Hyperlocal Tokyo

I entered the restaurant around 3 PM and had the "Super Rich Tokyo Station Ramen." The turnover was fast, so I was able to get in quickly and the ramen came out soon after. The quality of the ingredients was high, and the toppings like the pointed bamboo shoots and char siu paired well with the soup. The soup wasn't as "super rich" as I expected, but it was a well-balanced fish and pork bone broth. The noodles were smooth, straight noodles that went well with the vinegar and soy sauce on the table. After adding them, the soup clung to the noodles better. Overall, it was a delicious ramen, but 1,300 yen is definitely on the expensive side. It's probably unavoidable given the prime location in Tokyo Station.

This restaurant is located in Tokyo Ramen Street. ■ Queueing You purchase your tickets first and then queue. Be careful as the ticket line and the entrance line are separate. ■ Crowds As it's in Ramen Street, there are many customers and it's quite crowded. There are also many tourists, so you often see people with suitcases. ■ Rich Ramen? I ordered the "Super Rich Char Siu Ramen", but I felt the description "rich" wasn't accurate. Tokyo Station area has many popular ramen shops, so maybe my palate has become refined, but overall, I felt the flavors were a bit light. It wasn't bad enough to be considered unpleasant, but the description "Super Rich" on the menu is an exaggeration. If you want rich ramen, it's better to go to another shop. The photos looked delicious, so I was a little disappointed. Furthermore, while it's good that you can adjust the flavor with the kelp soy sauce provided on the table, the original soup is so light that you'd need to add a lot to make a difference. I didn't order it this time, but with this kind of seasoning, I think a salt ramen would be more suitable.

I arrived at the Ramen Street in Tokyo Station just after 11 am on a weekday. All the shops had long queues, but there was one, 'Ban鳩', that seemed relatively empty and I was able to get in right away. I ordered the Yuzu Salt Ramen for 1050 yen. It was a creamy type of salt ramen with a white, cloudy broth, which made it seem less like a salt ramen. I was expecting a clear, light-flavored broth, so this was quite different. Was this a 'pork bone broth'? It was easy to eat, though. I'd even say it was quite delicious. When I left the shop, there was a long line, just like at the other shops. If you really want to eat here, it's best to arrive before 11 am.

The restaurant is located in the basement of Tokyo Station, in the "Tokyo Ramen Street." You purchase your tickets from a vending machine before joining the queue. There were four groups ahead of me, but I was seated in just 10 minutes, so the turnover is quite fast. This time, the vending machine advertised the "Rich Tokyo Station Ramen (¥1,250)" as the most popular, so I went for that without hesitation, along with a side of "Rice (¥180)." The ramen is visually appealing, with a large piece of char siu, distinctive "hosaki" (thin, pointed) bamboo shoots, scallions, narutomaki (fishcake), a soft-boiled egg, and seaweed. The mild, slightly viscous fish and pork bone broth pairs well with the medium-thin straight noodles. The long, thick, distinctive "hosaki" bamboo shoots are surprisingly easy to bite through despite their size, and they are delicious! The char siu, made from pork belly, is also delicious and not greasy. The soft-boiled egg is perfectly cooked. The price is a bit on the high side, but for this quality, I don't think many people would dislike it.

I visited the Ramen Street in Tokyo Station, located in the Marunouchi district of Tokyo. It was a holiday, and the place was bustling with people at 12:00 pm. There was a 5-group wait even though other restaurants were also crowded. I bought a ticket from the vending machine and joined the queue. It took about 20 minutes to get a table. The turnover wasn't bad. About 70% of the customers were foreigners. I wanted something rich and flavorful, so I chose the "Super Rich Tokyo Station Ramen" for 1300 yen. It arrived in about 10 minutes. The soup was a double soup of seafood and animal broth, and it was so rich and flavorful that I knew it was the one I was looking for, even though it was my first time trying it. It tasted exactly as rich as it looked in the picture. The noodles were thin and straight, and they went perfectly with the rich soup. The other toppings were also excellent, especially the seasoned bamboo shoots, which were delicious. I finished the entire bowl, including the soup. I ordered a large portion, but I could have eaten even more. It was a truly satisfying meal.