Known as one of Japan’s best ramen shops, Ichiran offers a unique experience with its rich tonkotsu broth, individual booths, and customizable ramen options. However, you might have seen comments suggesting that Ichiran is overrated. Is this true?
In this article, I visited Ichiran to explore not only the taste of the ramen but also the overall experience from a traveler’s perspective. I’ll dive into the price, the traveler-friendly and more.
If you’re wondering whether a visit to Ichiran is worth it, keep reading to find out!
What is Ichiran?
Ichiran, founded in 1960 in Fukuoka, is popular both domestically and internationally for its unique style and delicious ramen.
- Flavor Concentration Booths: Enjoy your ramen without distractions, focusing solely on the flavors.
- Quality Ramen: Made with carefully selected ingredients like tonkotsu broth, special fresh noodles, and a secret sauce.
- Customizable Options: Customize your ramen to your liking, choosing the firmness of the noodles, the richness of the broth, and the toppings.
Ichiran’s information
In this section, we will provide detailed information on hours, location, menu, and reservations. Use this as a guide when planning your visit to Ichiran.
Hours
The hours of Ichiran vary depending on the location.
- Ichiran Umeda Hankyu Higashidori Store: 11:00-4:45 AM the following day
- Ichiran Umeda Shibata Store: 10:00 AM-11:00 PM
- Ichiran Dotonbori Store Annex: 24 hours a day
Please be advised that the last call is typically 30 minutes before close time for many stores.
Location
Ichiran has over 80 locations in the world. Starting from its home base in Fukuoka, it also has branches in major cities like Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo, as well as overseas locations in New York, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. With many branches in tourist spots, it is easily accessible for travelers.
Menu
Ichiran’s menu is oparated via a touch panel. They offer only one type of ramen, along with several toppings, Kae-Dama(noodle refill), rice, and drinks. *You can customize your ramen later.
Reservation
Ichiran is not acceptable for reservations. At locations in tourist areas, it often gets crowded during lunch and dinner times, leading to wait times. (When I visited at around 8 PM on a weekday, I had to wait for an hour.)
It is recommended to visit out of busy times like lunch and dinner times to avoid long waits.
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Honest reviews
In this section, the author visited Ichiran’s Shinsaibashi in Osaka to provide an honest review from a traveler’s perspective, covering the taste, whether traveler-friendly or not, pricing, and more.
Please use this as a reference when considering a visit to Ichiran.
Traveler-friendly
Ichiran is indeed very Traveler-friendly. Almost all menu items, instructions, and notices are available in English, Chinese, and Korean.
Many staff members also speak English, making it easy for travelers to navigate.
However, since it attracts mostly tourists, it may not be ideal for those seeking a more Japanese local atmosphere. I personally would say that Ichiran is not an actual Japanese restaurant, but rather a Japanese-style restaurant customized for travelers.
Food
I will provide a details of the Ichiran ramen I actually ate with honest reviews.
Classic Tonkotsu Ramen : 980 yen (USD6.08)
The Classic Tonkotsu Ramen features a rich pork broth that is flavorful and refined, without any overpowering pork smell. This sophisticated taste makes it clear why Ichiran is so popular.
Additionally, the customize options are remarkable. You can adjust the richness of the broth, the amount of garlic, the type of green onions, and the firmness of the noodles and so on. Such extensive customization options are rare even in Japan, making Ichiran a place you’ll want to visit again and again.
Extra Sliced Pork : 260 yen (USD1.61)
Ordered extra sliced pork to add to my ramen. The thinly sliced, extremely tender pork pairs perfectly with Ichiran’s rich ramen. For those looking to enhance their ramen experience, I highly recommend it.
Price
This time, the total bill was 1,260 yen (USD 7.84). In areas like Umeda, Shinsaibashi, and Namba, prices at traveler-oriented restaurants tend to be higher, but Ichiran’s ramen is reasonably priced.
Payment is also made through the touch panel. You can use cash, credit cards, and electronic payment methods like WeChat Pay.
Overall evaluation
I had often seen negative reviews about Ichiran’s ramen on the internet and social media, so I wasn’t expecting much.
It is unfortunate that you can’t make reservations and have to wait in long lines, but the taste of the ramen is excellent. The atmosphere of the restaurant and its traveler-friendly features offer a wonderful experience for travelers. Contrary to the negative reviews online, Ichiran turned out to be a fantastic ramen shop.
I highly recommend adding it into your travel plans.
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