11:54 Arrival. There are 8 people waiting in line outside. Customers enter the shop one by one as one leaves. Orders are placed directly with the staff and payment is made in advance. The shop has only 6 counter seats. Ajitama ramen costs 1100 yen, with an extra large serving for 100 yen. 12:25 Seated. 12:35 Served. The bowl contains thin straight noodles in a soup with chashu, ajitama, chopped green onions, bamboo shoots, and seaweed. The soup has a strong flavor of dried fish but is well-balanced with a refreshing saltiness, making it very delicious. The noodles have a firm texture typical of dried fish broth, but are also smooth and chewy, which I enjoyed. The chashu is seared on the outside, giving it a fragrant taste, and is well-seasoned and very tasty. The ajitama is flavorful and delicious. With only two noodle options on the menu - shoyu ramen and ajitama ramen - it's easy to see why there is always a line at this place.

Visited this restaurant, located two stations away from the popular "Ajitama Soba Jyunteuchi Daruma," in 2023 for the 202nd time! The place has a high bar as it is only open on weekdays from 12:00 to 14:00. It is about a 10-minute walk from Hounancho Station. Arrived at 11:55, 5 minutes before opening, and was 13th in line. Got my bowl at around 12:45! While waiting in line, the staff kindly handed out parasols to the customers waiting - very thoughtful. The menu consists of only Chuka Soba with the option of adding Ajitama, extra noodles, beer, and snacks. Orders are placed verbally, and payment is made by placing cash on the counter. The noodles were thin and low-hydration, cooked al dente, perfect for the rich soup base of dried fish. The soup had a strong dried fish flavor with a hint of pleasant bitterness, complemented by the umami of animal-based ingredients, making it delicious. The thick and generously sized chashu made from slow-cooked pork shoulder was well-seasoned and satisfying. The Ajitama was perfectly soft-boiled with a refined flavor. Delicious!

Today, I had some business in Hounancho and was looking for a good place to have lunch on Tabelog, where I found this famous restaurant. They only open during the day, and are closed on the first, third, and fifth Saturdays, as well as Sundays and holidays. Luckily, I happened to visit on the second Saturday, so I was prepared to wait in line. I arrived around 11:45 and there were 6 people ahead of me. Later I found out that the counter seats were for 7 people, so I was fortunate to be able to enter during the first round at 12 o'clock. Since I drove there, I couldn't order Ebisu beer, but I decided to go all out with the extra seasoned egg for 1200 yen. The actual ramen had a rich soup made mainly of dried fish, with a well-balanced umami flavor without any lingering aftertaste, which was fantastic. The thin, slightly firm noodles paired well with the soup. The chashu had a rich meaty flavor and was very satisfying, while the seasoned egg was well-flavored. Overall, it was worth the visit. You need to pay in advance, and place the coins on a small dish and the bills underneath to avoid receiving change, so it's best to have cash ready.

When using the train, it is located in a difficult-to-reach area, and has been a top 100 restaurant for 6 consecutive years, with a rating of 3.79 points (as of September 2023). In the ramen battleground of Suginami, when it comes to dried fish broth, it's Rachu. Arriving at 11:30, there are two chairs set up at the storefront, shaded by roof plants, which is convenient. The store opens at 12:00 with a 9-person waitlist, and after 3 people, the line extends along Koshu Highway. When I used to live in Ogikubo, I remember riding my bike along the Zenpukuji River and playing at Wadabori Park. - Ajitama Ramen: 1,100 yen. - With only 6 counter seats, arriving before 12:00 is recommended as it only takes about 10 minutes to be served. - The soup has a gentle dried fish aroma, slightly thick but not cloudy, and is a rare type of dried fish ramen with reduced saltiness and bitterness, making it surprisingly delicious. - The noodles are thin and firm, balancing well with the soup. - The ingredients include green onions, bamboo shoots, and thick, rare chashu that is incredibly delicious when chewed. - There is an option for extra noodles or side dishes as the default serving may not be enough for men. - I left after 25 minutes, but there were still 12 people waiting. - It was a delicious meal, and I will definitely visit again.

Egg ramen for 1100 yen, with a large serving for an additional 100 yen. No wait at 1 PM. The soup is hot with a slight bitterness from the simmered dried sardines. The noodles are firm and the chashu is delicious. One of the best I've had so far. The dried sardines in Suginami are really tasty.

It's been a while since I had a weekday off! So, I decided to aim for a ramen shop that is considered one of the top 100 ramen shops in Tokyo, located in Hounancho, Suginami-ku. The shop is called "Chuka Soba Ranju." I arrived at 11:45 am (they open at 12 pm) and there were already three people in line. The exterior of the shop looks quite old, but the anticipation is high. The menu is simple, offering either "Chuka Soba" or "Ajitama Soba" (with only a 100 yen difference). I chose the "Ajitama Soba" with extra noodles. I placed my order with the owner and paid in cash at the counter. The toppings included chashu, menma, ajitama, and green onions. The noodles were medium-thin and straight, with a rich flavor. The soup was clear and golden, with a strong umami taste from the dried fish. The chashu was seared on the surface and sliced thickly. The ajitama was delicious, with a creamy yolk and flavorful egg white. The menma was also tasty, with a strong umami flavor. Overall, it was a comforting and nostalgic bowl of ramen.

The shop along the Kanna Seven Avenue that operates for only 2 hours from 12 o'clock is here. When I visited, there were 5 people waiting 15 minutes before opening. The interior of the shop is small, but the air conditioning works well and helps soothe the body after waiting in the heat. The payment is made in advance, so I placed the money on the counter at the same time as ordering. I ordered the Chinese soba with flavored egg topping for 1100 yen. The ramen arrived in about 5 minutes. First, the soup. It has a strong flavor of dried bonito, refreshing, without any bitterness, and I personally really liked it! The noodles are straight and thin, boiled firm and delicious. The chashu is made from processed shoulder loin, with a crispy surface and moist inside, but it was a bit difficult to eat. Slicing it thinly or making some incisions with a hidden knife would make it perfect. The sliced bamboo shoots are easy to eat, and the flavored egg is perfectly soft-boiled. Overall, it is a high-quality ramen in every aspect! Thank you for the meal♪

The nearest station is Higashi-Nagacho Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, but I came by bus. The bus stop is Horinouchi 2-chome. I arrived at 11:25 am and was the first in line. The owner was still preparing to open, so I was asked to sit on one of the two chairs. I waited until 11:32 am when a second person, a man, arrived. After that, two more men and a couple came. The restaurant opened at 12 pm, and we were seated at the counter in order. The place was full, and there were people waiting in line. There were two male staff members. TBS Radio was playing inside, and the atmosphere was filled with a Showa-era vibe with things like a pillar clock and old doors. I ordered the Ajitama Soba for 1100 yen. Payment was made in advance by putting coins on a plate in front of you and bills under the plate. The Ajitama Soba arrived at 12:10 pm. The noodles were medium-thin and firm, and the soup was well-coated. The soup was made from dried fish, but it wasn't too bitter, allowing you to enjoy the flavor of the dried fish. The chashu was large and moist, and the Ajitama had a runny yolk. The menma was long and delicious. It was a great meal. Thank you.

I had lunch at the famous dried fish ramen shop, Chinese Soba Ranju, after a long time. This was my third visit, I believe. The shop is closed on Sundays and holidays, and only open on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays, from 12pm to 2pm, with the possibility of selling out and closing early, making it quite difficult to visit. The nearest station is Hananacho Station on the Marunouchi Line branch. It is located across from the headquarters and hospital of Rissho Kosei-kai, separated by the Kanjo Loop Road. The menu consists of only Chinese soba, with the option to add a flavored egg or extra noodles. I ordered the flavored egg soba and verbally requested a small bottle of Ebisu beer as a side. Payment is made in advance in cash. The broth had a clear dried fish flavor without any bitterness, which was amazing! The balance with the soup base was perfect. The low-hydration noodles had a nice chewy texture. The rare chashu, which is also available for purchase, had a moist interior and a crispy exterior, making it incredibly delicious. The soft and flavorful bamboo shoots and the creamy flavored egg were also delicious. Thank you for the meal.

#Ramen #Hounancho #Chuka soba Ran Arrived at 12:00 on Wednesday, had to wait for 1 person ahead for about 20 minutes before entering the restaurant. Ordered the Ajitama ramen (payment in advance). The soup was made from dried sardines with firm thin noodles, menma, and seaweed. The Ajitama was amazing, so creamy and delicious! The meat was also outstanding, with a thick rare chashu that was perfectly seared on the outside. The portion of noodles was just right, and I finished all the soup. Thank you for the delicious meal!

12:57 Arrived at Chuka Soba Ranju. This place is a super challenging ramen shop that only operates for 2 hours on weekdays. Sometimes they even sell out within an hour and a half of opening. Today, I was able to enter without waiting in line. The exterior of the shop is covered in ivy, resembling a cafe, and the interior has a narrow counter seating area. The shop is run by two men. I ordered the Ajitama Soba for 1,100 yen. The noodles were thin straight noodles with a firm texture commonly found in dried fish-based ramen. They were nothing out of the ordinary. The soup was a well-balanced dried fish soy sauce broth. The aroma, umami, and slight bitterness of the dried fish were blended nicely, resulting in a deep and flavorful broth. The soy sauce was smooth, with a strong bonito flakes aroma and a sweet shiitake mushroom flavor, creating a good balance. The basic toppings were chashu and green onions. The chashu was large, thick, and had a satisfying chewiness, resembling roast beef with a juicy outer layer and a generous sprinkle of black pepper. The center was rare and sliced with a knife before serving. It was very delicious. The green onions were ordinary. The seasoned egg had a completely jelly-like yolk, which was also delicious. The unique atmosphere of the shop and the love for dried fish make it an irresistible bowl for dried fish lovers.

A few months ago, on my way back from work, I stumbled upon a long line at a retro-looking place along Kandatsu. At first glance, I couldn't tell what kind of shop it was, but after some research, I found out it was a ramen shop! They have shortened their business hours to only operate from 12:00 to 14:00, except on holidays, the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Saturdays, and the 2nd and 4th Mondays. Because of this, there are long lines on their open days, and they sometimes run out of ingredients around 1:30 pm. As for the taste, it was amazing with the best soup made from dried sardines. It's not thick and creamy, but the rich flavor of the dried sardines is well-extracted, making the taste rich! I highly recommend lining up for this one. Thank you for the meal! ☺️

Ranju, Hounancho, Chuka soba, Tabelog Top 100, Michelin, Michelin Guide Tokyo 2020, Michelin Bib Gourmand 2020, Bib Gourmand, Instagram food, Instagram noodles, Instagram drinks. Second stop of the day, opened at 12:00, arrived at 12:10, lined up with 5 people, full inside, always a line with about 3 people, 6 seats inside, pay in advance, pay when ordering.

I had the Ajitama Ramen for 1100 yen. It was my first visit in over a year. It is a gentle, simmered fish broth ramen, not exactly my usual type but I really like the atmosphere. The appetizer that someone else ordered looked delicious, so next time I want to try it with a beer.

The slightly unique and fragrant dried fish soup caught my attention. This post is a memo with a score indicating how delicious I found the restaurant and a brief comment, so that I don't forget. Please note that the score is based on my personal feelings, which may be influenced by my physical condition and emotions.

Chuka soba. The refined appearance is impressive. Just one bite brings back the excitement I felt when I had it a few years ago, with its wonderful flavor of dried fish. Combined with the firmness of the noodles, I think it's the most delicious dried fish ramen! I felt the seasoning was a bit strong, but that's also its strong individuality. The smoked chashu was also incredibly delicious, so the location and operating hours may be a bit challenging, but it's definitely worth trying! I was completely satisfied with this bowl! Thank you for the meal!

Located about a 12-minute walk from Honancho Station on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line. Arrived at 12:10 on a weekday with no line outside (but the inside was full). The weather was light rain. Waited for about 5 minutes before being seated, and then waited another 10 minutes for the noodles to arrive. Ordered the Chuka Soba (1,000 yen) today. It was a delicious bowl with just the right amount of firmness.

The restaurant opened at 12 o'clock, with about 14 people waiting in line and a wait time of about 30 minutes before entering. The flavor of the dried fish broth is amazing! The firm straight noodles go well with it. The char siu has a fragrant aroma and is tender. It's so good that I want to eat just the char siu. The menma is crunchy and goes well with the soup. The seasoned egg is half-cooked and full of flavor. Thank you for the meal.

We visited the restaurant before it opened! Two colleagues and I were the first customers. Although it is a popular shop, I was looking forward to trying the food. I ordered the ramen with seasoned boiled egg. I think it was around 1000 yen. After waiting a few minutes, the ramen was finally served. The chashu was delicious! The overall taste was gentle and a bit lacking in punch for me. However, I think the simple flavor is enjoyable and not boring.

Visited the long-awaited Ranju around 12:04 on June 23, 2023! When I arrived, there were two people waiting. Due to the short business hours, I had a hard time finding the right timing to visit, but I finally made it! I entered around 20 minutes later. The interior of the restaurant has a good atmosphere with a classic clock, a light, and a radio playing. The scent of fragrant dried fish broth fills the air. It took about 10 minutes for the ramen to be served. The broth had a perfect balance of umami and a subtle bitterness without being overpowering. The straight noodles were packed full of flavor and delicious. The chashu was incredibly fragrant and tender, with a smoky flavor. The seasoned bamboo shoots were also delicious. The marinated egg had a paste-like yolk with a rich flavor. It was a simple yet delicious meal. I was impressed by the quality of the food. I would love to try their ramen next time, along with some appetizers and beer. Thank you for the meal!

I arrived at the ramen restaurant at 12:05 PM on a weekday and there was no line outside. The restaurant was full, so I had to wait 15 minutes before getting a table. Once seated, my ramen arrived in just 5 minutes. The soup had a strong bitter taste, with a hint of charred flavor from the chashu. The bitterness was quite pronounced. The seasoned egg was delicious.