“What place would you recommend for ramen in Tokyo?”

“Ichiran!”

Described by a friend as the “McDonald’s of ramen in Japan” (meaning: famous food chain in terms of ramen), Ichiran Ramen, Asakusa was my first ramen experience in Japan. This branch is near Exit 1 of Asakusa Station, easy to find and we didn’t get lost (unlike our Akihabara experience).

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Past lunchtime and too early for dinner, there were no lines, thankfully. Don’t be fooled though, I bet this branch also gets packed at peak hours since there were sticker guides on the floor to mark the would-be queue. Once you enter the door, you have to go down a flight of stairs. A “ramen machine” awaits.

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Similar to a vending machine, you select your order by pressing buttons, and pay by feeding the machine some cash. Instead of the actual food, meal tickets will be dispensed.

For the seating, this branch has Ichiran Yatai – table and chair seating inspired by the feel of outdoor food stalls. Another option is the signature Counter Seats complete with partitions for those who would like to enjoy their ramen without any distractions. Also perfect for solo diners. Staff will guide you to your preferred seating.

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If you order ramen (of course you will), an order sheet where you fill up your preference will be given to you. You can customize the toppings, richness of the broth, and texture of the noodles.

Tonkotsu Ramen

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My customized order was medium dashi, medium richness, medium garlic, mild spiciness, white (portion of the green) onions, pork toppings, and firm noodles. Maybe choosing green onion and more spice would be better for photos for that green and red contrast. Known for tonkotsu ramen, the rich flavor did not disappoint. This reminds me of the ramen flavor of Japanese ramen joints back home.

Matcha Almond Tofu

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The refreshing flavor of almond and bit of it’s aftertaste in a jelly (or tofu as it is named) combined with the bitter matcha syrup is a bittersweet dessert to end this meal.

Can’t get enough? An instant ramen version is available for you to take home.

This is part of Day 3 of Japan 2018. Read the full Day 3 post soon.