Japanese Ramen Gokan

Located at Cosmo Higashi-Ikebukuro 101, a 9-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station East Exit, Gokan is a popular Michelin Bib Gourmand and Tabelog Hyakumeiten (Top 100 Restaurants) establishment. It's a highly sought-after ramen shop with a complete reservation system (TableCheck), where reservations for the following week are instantly filled every Sunday at 10 AM. The signature "Tokujo Shio Ramen" (Special Salt Ramen) is a deeply flavorful bowl where the gentle umami of shellfish dashi (broth) and the richness of chicken oil (chiyu) simultaneously envelop you from the first bite. The soup is a clear broth (chintan) crafted by layering multiple ingredients such as chicken, dried ingredients, and shellfish, with a perfectly balanced harmony of saltiness, sweetness, and umami. The noodles are thin straight noodles, cooked slightly soft, with a calculated design to absorb and carry the chicken oil (chiyu) through surface tension. The "Tokusei Shoyu Ramen" (Special Soy Sauce Ramen) features a light soy sauce base balanced with just the right amount of chicken oil (chiyu), reminiscent of the owner's background from Iida Shoten. The chashu (braised pork) comes in three types: seared local chicken, rare pork shoulder loin that highlights the meat's umami, and pork belly with a sweet fattiness, all showcasing meticulous craftsmanship. The option with wontons is also popular. The winter-limited "Miso Ramen Kyokugen" (Extreme Miso Ramen) for 2400 yen is unique for a tanrei-kei (light-broth style) shop, featuring medium-thick hand-kneaded curly noodles and a spicy kick from sansho (Japanese pepper) and kuro shichimi (black seven-spice blend). The toppings, such as lotus root with minced meat, are also elaborate, and the limited portions sell out early. The side dish, "Charcoal-Grilled Meat Rice" for 500 yen, is a highly satisfying item featuring various cuts of meat and a soft-boiled egg, designed to be enjoyed with ramen.