Chuka Soba Billiken
中華ソバ ビリケン
Overview
"Chuka Soba Billiken" (中華ソバ ビリケン), located in Kaminarimon 2-chome, a 4-minute walk from Asakusa Station, is a sister restaurant to "Ramen Kai" (らーめん改). Selected as one of the "Ramen Hyakumeiten" (ラーメン百名店, Top 100 Ramen Shops) in 2021, it offers delicate chuka soba featuring duck as the main ingredient. It is situated in the Komagata-bashi area, which is a bit quieter than the immediate Kaminarimon vicinity. Its signature dish is the "Te-momi Chuka Soba Zenbu-iri" (手揉み中華ソバ全部入り, Hand-kneaded Chuka Soba with all toppings) for 1550 yen. This clear yet flavorful bowl features a clear dashi (清湯, chintan) soy sauce soup made from duck and chicken, with duck oil (鴨油, kamo-yu) and chicken oil (鶏油, chiyu) floating on top. Despite being additive-free (無化調, mukacho), it boasts a deep flavor where the umami of duck and chicken are perfectly blended. The noodles are house-made hand-kneaded wavy (手揉みちぢれ麺, te-momi chijire-men) noodles, appealing with their plump, elastic texture and wheat aroma. The toppings are exceptionally well-crafted: a two-part composition featuring duck roast with berry-like acidity and sweetness, topped with black truffle paste, combined with melt-in-your-mouth pork chashu. Other meticulous details include perfectly seasoned ajitama (味玉, marinated soft-boiled egg), colorful mineral-rich kakina (かき菜, rapeseed greens), and the occasional accent of yuzu fragrance. The side dish, "A-e Soba" (和えソバ, Mixed Noodles) for 280 yen, uses firm, low-hydration noodles flavored with chicken oil (鶏油, chiyu) and duck oil (鴨油, kamo-yu), garnished with diced duck roast and accents of long green onion and mitsuba (三つ葉, Japanese parsley). While delicious on its own, the classic way to enjoy it is in two stages: first on its own, then dipped into the chuka soba soup. The menu also includes tantanmen, abura soba (油そば, soupless ramen), and seasonal limited-time offerings, providing enough variation for repeat visitors. The saltiness is slightly on the stronger side, with a thoughtful provision of water on the table for adjustment.
How to Order
1Before Entering
Located on the 1st floor of Okayasu Building, 2-4-1 Kaminarimon, a 4-minute walk from Asakusa Station. Open Mon-Fri 11:00-15:00 / 17:30-21:00, Sat-Sun & holidays 11:00-21:00, with no regular closing days (store holidays are announced on Twitter and Instagram). There is another ramen shop next door which is larger and more prominent, making it easy to mistake the larger shop for Billiken. Always check the "Chuka Soba Billiken" sign before entering. Peak hours are weekday lunch (around 12:00) with 3-8 people waiting outside, and the early evening (17:30-18:00) or right after the first wave clears (around 18:30-19:00) are relatively easier times to enter.
2Purchasing Meal Tickets & Ordering
Immediately inside the entrance is a smooder touch-panel ticket machine. You can switch languages (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, etc.) from the "Language" button on the top-left of the screen. All menu items are displayed with photos. The four main dishes are Hand-Crumpled Chuka Soba (¥1100-¥1550 for all-toppings), Shio Chuka Soba, Duck and Chicken Oil Soba, and Kombu-Sui Tsukemen. The "secret" menu item "Ae-soba" (¥280) is not under the main menu but in the "Toppings" tab, so make sure to open the toppings tab and add it after selecting your main dish. Payment is cash only; credit cards, e-money, and QR code payments are not accepted.
3Seating & Receiving Your Order
There are only 11 counter seats and no table seating. Guests seat themselves at any available spot. Hand your meal ticket over the counter; your order should be ready in about 5-10 minutes.
4Other Notes
Table condiments are a simple selection of chili pepper, black pepper, and vinegar. Adding a small amount of vinegar to the soup in the latter half enhances the seafood flavor, serving as a change of pace. Ae-soba is typically enjoyed in two stages: first by itself, then by dipping it into the main Chuka Soba soup. Water is self-service from the pitcher on the upper counter, and glasses are also self-service. Bags can be hung on hooks under the counter, but large suitcases are difficult to bring in, so it's recommended to store them in a station locker before visiting.
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Seating
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Voices
３軒目はこちら！！
— すぎ🍥実食ラーメン記録🍜 (@sugi_eatclub) March 21, 2025
中華ソバビリケンさん @浅草
手揉み中華ソバをいただきました🙏🏻
鴨と鶏ベースに奥から魚介の旨みも🤤
細麺もありますが好みの手揉みver.で！
ぷりぷりもちもち麺はスープとよく絡みます！
鴨チャーシューは柔らかくて美味しい🤤
上に乗ってるトリュフペーストも面白いです！ pic.twitter.com/R1k2C60PTt
中華ソバ ビリケン@浅草
— ラーだい (@ramen_daichiyan) October 18, 2023
手揉み中華ソバ全部入り
鴨の香りがフワリと香るスープは、クセを抑えながらも堪能できる鴨の旨味とそれと相性の良い優しめな醤油がええな〜🦆🥰
後半はくっきりと鶏の旨味も現れてくる😍
荒々しい見た目の手もみ麺は、不規則なピロピロ感が最高☺️
鴨肉もめちゃのってる🤭🦆 pic.twitter.com/ItwpaDvXku
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Business Hours
Crowd Calendar
| Lunch | Afternoon | Dinner | Late night | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | No waitRef. | - | No waitRef. | - |
| Weekend | - | - | - | - |
* Dashed cells = reference data from past visit examples (replaced once enough reviews arrive)
Dietary Notes
No dietary data yet
This information is based on user reports and is not official information from the shop. Cross-contamination in the cooking environment cannot be guaranteed. If you have severe allergies, please confirm directly with the shop.
Animal-free menu available
Reports received (1)
No MSG
Reports received (1)
Gluten-free menu available
Reports received (1)
Halal options available
Reports received (1)
Dietary information is verified through blind consensus. Reports become public when 3 or more independent users agree.
Ingredients & Allergens
Allergen info coming soon
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