Ramen Jiro Shinjuku Kabukicho
ラーメン二郎 新宿歌舞伎町店
Overview
"Ramen Jiro Shinjuku Kabukicho Branch", commonly known as "Kabuji", is located on the 1st floor of Nisshin Building, 2-37-5 Kabukicho, a 1-minute walk from Seibu-Shinjuku Station North Exit and a 4-minute walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit. It boasts the fourth-longest history among the directly affiliated (chokkei-ten) Ramen Jiro stores. A major advantage not found in other direct branches is its late-night operating hours, from 11:30 to 02:30 (Mon-Sun, closed Wednesdays), taking full advantage of the Kabukicho location. The Kabukicho, Ikebukuro, and Shinbashi (now closed) branches are part of the "NS-kei" lineage (operated by NS Planning), which resumed operations after recovering from a fire. The most distinctive feature is its tonkotsu shoyu (pork bone soy sauce) soup, which ranges from slightly emulsified to more emulsified. It's not as heavy as a fully emulsified soup, nor does it have the sharp taste of a non-emulsified one, offering a balanced, medium-richness. The rich umami of pork gradually dissolves into the soup, and adding garlic dramatically amplifies its punch. The noodles are homemade, flat, thick, and wavy, with a slightly firm, satisfyingly chewy texture (washi-washi shokkan). The aroma of "Aution" (wheat flour) that spreads as you chew gives it a distinct Jiro character. A "Small Ramen" contains 200g of noodles, and a "Large Ramen" contains 300g. Compared to other Jiro branches, the total volume is slightly less, making the Large Ramen an approachable option even for customers accustomed to Jiro's generous portions. The pork consists of two thick slices of pork shoulder chashu (ude-niku chashu) thoroughly seasoned with sauce. While firm in texture, its umami intensifies with every bite, a truly authentic specification. The "abura" (fat) is solid back fat (seabura), adding sweetness and richness to the soup. The Tsukemen (dipping noodles), priced at 1050 yen, features noodles chilled in cold water served with a tangy dipping broth. It's characterized by its intricate composition, including nori (seaweed) and fish powder served separately, with menma (bamboo shoots) and a small amount of green onions submerged in the broth. Given its prime location in Shinjuku and the 1050 yen price, combined with its late-night hours, this bowl is often enjoyed as a "shime no Jiro" – a perfect late-night meal.
How to Order
(Check the official account below in advance for irregular closures and updates)
Official SNS：https://x.com/kabujiikeji
1Before entering & how to queue
A direct-lineage Ramen Jiro shop located at 2-37-5 Nisshin Building 1F, Kabukicho, a 1-minute walk from Seibu Shinjuku Line Seibu-Shinjuku Station North Exit, and a 4-minute walk from Shinjuku Station East Exit. Open Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat, Sun from 11:30 to 02:30, closed Wednesdays. Its location in Kabukicho means its late-night operating hours are a unique strength compared to other direct-lineage shops. Around 6 PM on weekdays, there are about 10 people waiting outside, but you might get in with less waiting after 3 PM on weekdays or 15 minutes before opening at 11 AM on Sundays.
[When no outside line] Pattern confirmed by editorial team's visit (Spotlight series visit) (2026/05/15 (Thu) 18:18): Enter, purchase a ticket from the vending machine immediately to your right, then queue in a single file along the yellow line drawn on the wall inside the shop. The yellow line space is for 7-8 people, and while you're queuing, a staff member will approach you and ask in Japanese, "How would you like your noodles?"
[When the line extends outside] According to reviews, when the line extends outside, the flow is to first queue at the end of the outside line, then purchase a ticket from the vending machine when a staff member calls you inside. When it's crowded, there are also cases where you show your ticket towards the kitchen side while queuing inside, and verbally state your noodle portion at that time.
2Purchasing tickets
The general flow is to purchase your ticket from the vending machine at the entrance, but the operation during peak times varies depending on the shop's congestion. If there's an outside line, it's safest to queue at the end of the line, wait for your turn, and purchase your ticket when you're guided into the inner waiting area or to a seat. The ticket machine has no photos and is in Japanese only (difficulty level 4), overwhelming for Jiro beginners and potentially confusing if you're not used to it. The main items are Small Ramen 950 yen (200g noodles), Large Ramen (300g noodles, total amount less than other Jiro shops), Ramen with Buta (pork) 1050 yen, Tsukemen (dipping noodles) 1050 yen, and various toppings (raw egg, fish powder, nori seaweed 100 yen, menma bamboo shoots). Noodle firmness is determined by a unique system where the way you fold your ticket ('ticket-folding') when handing it over indicates 'Katame' (firm) or 'Yawame' (soft). Payment is cash only; credit cards, e-money, and QR code payments are not accepted. Unique rules also require prior confirmation: no mobile phone calls, no entry for intoxicated individuals, and no photography other than your ramen.
3Seating & receiving your order
There are only 14 counter seats. The flow is to self-serve cold water and a ladle, then take any open counter seat. If you want firm noodles, place your folded ticket on the counter. Just before your ramen is ready, a staff member will ask, "Ninniku (garlic) iremasuka?" (Do you want garlic?). At this point, you give your 'call' from options such as "Zenbu (all)", "Ninniku (garlic)", "Yasai (boiled bean sprouts)", "Abura (back fat)", or "Karame (extra tare)" (e.g., "Ninniku Abura", "Zenbu Mashi" (all more)). If you miss the timing to give your call, it will be served with default toppings, so pay attention to the staff's prompt. Serving takes about 5-15 minutes, and it's good manners to eat at a steady pace after your bowl is served, so as not to disrupt the lot system (a method of serving customers in batches).
4Other information
The Kabukicho shop, officially Ramen Jiro Shinjuku-Kabukicho, is the fourth oldest direct-lineage Ramen Jiro shop. Kabukicho, Ikebukuro, and Shinbashi (closed) shops belong to the NS-kei lineage (operated by NS Planning). The soup is a pork bone shoyu (soy sauce) base, ranging from lightly emulsified to semi-emulsified, not as heavy as fully emulsified but not as sharp as non-emulsified; it has an intermediate consistency. The noodles are homemade flat, thick, wavy noodles with a slightly firm, chewy 'washi-washi' texture. The pork consists of two thick slices of arm pork chashu that are well-seasoned; while firm in texture, their umami increases with each bite. The Abura (back fat) is a solid type; it's common to season it by drizzling the table-top 'Kaeshi' (tare sauce) over it or performing 'Tenchi Gaeshi' (flipping the noodles and toppings to mix) before eating. The Tsukemen features noodles chilled in cold water served with a tangy dipping sauce, accompanied by nori seaweed and fish powder, with subtle additions like menma bamboo shoots and a small amount of green onions submerged.
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Voices
ラーメン二郎 新宿歌舞伎町店
— ベイル(Lazy Father) (@e24635csi666666) November 22, 2025
ラーメンブタ入り🐷🍜
全マシ
珍しく夜の部で店長さんが麺あげしてた😚 pic.twitter.com/TSSaMVxpNf
ラーメン二郎新宿歌舞伎町店！
— ひにゅーか (@syjirosweet722) January 4, 2026
ラーメン(麺硬) ヤサイマシ、アブラ、カラメ
新年1発目のかぶじ、ご馳走様でした！
アブラがかなりの塊具合でエグかった笑
今年も沢山お世話になりますのでよろしくお願いします🙇♂️ pic.twitter.com/F9dU87uGIP
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Business Hours
Crowd Calendar
| Lunch | Afternoon | Dinner | Late night | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekday | - | No waitRef. | Up to 15 minRef. | - |
| Weekend | 30-60 minRef. | - | - | - |
* 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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