For lunch on this day, I went to Koenji. It's been exactly one month since I visited Aoran, a famous curry restaurant. This time, I visited Ramen Yama to Ki, which has been selected as one of the top 100 ramen shops in Tokyo for three consecutive years. While Aoran was located at the far end of the shopping street on the north side, this one is on the south side, along the Koshu Highway instead of the shopping street. Checking the latest reviews, even on weekdays, securing a spot for the first round by arriving 15 minutes before the opening time seemed tricky, so I aimed to arrive 30 minutes early. As mentioned earlier, the restaurant is on the south side, so if you're coming from the south side, you have to cross a pedestrian bridge. I left from the north side, walked along the JR elevated railway on Geijutsu Street, turned right at the Koenji Station entrance intersection to cross to the other side of the Koshu Highway, then turned right and continued along the Koshu Highway until I reached the restaurant. The building where the restaurant is located is a condominium, with 7 shops lined up on the first floor, including Yama to Ki, with 3 vacant shops on either side. It seems like a tough location in terms of foot traffic. I arrived 35 minutes before the scheduled opening time, securing a perfect position. The next customer arrived 8 minutes later. Even on the shady side, it was extremely cold that day due to the strong wind. It made me feel like I needed gloves and a scarf for the first time this winter. Unaware, I stood right in front of the entrance, and after about 15 minutes, the owner appeared. He greeted me, then apologetically asked if I could line up on the other side, pointing to the side closer to the road. I saw two poles with red tape set up there. It seems the custom at this restaurant is to line up here at the front when waiting outside. The 9th person lined up 6 minutes before the scheduled opening time, marking the end of the first round. There were 7 men and 2 women in line. The restaurant opened 3 minutes earlier than planned. A young staff member hung a white curtain at the entrance, then approached us with a genuinely apologetic expression, bowing and saying, "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting in the cold." This one sentence made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Inside the restaurant, I bought a special miso ramen ticket from the ticket machine right in front, then followed the instructions to the farthest counter seat. I was served my bowl after a 10-minute wait. I received it directly from the owner across the counter. The first thing that caught my eye was the beautiful presentation. The brown soup with vibrant green chrysanthemum leaves, light green negi, red paprika, and black ma-yu oil stood out. The soup itself was impressive, with a subtle saltiness and indescribable richness and umami. It made my cheeks tingle. Next, the noodles. Thick, springy, flat noodles that were exactly to my liking. They were on par with the noodles from Nana Iro in Hatchobori. The chashu was tender, with plenty of meaty flavor. The seasoned egg had a perfectly runny yolk, soaked in delicious flavors, and was extremely tasty. The menma had a satisfyingly firm texture with a good amount of crunchiness, and the seasoning was excellent. The fried burdock root, a rare ramen topping, added a nice flavor and texture contrast. I've had miso ramen many times before, but I've never had one with such high-quality soup, noodles, and toppings all together. And the fact that this was a limited-time menu item, not a regular menu offering, really showcased the owner's skill. After finishing my meal in about 10 minutes, I thanked them and left my seat. The owner and the female staff politely greeted me again. As I walked out feeling warm and fuzzy, despite the cold wind blowing outside, I saw five customers eagerly waiting to enter the restaurant. Just like the experience at Ranshu in Minamicho and Hinari Ryuoh in Omorimachi, when the ramen is truly delicious, customers will line up no matter how inconvenient the location or how harsh the weather. In the case of Yama to Ki, with their exceptional customer service added on top, it's truly a winning combination.

Arriving 10 minutes before opening on a weekday, the restaurant was already open. There were 4 people in line at that time. Staff prompted customers to purchase meal tickets in order. I ordered the special ramen, chashu bowl, and a medium beer. After a 15-minute wait, we were seated. The beer was served first, followed by the ramen and bowl in 7-8 minutes. The ramen soup was surprisingly light and mild in flavor, not matching its dark color. It might be that my taste has changed since my last visit. Though a common phrase, it was very delicious. The noodles had a firm texture that complemented the soup well. The chashu was a delicacy with no unpleasant smell, offering a savory and sweet taste. The dish was beautifully presented with green onions, bamboo shoots, seasoned egg, and seaweed. The chashu bowl had plenty of flavorful chashu slices, offering great value for the price. Rolling the rice and chashu in seaweed from the ramen made for an exquisite bite. The excellent service from the female staff and the efficient operation by the owner made for a delightful and fulfilling lunch experience.

I visited for a late lunch on Sunday at 1:30 PM. I lined up as the 7th group in the queue that had formed in front of the store, and was directed by the staff to purchase a meal ticket at the entrance ticket machine. After buying the meal ticket, I lined up again in the original line, and it took 30 minutes until I entered the store. I have not had a good impression of ramen restaurant service based on past experiences, but the staff here were very polite and kind. The Special Ramen (1300 yen including tax) was a superb bowl that matched the clear, deep flavor and umami of the simple soy sauce soup with no off-flavors, with the strong, smooth-textured curly medium-thick noodles. The bowl was well-balanced with two tender, melt-in-your-mouth slices of chashu, one deliciously light-flavored chashu, menma, half-boiled egg, three sheets of nori, crunchy chopped green onions as a good-textured condiment. The delicious bowl, combined with the attentive service of the staff, made it a store I would like to visit again.

A ramen shop located about a 5-minute walk from Koenji Station. Around noon, there were about 8 people waiting in line. Waited for about 20 minutes before entering. Ordered the special soy sauce ramen. The soup was mild. As always, I don't really appreciate this type of soy sauce ramen. However, towards the end, the way the medium-thick curly noodles lifted up the soup was really good, and I enjoyed it in the latter half. I understand the importance of noodles. With soy sauce ramen, when the noodles are thin, the feeling of the soup and noodles mixing together is not there, so I tend to prefer thick noodle types. Also, the two slices of pork shoulder chashu that came with it were incredibly delicious. It was good.

Koenji "Raamen Yamato" is a ramen shop located along the Kanto Highway, a popular spot among the top 100 ramen shops. Before noon on weekends, it's already full with a line of 10 people waiting outside! They operate on a system of purchasing meal tickets in advance, so once you're inside, your order is served promptly. The special ramen (¥1300) with hand-kneaded noodles is my favorite - you can really smell the wheat, and it pairs well with the soup and toppings. The chashu has a generous amount of fat but isn't overpowering, it's incredibly tender and delicious. #TokyoGourmet #KoenjiGourmet #Lunch #FoodPorn #Foodie #WantToConnectWithFoodies #Foodstagram #Instagrammable #RamenInstagrammer #NoodleStagram #RamenLovers #RaamenYamato #Top100RestaurantsOnTabelog #FoodieGuys

About a 7-minute walk from Koenji Station. This popular ramen shop in Koenji is quietly gaining attention! *On this day, as it was a bit hot, I chose the tsukemen! The noodles here are distinctive. The homemade hand-kneaded noodles look delicious from the appearance alone!! The smooth and chewy noodles are very tasty and just to my liking!! The dipping sauce, on the other hand, is quite orthodox! It has a good balance of sweetness and acidity with a soy sauce base, not overpowering the flavor of the noodles! I think this dipping sauce is the perfect match for those unique noodles!! The sauce also contains slices of chashu, so I was very satisfied! The tsukemen was so delicious that I finished it in no time!!

Recently, I arrived 30 minutes before the opening at a famous ramen shop that's my current favorite. I was cautious of the line, so I arrived early, but as it was a weekday, I got the prime spot (^^♪ There are red belt poles along the Kandai side, so I lined up towards Koenji Station (northbound). Inside, a lovely couple was enjoying an early lunch. Although the shop opens at 11:30, with almost 10 people in line, a very charming lady with a smile hung the noren curtain and kindly guided us to an early opening (*^^*) I can see why their fan base is growing ♬ I was well-prepared, so without hesitation, I chose the top left option on the ticket machine: the special ramen for 1300 yen. Through the counter, the husband and wife's synchronized and efficient movements brought my order in about 5 minutes - beautiful (*^^*) The soup's color was rich, but clear without cloudiness. One sip, delicious!! It's so tasty, just right with reduced salt ♬ The toppings included two types of chashu, green onions, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and egg - all flawlessly prepared (*^▽^*) The noodles were my favorite, hand-kneaded, springy, and chewy - a perfect match. Watching the well-suited and friendly couple, I felt warm and cozy just being there ♡ Thank you for the meal, I will definitely visit again (^^)/

As expected from a renowned restaurant. The flavors are solid and the customer service is polite. The soy sauce I had was rich in umami, well-balanced, and had a smooth taste. I personally enjoyed the curly noodles that perfectly absorbed the soup. I'd like to try their cold noodles next time. I definitely want to come back.

First‼️ I was curious about this ramen shop for a while. I ordered the special ramen‼️ and it arrived promptly! The appearance looked delicious! The soup was the first thing I tried... (ﾟдﾟ) Delicious‼️ The aroma is initially chicken, followed by a seafood-based Japanese taste, and a refined soy sauce aroma. The taste is overall smooth and gentle, very comforting. The flavors of animal-based, seafood-based, soy sauce, and salt are all balanced perfectly. The saltiness is gentle, although personally, I would prefer a bit more, but considering the overall balance, this is probably the best level! It's so tasty that if you drink too much, you'll run out of soup, so I had to resist laughing. The homemade noodles are medium-thick, hand-kneaded curly noodles. The owner hand-kneads them before boiling, resulting in a perfect, delicious wheaty noodle texture! I love it (#´ᗜ`#) The chashu, seasoned egg, and bamboo shoots are all delicious, of course. The green onions add a nice touch! The tsukemen (dipping noodles) that other customers were having also looked delicious! Next time, I'll try the tsukemen!

11:12 Arrival. I lined up behind one person waiting outside. They opened a little earlier than the opening time and let us in. I bought a meal ticket at the ticket machine and brought my own water to the seat. There are 8 counter seats. 11:27 Seated. Hiyashi Chuka for 1500 yen with extra noodles for 150 yen. 11:40 Served. The soup contains flat curly noodles, 3 slices of chashu, bell peppers, rolled omelette, purple onions, fried onions, and cucumbers. The sauce is a soy sauce with bonito flavor, not too vinegary and delicious. The flat curly noodles are firm and chilled, providing a good bite. The chashu slices are large and satisfying. The marinated bell peppers are well-seasoned and oily, tasty. The cucumbers are sliced wide, showing attention to detail in the ingredients, making it delightful.

Revisited. A popular ramen shop located about a 10-minute walk from Koenji Station. Their homemade, thick, chewy noodles are delicious. Their chilled ramen using these noodles is also outstanding. I really enjoyed the chilled ramen I had here last year, so I went back this year. Last year, I ended up waiting in line for almost an hour in the scorching heat because I arrived before the shop opened, so this year I decided to go a bit later. I arrived at the shop around 2 p.m. There was still a line, but much shorter than last time. My strategy worked. The shop has unusual operating hours from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., so if you can adjust your mealtime, it's smoother to get in. While waiting in line, the staff will ask you to purchase a meal ticket. I bought a meal ticket for their chilled ramen (1500 yen) with extra noodles (150 yen). The meal ticket was collected while waiting in line, so I didn't have to wait long once inside. The chilled ramen served was incredibly delicious again this year. The round plate was filled with plenty of chewy noodles. On top of the noodles were fried onions, sliced purple onions, roasted bell peppers, thinly sliced cucumbers, a tortilla with mushrooms and bacon, plenty of roasted pork, and roasted sesame seeds. The slightly acidic sauce with the umami of dried fish was poured over it. The noodles were delicious. It had a firm texture from being boiled al dente, and when chewed, the flavor of the wheat emerged. The sauce coated the noodles well, and it had a satisfying chewiness. The sauce was also tasty. It was different from the typical chilled ramen you find at local Chinese restaurants, more like a chilled ramen broth with a refreshing taste and a strong umami flavor. The sauce was not as thick as traditional chilled ramen sauce, so it was drinkable. The rich and unique ingredients were delicious and complemented the chilled ramen well. Rolling the noodles with the flat-sliced cucumbers was delicious, and the flavorful tortilla added more substance. The crispy texture of the fried onions was a nice touch, and the roasted bell peppers absorbed the sauce, giving a grilled vegetable flavor. The roasted pork added volume to the overall refreshing taste of the chilled ramen. It was so delicious that even the extra noodles were gone in no time. Although the wait was a bit challenging, I would definitely want to come back next year for this chilled ramen.

I visited for the first time after 3 p.m. on a weekday! Among many famous restaurants in the neighborhood that end their lunch service by 3 p.m., it was great that this place is open until 4 p.m.! The special soy sauce and chashu rice! The soup has a strong soy sauce flavor and is incredibly delicious! It's not a seafood or niboshi flavor, but a strong soy sauce taste!!! I really liked it! The chashu also had a nice meaty texture! I found it very delicious as well! Personally, I prefer thin noodles that are firm, so I'm not a fan of the springy hand-kneaded noodles, but they were tasty! I would like to try eating thin firm noodles with this soup... I forgot to take a photo of the chashu rice, but it had a chashu that was different from the ramen! It felt like pulled pork. It's nice to have a different kind of chashu from the ramen! It was a very lovely restaurant, and I would love to go back if I'm in the area again!

I arrived around 11:15 on a holiday, there were about 6 customers ahead of me, it seemed like they opened early as I just made it for the first seating. Just to note, by 20 minutes past, there were about 8 people waiting outside. It had been half a year since my last visit, this was my 4th time. This place is known for its delicate ramen in Koenji. I ordered the Ajitama Ramen for 1,100 yen, a fitting price. It arrived in about 15 minutes with the classic toppings like bamboo shoots, twisted green onions, chashu, seasoned egg, and seaweed. The soup, based on chicken bones, was enhanced with kombu, bonito flakes, and dried baby sardines, giving it a Japanese umami flavor. The soy sauce in the soup was truly delicious, with a perfect balance of bitterness and uniqueness. The noodles were chewy, medium-thick, and wavy, absorbing the broth well with each bite. The green onions were fresh and added a strong flavor, creating a nice contrast with the soy sauce broth. The chashu, which was just okay last time, was excellent this time - tender, thick, and soaked up all the flavors. By the time I left, there was no more line. This place has a perfect balance between delicacy and boldness, standing right in the middle. It feels like racing through the heart of umami. I mentioned it was my last visit, but I might come back again. This ramen is different from the usual new wave styles because of its unique soy sauce flavor.

The restaurant has only about 10 counter seats and operates for a short period of time, so there is always a line of customers. However, I believe the ramen is worth the wait. The noodles are thick and chewy, providing a satisfying texture, and the soup, while seeming ordinary at first, has a lingering umami flavor.

It was 12:30 on a weekday. Second in line. Impressed by the generous portion of the donburi dish. The thinly sliced cucumbers and roast beef catch your eye first. It looks Western, but the soup tastes like classic chilled noodles. Busy choosing toppings, quickly finished the meal with chopsticks. Thank you for the feast.

(Issued from Instagram) I went noodle hunting at a popular restaurant in Koenji ✨️ It was my first visit, of course. I waited in line for a bit but got seated in about 20 minutes. I ordered the special ramen and rice on the side. They suggested water, but I usually go NW style (No-Water: I don't drink water when eating ramen), so I declined and waited for my dish to arrive. I had already handed in my meal ticket, so it arrived in about 7-8 minutes. The spacious counter seating with a view of the large kitchen made time fly by. The soup was incredibly delicious! The chashu, egg, bamboo shoots, green onions, and seaweed were all tasty. Ordering rice on the side was a good choice. I naturally finished the white rice with the chashu, slurped up the soup in one go, and had a perfect finish ✨️ Koenji has many delicious ramen shops, huh ⤴︎︎︎ Oh, by the way, NW style is my own made-up term, so you probably shouldn't use it, haha #KoenjiGourmet #TabelogTop100 #RamenYamatoKi #SpecialRamen #NWStyle #KoenjiRamen #ConnectWithRamenLovers #OneNoodleADay #RamenPatrol #VisitToKaitoriDaikichiKoenjiStationSouthExitStore 3.84

The refreshing salt dipping sauce with a rich chicken flavor and a moderate kick of seven spices. This post is a memo with a rating of how delicious I found the restaurant to be, along with a brief impression, so that I don't forget the deliciousness of the place I visited. Please note that the personal rating may be influenced by changes in physical condition and emotions.

A ramen shop in Koenji. Visited during lunchtime. ~Order~ Tsukemen 1050 yen The noodles were thin and firm with a slightly powdery texture due to the whole wheat flour. Personally, I thought a slightly softer texture would enhance the crispy sensation. The dipping sauce had a rich umami flavor, with soy sauce providing a sharpness, creating a high-quality taste with depth and sharpness. Toppings included tender, flavorful chashu, menma, green onions, and seaweed. The chashu, cooked to perfection, retained the meat's umami flavor. Overall, it was a high-level bowl, but the firmness of the noodles didn't quite match my preference. I wonder if it's possible to order the noodles on the softer side. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived at 11:10 on a Wednesday in August and was able to get a PP without the usual long line. As always, they opened a bit early at 11:15, which was much appreciated due to the heat! It had been almost a year since my last visit, which was on August 5th last year. I ordered the same items from the ticket machine as last time: - Chilled noodles for ¥1,500 - Special ramen for ¥1,300 My friend and I shared them. The ramen was served in 5 minutes, and the chilled noodles in 7 minutes. The hand-kneaded noodle in the ramen had a pleasant sweetness in both the noodles and the soup, which was delicious as always. The chilled noodles were like an ultra-luxurious version that could be served at a top hotel, with three large pieces of meat and the refreshing texture of peeled cucumber. Most importantly, it had the classic taste of chilled noodles. It's my summer tradition, and I definitely want to visit again next year!

I had some business in Koenji and it was lunchtime, so I decided to have lunch somewhere. I searched for nearby restaurants on Tabelog and found that "Raamen Yama to Ki" had high ratings, so I decided to go there. When I arrived at the restaurant at 11:30, there was a line of 4 people waiting (;^ω^); I had no choice but to wait in line. I was guided to buy a meal ticket along the way, so I entered the store to buy the ticket in order. I looked at the menu on the ticket machine and bought a ticket for the "Special Raamen for 1,300 yen," then lined up outside again. While waiting, they came to collect the tickets. At 11:47, I was shown to a seat at the counter and waited. At 12:02, the special raamen arrived. The toppings included seasoned egg, 2 slices of pork belly chashu, pork shoulder chashu, menma, 3 sheets of seaweed, and Kujo green onions, among others. I immediately tried the soup, which had a soy sauce base with a main flavor of chicken and a hint of seafood, making it delicious. The homemade hand-kneaded medium-thick curly noodles were chewy and paired perfectly with the soup. The pork belly chashu was tender and juicy, very tasty. The pork shoulder chashu was so tender that it fell apart when picked up with chopsticks, and it was delicious. The seasoned egg was perfectly half-cooked and tasty. The menma was delicious as well. I finished the soup and the meal. Thank you for the delicious meal today. m(_ _)m

Yama to Ki (Koenji) Limited time offer: Chilled ramen again this year at Yama to Ki ⛰ along the Koshu-kaido (inner loop). If you've come all the way to Koenji, you should definitely try the ramen at Yama to Ki. July 29, 2023 (Sat) Arrived at 12:03, no wait to get in, maybe the first time without a line. ▼ Food ticket -------------------- Limited time offer chilled ramen ~2023~ 1,500 yen Ichishibo (medium bottle) 600 yen Arrived at 12:15, big bowl this year, very firm noodles, tightly packed and delicious. You'll probably be surprised by how hard the noodles are. Finished eating. Now, should you finish the chilled ramen soup? I hesitated, but I had beer, so I decided to leave it. Thank you for the meal. The noodles were surprisingly good this year, and the chilled ramen from this famous restaurant is highly recommended. Left at 12:25 Time spent: 22 minutes ------------------------------ 2023 #279th bowl ------------------------------ #ChilledRamen #LimitedTimeOffer #YamaToKi #KoenjiGourmet #KoenjiRamen #TokyoRamen #RamenDiary #RamenTour #RamenFoodie #RamenInstagrammer #RamenEnthusiast #NoodleEnthusiast #NoodleStar #NoodleInstagram #NoodleLover #ramen #noodles #NoWeightGainFromRamen