Ramen Shops

🍜Recommended: Chuka Soba Shio Tokujo (1700 yen), Tokujo Niku (1600 yen), Tsuke Soba Shio Tokujo (1800 yen), limited Akadashi Chuka Soba (1700 yen); popular sides: Tsurushi-yaki Bara Don (480 yen), Large Shumai (500 yen).

⚠️Touch-panel ticket machine (photos, English support) makes ordering easy for international guests.

❗Cash only (no e-money/cards); last entry 23:00 for late-night service; Zoshiki main branch is strictly reservation-only.

🍜Signature Miso Ramen, Ajitama Chashu Miso Ramen for 1350 yen. Han-rice for 100 yen is popular for regulars to mix into the soup at the end.

⚠️Purchase a ticket from the vending machine inside the shop (if there's a queue, line up outside and enter to buy a ticket when it's your turn).

❗During peak times, expect queues of 10+ people and 20-30 minute waits; cash only, no e-money or cards; if unsure about spice level, regular Miso Ramen is recommended over Karamiso.

🍜Popular items are Shoyu SOBA, Shio SOBA, Special Shoyu SOBA (1480 yen), seasonal limited 100-hour curry collaboration tsukemen, and TKM; Aedama (400 yen) is also popular.

⚠️Ticket vending machine at the shop entrance (some photos only, no English notation).

❗Closed on Tuesdays, limited menus sell out early, cash only (no e-money/cards), and somewhat far from the station (10-minute walk).

🍜Signature Miso Ramen (1100 yen), Ajitama Miso Chashu Men (1300 yen), free extra vegetables (yasai omori), free rice during weekday lunch (11 AM - 3 PM).

⚠️Pre-payment system: buy tickets at the vending machine to the left of the entrance, then verbally request free extra vegetables (yasai omori) or garlic (ninniku) when handing over the ticket.

❗Closed only during New Year holidays; peak times see queues of 10+ people and 20 min - 1 hr waits; cash only, no e-money or cards.

🍜Signature Special Shio Ramen (2200 yen) and Special Shoyu Ramen (2200 yen). The Charcoal-Grilled Meat Rice (500 yen) side dish is also popular.

⚠️Reservations are essential (TableCheck, released Sundays at 10 AM for the following week, fills instantly), cash only, and no consecutive orders.

❗Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; short operating hours (Wed-Sun 11:30 AM-3:00 PM); limited menu items sell out early.

🍜The signature Kouzuna Special Ramen (1350 yen). Enjoy the "Mugen Ninniku Don" style with all-you-can-eat rice (250 yen), Mugen Ninniku, mayonnaise, and nori seaweed.

⚠️Buy a meal ticket from the vending machine at the entrance and verbally customize noodle firmness, flavor richness, and oil amount, standard for Iekei.

❗Extended hours until 1:45 AM on Fridays, Saturdays, and the day before a public holiday; cash payment only, no e-money or cards; for first-time visitors, "futsu" (regular) is recommended for noodle firmness and flavor.

🍜Signature Special Chicken Salt Ramen, Special Chicken Soy Sauce Ramen, and Special Chicken Seafood Tsukemen (1390 yen), best enjoyed with the 120 yen closing Cheese Risotto.

⚠️A pre-purchase system using a ticket machine on the left side of the entrance (with photos and English menu).

❗Open daily but expect lines during weekend lunch peaks; cash only (no e-money/cards); Tsukemen eating style: "as is → lemon → kuro shichimi."

🍜Signature Shiro-tori Ramen (860-960 yen), Aka-tori Ramen (990 yen), Tori-paitan Tsukemen. Regulars enjoy turning leftover soup into risotto with chicken or barley rice.

⚠️Touchscreen ticket machine at the entrance (with photos, English support) is easy for international visitors.

❗Closed Wednesdays, cash only (no e-money/cards), Aka-tori is spicy so Shiro-tori is recommended if you're not confident with spice.

🍜Signature Special Salt Ramen (1600 yen), Premium Salt Ramen (2000 yen), Soy Sauce Ramen (1000 yen). Monthly limited-edition noodles feature creative French-inspired dishes.

⚠️Purchase meal tickets from the vending machine on the left; limited items often sell out early.

❗Irregular holidays announced on X; limited items sell out early; cash-only, no e-money or cards.

🍜Signature dishes are Mutekiya Ramen Nikutama 1530 yen, Honmaru-X 1100 yen, Chashu-men 1500 yen. Regular and omori (large size) noodle portions are the same price, offering a free omori (large size) service.

⚠️When queuing outside, staff may take verbal orders, so it's helpful to be familiar with menu names (e.g., Mutekiya Ramen Nikutama, Honmaru-X, Chashu-men).

❗Open continuously until 3:30 AM (many international visitors, up to 1-hour wait during peak times), cash only, no e-money/cards, small shop makes long stays difficult.

🍜Signature Oyster Salt Ramen (900 yen), Special Oyster Salt Ramen (1300 yen); popular sides include Makanai Meshi (weekday lunch set) and Kamaage Shirasu Don (350 yen).

⚠️Ticket vending machine at the shop entrance (no photos, no English).

❗Cash only (no e-money/cards), narrow seating with small luggage space, no separate plate for takana, main branch (Nakanosakaue) is reservation-only and distinct.

🍜Signature Chuka Soba (950 yen), Chashu-men (1250 yen), extra green onions (100 yen); open 24h on Saturdays for late-night or morning ramen.

⚠️Purchase meal tickets from the machine at the entrance; no photos or English.

❗Operating hours vary by day (Sat 24h, Mon-Thu until 5 AM, Sun 0-11 PM); cash only; rice ordered separately (150 yen).

🍜Signature Tokusei Tsukemen 1400 yen, Tsukemen 1100 yen, Tantan Aemen 950-1200 yen. Noodle sizes S and M are the same price, M is 300g.

⚠️Purchase meal tickets from a machine, verbally specify noodle size S or M (same price), atsumori (atsumori, warm noodles) is also an option.

❗Subject to Tobu Hope Center operating hours as it's in a direct-access underground mall; only cash and transportation IC cards accepted, no credit or QR payments.

🍜Signature Jūnnō Niboshi Soba (950 yen), Niboshi Truffle Soba (950 yen), Special Jūnnō Niboshi Chāshū (1350 yen). Niboshi Aedama (300 yen) is also popular.

⚠️Touch panel ticket machine at the entrance has no photos or English, so knowing menu names beforehand is helpful.

❗Closed Sundays; over 10-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station, so Mukōhara or Ōtsuka Stations are more realistic; cash only, no e-money or cards.

🍜Recommended: Ramen 950 yen, Buta-iri 1050 yen, Raw Egg 50 yen. Noodle quantity can be chosen from sukuname (less)/hanbun (half)/sonomama (regular); sukuname (less) is recommended for first-time visitors.

⚠️Free verbal customization ("call") for yasai (vegetables)/ninniku (garlic)/abura (back fat)/karame (more sauce) is requested just before serving; pre-learning terms is recommended.

❗Closed Tuesdays, lunch only (11:00-15:30); by Jiro-style custom, ninniku (garlic) is not default, so always include "ninniku (garlic)" in your call if desired.

🍜Signature: Rich/Light Scallop Soba (960/950 yen), Rich Scallop Tsukemen. Medium/large (omori (large size)) noodles are free.

⚠️Vending machine at entrance, no photos but English supported for easy use.

❗Cash only, no e-money/cards. Strong scallop aroma might not suit everyone.

🍜Signature Karasibi Miso Ramen; spiciness and numbness regular (futsu) or less (sukuname) are recommended for first-time visitors; adding half rice to finish as ojiya-style porridge is classic.

⚠️First-purchase system using a ticket vending machine at the entrance (with photos, English support), verbally specify 4 levels each of spiciness and numbness.

❗Though open continuously, 30-60 minute waits are common during lunch peak after 12 PM and in the evening; star anise-flavored stewed pork (chashu) has a unique aroma that some may not prefer.

🍜Signature Rich Seafood Tsukemen (1100 yen), Niboshi Tsukemen (1200 yen), Spicy Tsukemen, and Tokusei are popular; large size (omori, 300g) noodles are free.

⚠️Pre-purchase tickets at the entrance vending machine then queue outside; the machine has no photos or English.

❗Closed Tuesdays (open on holidays); may close early if soup runs out; dipping sauce is salty, so dip noodles sparingly.

🍜Signature Shio Tama Soba (1050 yen), Negi Shio Soba (1200 yen), trending Ikebukuro White (1200 yen). Aged garlic (+100 yen) is also popular.

⚠️Pre-purchase system: buy a ticket at the machine (no photos, no English) then join the queue.

❗Almost constant queues during the day; the shop's characteristics are strong saltiness and firm noodles (if you prefer a milder shio soba, another option is recommended); cash only, no e-money or cards.

🍜Japanese style soup-less tantanmen (with soft-boiled egg) 1220 yen, Chengdu style soup-less tantanmen, soup tantanmen. Spiciness and numbing level 3 recommended for both.

⚠️When handing the ticket to staff, verbally specify spiciness and numbing level from 0 to 5; level 0 means no spiciness.

❗Cash only, electronic money/cards not accepted. Numbing is from Sichuan peppercorns (huajiao), level 3 has a strong presence. For those unsure about spiciness, level 2 or lower is recommended.