Hirochan Ramen!

Located a 4-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station's West Exit, nestled quietly in the bustling north exit area, Hirochan Ramen is a "Chan-kei" (ちゃん系) ramen shop. This establishment is operated by individuals associated with Chie-chan Ramen, which originated in Kanda. As a member of the "Chan Noren Kumiai" (ちゃん暖簾組合), it boasts a relatively easy-to-access location with shorter queues compared to other Chan-kei shops. The soup is a savory soy sauce-based broth with a strong salty flavor, utilizing an animal-based dashi (動物系出汁 - animal-based broth) and potent kaeshi (カエシ - savory soy sauce base). A thick oil film covers the surface, providing excellent heat retention. From the very first bite, a rich umami and a satisfying, moderate richness wash over you, creating that uniquely repeatable flavor characteristic of the Chan-kei style. The noodles are a flat type from Shinjuku Daruma Seimen, featuring a smooth and slippery texture akin to Inaniwa Udon, and they beautifully entwine with the soup. Toppings include a generous amount of thinly sliced chashu (薄切りチャーシュー), a hallmark of the Chan-kei style, with Kujo green onions (九条ネギ), nori (海苔 - dried seaweed), and menma (メンマ - seasoned bamboo shoots) adding delightful accents. The chashu is prepared with the philosophy of "freshly sliced" (切りたて), offering a melt-in-your-mouth tenderness that is incredibly satisfying. The signature Chuka Soba (中華そば - Chinese noodles) for 950 yen typically comes with 4-5 slices of chashu, and the Chashu-men (チャーシュー麺 - chashu noodles) for 1250 yen includes an even larger portion. With rare operating hours—24 hours on Saturdays and until 5 AM from Monday to Thursday—it's perfect for a late-night ramen (〆ラーメン - shime ramen) after the last train or an early morning ramen (朝ラー - asa-ra, morning ramen) before a business trip. The table is equipped with ichimi togarashi (一味唐辛子 - single-spice chili powder), garlic, and pepper, allowing for an enjoyable flavor transformation (味変 - ajibun) in the latter half of your meal. Paper aprons and tissue boxes are also provided, ensuring a comfortable visit even for those wearing white shirts.