I visited Yamaguchi-san, who I have been relying on for the past 2-3 years, after paying my respects at Anahachimangu Shrine. I arrived at 11:10 and thought there might be a line, but there were only 3 customers ahead of me, so it was not crowded. It seems like aiming for the 11:00 opening on New Year's Day is a good idea. I purchased a ticket for the special chicken soba and sat down in order from the back where the water was placed. You can store your belongings under the chair. They make the orders from previous customers in a careful manner, so it seems like it will take some time before it is served. After about 8 minutes, it was served. The special chicken soba for 1480 yen seemed a bit pricey, but it was actually worth it. The soup was a bit cloudy compared to before, with an increased richness. It used to have a light and chicken-focused taste, but now it has a significantly increased richness and was delicious. The noodles were thin straight noodles made from low-gluten flour, and although they seemed to soften quickly, the wheat flavor was alive and well. The toppings included about 3 slices of chashu, which were cooked at a low temperature and were moist and perfectly done. The taste of the meat intensified as you chewed on it. It seems like they use really good pork. Some people even ordered extra toppings or a mini rice bowl, which is honestly worth it. The menma was thick but had a good texture, and the flavor of the broth seeped in nicely. I remember having daikon radish sprouts before, but this time it was green onions, and the flavor was really good. The simmered egg was simple, but you could tell they put effort into it from the color of the yolk. It was so well done that you could even have it with rice alone. It has surpassed my expectations after a long time. It's a bit far from the station, but even considering that, if there's no line, the cost-performance in terms of time is quite good. I would like to make time to visit regularly in the future.

I ordered the special soy sauce ramen at 5:30 pm on a weekday and there were only 2 customers. The soup had an amazing aroma with a strong soy sauce flavor, a hint of chicken impact, and a smooth finish of kelp. The flavor spread instantly upon sipping, with a deep and impressive taste. The chashu was made of shoulder loin, giving a rich meaty flavor that required some chewing to fully enjoy. The egg was perfectly half-cooked, soft, and rich. The menma had a thick and soft texture with a strong aroma. The wonton had a noticeable yuzu flavor, but the meat taste was a bit hard to distinguish. The noodles were medium-thick straight noodles with a chewy and bouncy texture that paired well with the fragrant soup. Overall, it was a highly recommended ramen shop that is easy to visit if you have the time.

Special Spicy Tsukemen - 1,630 yen This is my third visit without much time in between. I came to try the spicy tsukemen that caught my attention last time. I arrived around 11:30 am on a weekday and was able to enter without waiting in line. (By the time I left around 12 pm, the restaurant was full.) I purchased a meal ticket from the cash-only vending machine. Since I wanted to try a variety of items, I opted for the higher-priced special spicy tsukemen. The ramen that arrived was indeed beautiful! The appetizing spicy broth, along with the noodles and toppings in the bowl. ...and? The noodles were soaking in a transparent liquid. This is apparently konbu water, in other words, konbu broth. It soaks up the umami flavor before being dipped in the sauce. This ramen place is really interesting. I dipped the medium-thick noodles into the sauce and took a bite. The aroma of sesame, the spiciness of doubanjiang, and a subtle acidity. Delicious! It wasn't too spicy at first, but around the 10th bite, it started to get spicy. I see. The seasoned egg was creamy, the bamboo shoots were soft, one of the chashu had a herbal fragrance, and the yuzu aroma came from the wonton. It was delicious. To finish, I had the sauce diluted. They warmed it up in the microwave. The soup's flavor intensified, and the acidity was more pronounced. Personally, I found the portion of noodles to be quite filling, and even with the diluted sauce, I couldn't finish it all. Also, while the spiciness and umami were great, I felt the flavor was a bit lacking. It was tasty, though. Next time, I'll come to try the salt chicken ramen.

Special Salt Chicken Ramen for 1,510 yen. It had been about 4 years since I last visited. It was around 3 PM on a holiday, yet the restaurant was still quite full, with about 80-90% occupancy. I bought my meal ticket from the ticket machine on the left and was guided to my seat. The restaurant had piano music playing in the background, and there were many solo female diners. The salt flavor was light but with a strong taste, which I personally enjoyed. Overall, I had a delicious meal.

Special Chicken Soba 1,480 yen I visited for the second time in a year and a half. I arrived before 11:30 am on a weekday, and there was no line, with only one person inside, so I was able to enter smoothly. I purchased the special chicken soba from the ticket machine at the top left. (I believe last time I came it was the special ramen for 1,380 yen) It was a soy sauce-flavored chicken soba with all the toppings. There were other options on the ticket machine, such as chicken soba with salt, tsukemen, and spicy tsukemen. On the small piece of paper on the table, it explained that the chicken soba had been renewed this year. Since I last came in May of last year, I was looking forward to trying the renewed version. The ramen that came out was simply beautiful! The noodles were neatly placed flat, with a seasoned egg, 4 slices of chashu, and 3 wontons on top. There were also 2 pieces of menma and green onions. The presentation was artistic and orderly! The flavor was indeed rich. However, last time the soy sauce flavor was strong from the salt, but this time it wasn't salty from the beginning. Could it be that the broth is strong? When you take a bite, you feel a rich heaviness. The noodles were square-cut, medium-thin straight noodles. The texture was enjoyable and easy to pick up with chopsticks. The seasoned egg was half-cooked. The menma was thick but soft. The chashu had a sweet seasoning. The wontons had a yuzu fragrance. The green onions brought a refreshing touch. The soup was made with 3 types of soy sauce, with a light color and a certain transparency. It was just beautiful! I was more satisfied than last time. It's a bit pricey at nearly 1,500 yen, but considering how filling it is, the deliciousness, and the beauty, I really enjoyed it. They only accept cash, and you can ask for a paper apron.

I had the opportunity to visit Tokyo on a business trip, so I decided to stop by my alma mater before heading to work. It was still summer vacation, so the campus was quiet and I visited the Haruki Murakami Memorial Hall and other new facilities. Between Waseda and Takadanobaba, I felt like having tonkatsu or ramen, so I searched on Tabelog and found a ramen shop that I would like. I arrived just before 12 PM in the heat, so I was able to enter without waiting. I ordered soy sauce ramen with wonton topping. I love the clear soup made with chicken base and the wonton. As I get older, I find heavy broth ramen too much to handle and crave for clear soup. The taste was as expected, clear but with depth and richness. The thin green onions added a nice accent without changing the flavor of the ramen. The wonton was smooth and slippery. It made me so happy. Thank you for the delicious meal!

Visited Raamen Yamaguchi for the third time and tried their special salt chicken ramen for the first time. The carefully crafted bowl had a rich flavor of chicken that was deeply satisfying. The noodles and soup were a perfect match, and the small wontons were delicious. And of course, the chashu pork was incredibly tasty. Thank you for the meal! #ramen #ramenlover #ramenclub #rameninstagrammer #noodles #foodie #foodporn #foodstagram #2023nami0710 #raamenyamaguchi

I went to Kagurazaka in the morning for work, and as I walked towards Waseda and Takadanobaba, I thought about having some delicious ramen for lunch. I searched online and remembered this shop. Luckily, there was no line outside the shop when I arrived. I entered the shop to a cheerful greeting and purchased the "Chicken Ramen" from the ticket machine. I was seated at the counter near the front, which was clean and pleasant. The ramen was served in about 10 minutes, and it looked impressive with the noodles neatly arranged in the rich soup, topped with char siu, bamboo shoots, and green onions. The soup had a rich flavor balance of chicken and soy sauce, which I found delicious. The noodles were smooth and went well with the soup after a few bites. The bamboo shoots were a bit cold, and I felt they could be warmer. The amount of green onions was a bit small, and I thought a bit more would enhance the flavor. The char siu was tasty. Despite usually sticking to ramen under 1000 yen, I didn't mind paying a little more this time. The cleanliness of the shop, the good service, and the taste and presentation of the ramen were all excellent. The best part was being able to enjoy delicious ramen without waiting in line. Ramen has become an integral part of Japanese food culture, just like sushi has various forms from conveyor belt to high-end restaurants. It made me appreciate the diversity of ramen styles available.

I ate curry in Takadanobaba and headed towards Ikebukuro. I had some time to spare, so I decided to walk to Sakura Tram's Omokage Bridge area. Along the way, I came across Ramen Yamaguchi, a place that Mairevi-san often visits. It was interesting to find it here, and I made a mental note to visit next time. When I arrived at Ramen Yamaguchi, there was no line, and I was able to get a seat easily. The staff, mostly young women, seemed like regular part-timers. The ramen I ordered, the "All Toppings Chicken Soba Shoyu," was priced at 1480 yen, which was a bit on the higher side. The taste was decent, with the chashu having a slightly gamey flavor. The menma was thick but tender, and the noodles had a good texture. The atmosphere of the restaurant reminded me of another place I visited in Nerima, Kane Kitchen Noodle. While the soup was flavorful, the overall experience lacked the energy and enthusiasm that I usually expect from a good ramen shop. The lack of vibrancy in the service and atmosphere left me feeling a bit underwhelmed. I finished the soup but didn't feel the usual satisfaction and excitement that I get from eating at a truly great ramen shop.

Special Chicken Ramen: The rich flavor of chicken is condensed in the soy sauce soup, with noodles that are easy to slurp and have a pleasant texture that blends well with the soup. The two types of char siu, seasoned egg, and wonton all had a high level of quality. It was delicious! #Nishi-WasedaGourmet #Nishi-WasedaLunch #RamenInstagrammer #RaamenYamaguchi #Top100RamenShops #MichelinRamen

I arrived at around 5:30 pm on Saturday and was able to sit down immediately without waiting in line. I ordered the chicken soba, which was beautifully presented with noodles, chashu, menma, and green onions. The soup was delicious, with a sweet oiliness and rich broth that made it hard to believe it was only 1050 yen. The noodles were chewy and paired well with the salty soup. I like to add a little green onion on top of the noodles before eating. The restaurant has a narrow layout, and after buying a meal ticket, the staff will assign you a seat.

It was truly a top-notch restaurant! The taste was so delicious that it made me want to say "this is a great restaurant!" Good ramen is all about the tasty soy sauce. The turnover was quick, so we were able to get in without waiting too long. I don't think we waited more than 10 minutes. The quiet restaurant owner and the friendly waitress made the overall experience very satisfying!

It was my first visit in a long time. It seems like they have renewed the place. The Ajitama Tori Soba costs 1200 yen. The basic concept seems to remain the same. However, compared to the excitement I felt when I tried it a few years ago, it now feels quite different. When I came last year, the staff seemed inexperienced and were just chatting away. Also, the noodles were overcooked and mushy when served, so I decided not to come back. But after some time had passed, I still liked the place so I decided to revisit. The clear soup with that sparkling, indescribable shine on the surface was what impressed me the most, but now the soup has lost its transparency and looks dull. The flavor used to have a mellow sweetness and a rich aroma that tempted you to finish it all, but this time I couldn't drink it all. Why did it change like this? It's still delicious. It's delicious, but it's a bit disappointing that it's not a perfect 5 anymore. I wonder if many others feel the same way? It used to be so crowded, but when I went in the evening, I was the only one there. I wish YAMAGUCHI would come back.

I went to Ramen Yamaguchi on Sunday night! We arrived around 7:50 pm, and the wait was only about 5 minutes as there was minimal cleanup going on inside the restaurant. We lined up, got guided to our seats by the staff, and it seemed like we needed to purchase food tickets. If there is no line, they will guide you inside anyway! I ordered the Special Chicken Ramen, and my partner ordered the Spicy Tsukemen. The Chicken Ramen had a simple and beautiful soy sauce broth with a well-balanced depth and strong chicken flavor, making it understandable why this place is considered a top ramen spot. The noodles were perfectly matched with the broth from start to finish, creating a harmonious bowl of ramen. Each ingredient, from the wonton to the bamboo shoots to the chashu, was delicious on its own and even better when combined, resulting in a truly tasty bowl of ramen! The first sip of the soy sauce broth combined with the chicken flavor and the easy-to-slurp noodles was a shockingly delicious experience unique to a top ramen shop! The Spicy Tsukemen had impressive noodles with a beautiful texture, soaking in a kombu-infused water. The noodles alone were delicious, and when combined with the spiciness of the chili oil and the depth and sweetness of the sesame, it became a very enjoyable tsukemen! The soup-wari for finishing was also warm and tasty until the last drop! Being able to watch the kitchen right in front of us made the waiting time enjoyable! However, watching them straighten the noodles was a bit oddly fascinating! Thank you for the delicious meal!

Laamen Yamaguchi is located a 6-minute walk from Nishi-Waseda Station on the Tokyo Metro Fukutoshin Line, a 10-minute walk from Waseda Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, and an 11-minute walk from Takadanobaba Station on the JR Yamanote Line. I ordered the Special Chicken Ramen for 1,480 yen. The ramen was delicious and made with Aizu local chicken. #LaamenYamaguchi #Tokyo #SpecialChickenRamen #Delicious #Ramen #RamenLovers #Foodie #Noodles #TokyoRamen #SoySauceRamen #AizuLocalChicken #Foodstagram

It had been a while since my last visit to this restaurant. It had moved to a location slightly further from its previous spot. I arrived at 6:00 pm and there was no line at all. I ordered the chicken ramen with wontons for 1300 yen. The person preparing the food seemed like a part-timer. The char siu, which used to be delicious with two slices, had a strange taste or odor to it. I don't think I will be going back.

I arrived at the restaurant at 11:30 right after it opened, and there were already two customers inside. I ordered the special chicken ramen. The interior of the restaurant was clean and the service was good. The ramen was served in less than 10 minutes, and it was a clear and delicious bowl with a soy sauce-based broth that had a strong chicken flavor. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the chashu, wonton, and seasoned egg were all tasty. I finished it in no time. By the time I left, the restaurant was full, showing its popularity. I would like to try the salted chicken ramen and tsukemen next time.

I happened to walk along a street and found a ramen shop called "La Men Yamaguchi", which used to have long lines until last year. It was 6:30 pm on a weekday, and there was only one person inside, so I was able to get in! I thought maybe the pricing was too aggressive, which is why it wasn't as crowded. I ordered the Special Chicken Ramen, which is advertised as the most popular item, for 1480 yen. The shop was very clean and had been renovated in 2023, with the menu also being completely revamped. There were two staff members, probably not the owner Mr. Yamaguchi, maybe just part-time workers. The ramen was served. Now, what would a 1480 yen ramen taste like? The flavor was a clear chicken soy sauce broth, sharp and delicious. The noodles seemed handmade and I really liked them. The bamboo shoots were well-flavored and satisfying. The dumplings had tasty meat inside. The char siu had a unique aroma, overshadowing the chicken flavor of the ramen. Maybe this is the standard here at La Men Yamaguchi. The flavored egg had a perfectly runny yolk and a delicious taste. You can get extra noodles for 150 yen. I'm not sure why there weren't many customers, maybe because they don't see the value in the high price? Personally, I also felt that 1480 yen for a bowl of ramen was a bit expensive. However, if it were priced at 1000 yen, I would definitely recommend it as a unique ramen worth trying.

On 23/8, I had lunch at a ramen shop in Tokyo that was selected as one of the top 100 shops in 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, and 2017. The shop was located near Waseda Station, about a 10-minute walk away. I arrived after 3 pm, so I went straight in. I bought a meal ticket from the ticket machine. The shop only had counter seats. I ordered the chicken ramen for 1050 yen. The aroma of chicken oil wafted from the moment they started cooking. It smelled really good. The soy sauce ramen with chicken was delicious. The noodles were probably homemade and quite soft, which I personally like. I thought I had visited all the top 100 shops, but then I found out that visits to shops that have relocated are not counted, so I hurried to this one. I had been to the shop before it moved, but it seems it wasn't counted. There are two more shops I haven't visited yet, so I need to go soon.

Hmm, the taste has changed!? This is my fourth visit in just over two years. I purchased the special chicken ramen with mini rice from the ticket machine!! It arrived shortly after. When I ate it, the noodles were soft and tender. Huh? I don't remember them being like this before. Well, some people like them soft, but maybe they're a bit too soft! The soup is still delicious as always. The chashu also tastes different! I feel like it had more flavor before. Thank you for the meal.

[Waseda] On this day, I went to Waseda for an exhibition. The exhibition was scheduled for the 14:30 session, so I decided to have lunch in the Waseda area. [Yamaguchi] While looking for a place to have lunch in the Waseda area, I chose this place because it was relatively close to the exhibition venue and I was in the mood for ramen. [Interior] The interior of the restaurant consists of only a counter and is very clean. Jazz music was playing in the background, creating a very calm atmosphere. It seems like it would be easy for solo female customers to enter. It gives the impression that ramen shops with this kind of calm atmosphere are becoming more common. [Order] I ordered the Special Chicken Ramen. The amber-colored soup is made with Aizu Jidori chicken and Rausu kombu, and the seasoning soy sauce uses three types of soy sauce: scented soy sauce, raw soy sauce, and tamari soy sauce. The soup is rich and the taste of the three soy sauces is very good, making it very delicious. The noodles are straight and thin, with a smooth texture that goes down easily. The noodles absorb the soup well, making it delicious. The toppings include two types of chashu, chicken wonton, flavored egg, and bamboo shoots. Both types of chashu offer both flavor and aroma. The chicken wonton is also flavorful and delicious. The flavored egg and bamboo shoots are tasty as well. Overall, the quality is high. It makes me want to go back for more. [After lunch] After having ramen here, I went to the exhibition and then visited the Anahachimangu Shrine.