working behind, only when your order is passed and ramen is served.

After your oder is arrived,

just CONCENTRATE ON the flavor

at the BEST environment to do so!!!

 The taste of ramen at Ichiran, authentic tonkotsu ramen, may be needless to say how much it is good. It will be natural that Ichiran attracts many people, considering that the restaurant owner makes huge and unusual effort to provide the best ramen. As per the official homepage, the ramen is made from collaboration works by over 40 cooking professionals dedicated exclusively to Ichiran's products.

If you like the tonkotsu soup and have extra space in stomach, you can order refill of noodle by a bottom on the counter to call a staff. Ichiran's space is quiet as a ramen restaurant, because it is made to communicate through a paper form with their staff, rather than oral communication. That is also for allowing guests to concentrate on the flavor.  

As an optional, Ichiran offers a boild egg. As per their explanation, boild egg can clear flavor remain in your mouth. So it suggests that we have a boild egg for refreshing and being more sensitive to the coming flavor before you have the ramen.

Egg was served with a reflet of explanation, while ramen was cooked.  I added it into the ramen, even though I am not sure if it is recommendable by the restauran or not.      

  

Don't have to think about so much after you knew with what kind of system it works,

just try and enjoy the unusual ramen restaurant!!

 

 

Restaurant name: Ichiran (一蘭)

Official website (with perfect information in English): http://www.ichiran.co.jp/english/ 

 < Major units in central Tokyo >

Shinjuku Chuo Higashiguchi

Address: Peace bld. B1 floor, 3-34-11 Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo

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Shibuya

 Address: Iwamoto bld. B1 floor, 1-22-7 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

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Roppongi

Address: Roppongi GM Bld. 2nd floor, 4-11-11 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo

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For more locations including the flagship restaurant (the First One)  and others in Fukuoka, please visit the official site in English.

http://www.ichiran.co.jp/english/html/map.html

 

< New York Branch >

Address:1013 Manhattan Avenue,Brooklyn,NY 11222 U.S.A.

Information (Exterior photo and Google map) 

http://www.ichiran.co.jp/html/kg_gaiyou3.html

 

 

Ramen Zero Plus, Omotesando (表参道), Tokyo

We feature Ramen this month!!

Finally the time has come. On November 2012, we are going to focus on our recommendable Ramen restaurants in central Tokyo.

We know Ramen(ラーメン) becomes more popular year by year as food in Japan among international travelers, while local Japaneses are likely to consider that Ramen is categorized in Chinese meal, rather than Japanese. 

The noodle of Ramen is surely originated from China and in general Ramen is provided at Chinese, often casual, restaurants. So Ramen is also called "Chuka-soba"(Chinese noodle, 中華そば). At least we understand that the noodle in thick soup and bowl is Japanese style. In China and other countries, similar noodle is often taken with sauce or seasoned but not in soup. From that point, it can be said that Ramen is Japanese food.

From around 1970's, ramen has been independently focused from Chinese meal and casual restaurants specialized in ramen were emerged and have been developed until today. Now we can find a ramen restaurant everywhere, as you know if you travel in Japan. It is one of the most popular menu for quick lunch but with sufficient volume. 

Some ramen restaurant chefs are very stick to the quality of their products and take many hours to produce their noodle and soup. For those restaurants, some people make a queue to have a bowl of ramen, waiting for a hour sometimes. In many cases, such restaurants provide modest space as a dining; narrow counter or stainless tables with back-less chairs. But they are so attractive for these people, even if no-Michelin star, no wonderful service. Simply the ramen taste filled with passion of the chefs is great!!

Their profound soup is thick and rich in taste. We believe that it exceeds your imagination, if  you try a real good one. Noodle, barbecued pork "char siu" and cooked eggs, all other ingredients are also carefully selected and well-considered to harmonize with the soup and all together. We understand the profound and rich flavored soup with noodle attacts even people around the world.

We highly recommend that you try a real good Ramen restaurant, while you are traveling in  Tokyo and other cities. It only costs around Yen 800 - 1000 per person. 

Ramen can be categorized mainly by the flavor and ingredient of soup, such as miso (soy beans paste), soy sauce, salt or stock soup from pork bone (tonkotsu) and from dried fish powder etc. Tonkotsu (pork bone) soup is seen more in Kyushu region, while miso and soy sauce soup are often used in north like Tohoku and Hokkaido. Some restaurant offers variation in taste as well as topping such as boild egg, barbecued pork "char siu", garlic and vegetables.

  

Well, our first recommendation is for those who feel uncomfortable with the casual food at a casual local restaurant, even if you know that the food is nice.

Ramen Zero Plus is located in one of the most luxury shopping complex, Omotesando Hills. Omotesando Hills, which is close to Harajuku, accommodates collections of high-end global jewelry and fashion brands such as DOLCE&GABBANA, HARRY WINSTON, Yves Saint Laurent. Even locals cannot imagine a Ramen shop is in such luxury shopping complex. It is same that you won't find McDonald in such places. So Ramen Zero Plus is unusual in that point. 

The interior is not like an ordinary ramen restaurant but is like a chic modern cafe, matching with other tenants in Omotesando Hills. Anyone will feel comfortable with the clean and modern atmosphere. 

However the ramen' taste and quality are never away from others at Ramen Zero Plus operated by "Setagaya" (せたが屋), one of the most popular ramen restaurant operators in Tokyo. Zero "0" implies that their meal prepared without any seasoning, but only with stock soup taken from various food ingredients. We cannot imagine how many hours required to cook the soup.

The specialty menu "Ramen Zeo" includes typical ramen condiments such as boiled egg, shredded leeks, a few slices of barbecued pork and nori dried seaweed.

The soup flavor is mild and never be too strong. 

That is another reason that we recommend Ramen Zero Plus for ramen beginner! in addition to the comfortable location.

Restaurant name: Ramen Zero Plus (ラーメンゼロ　プラス)

Address: 3rd floor Omotesando Hills, 4-12-10 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

Website (in Japanese): http://www.setaga-ya.com/shop/ramen_zero_plus.html

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