Itoi Tokyo Ramen Yokocho

Itoi Tokyo Ramen Yokocho store is a specialty shop for rich white miso ramen, located in the Tokyo Ramen Yokocho on the Yaesu underground mall of Tokyo Station. It's easily accessible, only a 3-minute walk from the Yaesu underground exit, in the North 1 area of the underground mall, making it popular among commuters returning from business trips and tourists seeking a late-night ramen. The interior is compact with only 14 counter seats, featuring an efficient operation that quickly serves customers, even utilizing the corner of the L-shaped counter. The signature "Miso Ramen" (930 yen) boasts a powerful flavor with a generous amount of garlic in its rich white miso-based soup. While not quite Jiro-style, it's described as a unique bowl where "Miso weaklings beware (miso jakusha wa kokoro shite kakare)". It combines seared chashu with a browned surface, a large portion of crunchy bean sprouts (moyashi oomori), and medium-thick wavy yellow kansui noodles, resulting in a Tokyo Station-specific miso ramen that inherits the Sapporo style while evolving uniquely. The other signature item is "Spicy Miso Ramen", characterized by white leeks and a thick, spicy miso soup. Various seasonings such as pepper, ichimi togarashi (seven-spice chili powder), sansho (Japanese pepper), and vinegar are available on the table, allowing for an enjoyable change of flavor in the latter half of the meal. Side dishes like the boiled pork rice bowl and an official app for accumulating points are also available, demonstrating a well-thought-out operation tailored to the Tokyo Station location down to the smallest details. It's customary for staff to ask, "Would you like a large portion of bean sprouts (moyashi oomori) as a complimentary service?" and almost everyone chooses the large portion. The combination of the rich, guilty-pleasure miso soup and a mountain of bean sprouts has become one of Tokyo Station's classic late-night ramen choices for repeat customers.