I am a beginner and this is my second time trying Jiro Ramen. I have tried to challenge it on weekends, but the line was so long that I had to give up. Today, I visited Ramen Jiro Koenji Ichinoe Store. Even the Koenji Ichinoe store always has a long line. So, it's my first time trying it. I decided to challenge the late Sunday morning ramen. Here are some details about my experience: - I arrived at the store at 10:20 am. There were already about 7 people in line. - I bought a ticket for the ramen with 5 slices of pork for 850 yen. - I waited for about 15 minutes before entering the store. - I sat at the counter and waited for my order. - I chose to add extra vegetables and skip the garlic, oil, and extra sauce toppings. - The ramen was served with a mountain of bean sprouts and cabbage. The soup was rich and flavorful, with a strong soy sauce taste. - The noodles were thick and had a firm texture on the outside and a chewy texture on the inside. - The pork slices were well-cooked and had a tender texture with no excessive fat. - I enjoyed the combination of the pork, vegetables, and soup, which created a delicious and satisfying meal. - The owner of the store was attentive and managed the customers efficiently. Overall, I was satisfied with my first experience of having ramen for breakfast. The guilt of indulging in the rich flavors lingered, but the delicious taste made it worth it. The price of 850 yen for a filling and tasty meal was reasonable. The store was well-managed, and I enjoyed my meal.

I had a sudden craving for Jiro ramen this morning, so I went to eat it. Even though I wasn't particularly hungry, I ended up ordering the large size without soup with extra toppings as usual. It was a bit tough to finish, but of course I managed to eat it all. I arrived at the restaurant right at the opening time of 10:30 on a weekday, but unfortunately, I couldn't make it for the first round. Jiro ramen is always so popular at every store, right?

Thursday, 10:35 AM. There were 5 people waiting outside as the restaurant had just opened and was already full. I realized I haven't had ramen in a while, but then remembered I had it on Monday and Sunday too. It's still too hot outside, but I decided to go for it anyway. This summer has been the toughest one I've experienced while working. Why is it so hot? I even tried using extreme cold deodorant sheets and a USB fan, but still ended up sweating while eating ramen. Even at Ichinoe Jiro, where they have air conditioning, it was still hotter than outside. But for some reason, eating ramen in this heat feels strangely delicious. I've been eating Jiro-style ramen recently, but I realized I hardly ever go to the original Jiro for ramen. I always end up getting tsukemen there. On the other hand, I've been a regular at this restaurant since it opened, and I've never tried anything other than their ramen. I used to eat here once a week without fail, and even went three times a week after the state of emergency was lifted. I never seem to get tired of it. I've been writing more like a diary than a restaurant review lately. Oh well. The ramen was delicious as usual. This place has a lot of cabbage in their vegetables, and the boiled cabbage is sweet. Other places often just add bean sprouts as extra vegetables, which can be too spicy. The pork was tender and amazing. It paired well with the soup. It seems like they might be short-staffed, as they had a help wanted sign up. They only seem to open on Sundays occasionally. Thank you for the meal.

In my late 40s, I have recently become a fan of Ramen Jiro, and here is my visit record. Looking at my records, it has been 3 years since I last visited Ichinoe Jiro in October 2020. This was my 6th visit, and it had been a while. The reason I don't visit it often even though it's only a 30-minute bike ride from my house is simply because it's not that tasty (laughs). Ichinoe Jiro has a big gap between when it's delicious and when it's not. Last Saturday, I had sushi and didn't have Jiro, and since then, I have been experiencing withdrawal symptoms, with my hands shaking from Monday morning. Today, I had planned to go to Kameido at night, but unexpectedly, it was only open for lunch. I couldn't resist any longer and decided to play my last card. Access: It's a 3-minute walk from Ichinoe Station on the Toei Shinjuku Line. However, living in Urayasu, I had to go through Urayasu -> Nishi-Funabashi -> Hon-Hachiman -> Ichinoe, which was quite troublesome. So today, I decided to bike again. The weather was uncertain, and I was afraid of sudden heavy rain, but by evening, it was quite cool, so I decided to go with my bike. There was also a tailwind, so I arrived surprisingly quickly. It took less than 25 minutes. I arrived just 5 minutes before the opening on a weekday evening, and I was the 9th in line when it opened. I first bought a ticket at the ticket machine. Ichinoe Jiro probably has the least volume among all Jiro shops, with default noodles probably less than 250g before boiling. So I bought a ticket for the large ramen with 5 slices of pork for 1000 yen. Interior: There were 3 people running the shop - the owner and two young assistants. Before COVID, there were 14 seats, but during COVID, it was reduced to 10 seats. Today, it had changed to 13 seats. There were no ghosts in the shop. The entrance was left open, but it was quite cool inside with the air conditioning. On the table, there were condiments like red pepper, coarse red pepper, white pepper, and black pepper. There were spoons and disposable chopsticks. The first batch was served for 5 people. At the end of the second batch, I ordered less vegetables, garlic, and oil. Impressions: When I lifted the bowl, I could predict that I could finish it (laughs) due to the volume. The vegetables were quite minimal. The soup didn't have as much off-flavor as in the past, but it lacked sharpness and was a bit blurry. It was a plain Jiro, similar to Ogikubo, Shindaita, or Kawasaki. The noodles were slightly firm, similar to Matsudo. The volume of the large ramen was probably around 300g before boiling. Despite having some dorayaki as a snack and feeling a bit off in my stomach, I was able to finish it without much difficulty. There were 5 slices of pork, which were small compared to other Jiro shops. They were not tough but not tender either. The soy sauce flavor was weak, making it not a standout. Overall, I didn't feel moved by it. It satisfied my craving for Jiro, but that's about it. On the way back, I enjoyed a leisurely bike ride home to Urayasu, feeling the cool breeze (laughs). The cycling experience in the evening was more enjoyable than the satisfaction from Jiro (laughs). I might consider reviving my old road bike.

Revisited Jiro Ramen Koenji Ichinoe after a night shift today for brunch. It had been quite a while since my last visit, probably around 2007. I arrived at 10:05, 25 minutes before opening, and was sixth in line. I ordered a small ramen with a flavored egg for 800 yen plus 100 yen for garlic and extra pork fat. The soup had a nice punch from the seasoning and a good balance of pork flavor. The noodles were slightly softer, but had a good texture. The pork had a decent amount of chewiness, with less fatty parts. The flavored egg was well marinated. I had heard that the noodle portion at Jiro is usually small, so I didn't request less noodles this time, and it turned out to be just right. There were two types of chili pepper on the table, and I used the finer one which had a nice aroma. It was delicious. Cheers!

I visited Jiro Ramen Ichinoe shop after a long time. It's always crowded due to its convenient location near the station. In the evening, I took a walk and happened to pass by the shop. The line wasn't too long, so I decided to join. I noticed that the price had increased by about 50 yen since my last visit, which is understandable given the current situation. From the time when a small ramen was 700 yen, it's now 800 yen. I opted for "half the amount of noodles" to fit my budget. I left the shop feeling satisfied and full. Thank you for the meal.

I was finally able to visit this ramen shop after a long time. I arrived around 10 o'clock on a Sunday and was the 6th person in line outside. I thought it would be crowded, but I was lucky. I ordered the pork ramen with 5 slices of pork. I asked for extra vegetables, pork fat, and garlic. The assistant who used to work there was not present, and two women were handling things. The amount of extra vegetables seemed to have increased compared to before, and the pork fat was not marinated in the sauce like it used to be, but plain. The taste was just as delicious as before, with a sharp soy sauce flavor and a hint of sweetness from the pork. The noodle portion was 250g, but I finished it in no time. It's still so delicious.

Hello, I'm a gourmet actor. Today, I visited Ramen Jiro Ichinoe store. There is always a long line, even in the morning when I usually drive by. I wanted to know what kind of ramen is worth waiting in line for. At noon, there were about 10 people waiting outside. The store has around 14 seats, so even if you wait, you can get in pretty quickly, which is convenient! Ramen Jiro has a system called "call," so I recommend checking the rules before going to get the ramen you like. It was a mild taste, friendly even for Ramen Jiro beginners. Among the various Ramen Jiro stores, the Ichinoe store might be recommended for beginners! I also thought about exploring other Ramen Jiro stores in the future. - Small Ramen with 2 slices of pork: 700 yen - Large Ramen with 2 slices of pork: 800 yen - Small Ramen with 5 slices of pork: 800 yen - Large Ramen with 5 slices of pork: 900 yen - Double Small Ramen with pork: 900 yen - Double Large Ramen with pork: 1000 yen - Soupless Ramen: 700 yen - Large Soupless Ramen: 800 yen - Extra pork for Soupless Ramen: 100 yen - Double pork for Soupless Ramen: 200 yen - Seasoned egg: 100 yen - Raw egg: 50 yen - Grilled seaweed: 50 yen (Cash only)

Arrived at Home Jiro on Thursday at 5:30 PM, with 5 people waiting outside. It's been a long time since I last visited Home Jiro. I usually go in the morning, so I couldn't make it at that time for over a month. I don't usually work near Ichinoe, so I had to go there just to visit Jiro, and it ended up being too long of a gap. It's been a while since I had Jiro at night too, so I'm really looking forward to it. I thought if I'm going, I should line up before the opening to avoid the crowd, but it was within expectations. I had the impression that pork would be sold out at night, but that wasn't the case, and I was able to order a double. However, it was too hot at Ichinoe Jiro with the setting sun. I was already sweating while waiting in line. I received my bowl before waiting too long. It was so delicious after such a long time. I couldn't help but gulp down the soup. But it was still so hot that I couldn't stop sweating. Nevertheless, it was incredibly delicious. For some reason, the vegetables tasted sweet. The soup also seemed slightly different from the morning! I'll definitely visit again in the morning soon!

Small ramen 800 yen + roasted seaweed 50 yen. The noodles are firm with low water content and flat. Standard Jiro style with standard noodle amount. The surface is not too rough, looks high quality. Pork soy sauce soup, slightly salty by default, which is just right for the hot weather. Other customers seemed to prefer it even saltier and asked for additional salt while eating. That's fine. The cabbage is 30% more than usual, but it's a bit soft. I wish there was more. Unfortunately, you can't ask for extra cabbage. The pork shoulder is relatively tender with a light flavor. The roasted seaweed is in a pack of 4 sheets, suitable and cheap. I will order it again next time. Arrived on a weekday after Obon at 11:30, with a wait of 12 people. It's scorching hot in midsummer. The shade of the eaves is much appreciated. Next time, I will order small ramen with roasted seaweed, depending on my condition, I may or may not add extra oil. [System] Turnover: 12 people in 30 minutes Staff: 2 people No merging of lines, indicated by a sign Lot: 5 bowls No waiting inside the restaurant Purchase food tickets when there are about 5-6 people in line Cannot specify firmness Free toppings: vegetables, saltiness, oil, garlic Call out if you want garlic. Extra cabbage is possible, but only a moderate amount of extra. Oil: White droplets Table condiments: No saltiness, white pepper, black pepper, shichimi togarashi Chopsticks: Only disposable chopsticks Soup spoon: Black, a few white ones available Paid option: Roasted seaweed 50 yen Counter special menu: Soup-less, less noodles No specific menu for special diets Takeout: Takeaway set for 2000 yen

Today is the day for visiting Ramen Jiro Katsushika Ichinoe store for the 20th time! Visit date: 2023.08.15 (Tue) Cloudy with occasional sun, 31°C. This year's Obon is from 8/13 (Sun) to 8/16 (Wed), but a typhoon is hitting Kansai, causing disruptions to Shinkansen services, etc. I had planned to go to Kameji, but they were closed for lunch, so I decided to go to Ichinoe instead! It's a 3-4 minute walk from Ichinoe Station. Upon arrival, I found a long line extending to Kakuyasu. I joined the end of the line and gradually moved forward to the first pole. It's a hot day, but there's a strong wind, so I ended up being 5-6th in line. I purchased my meal ticket one by one. I ordered "Soupless Ramen with Raw Egg" and then went back to the waiting line. After 35 minutes, I entered the store and bought my meal ticket at the entrance. I was seated at the counter, where I ordered "Zenbu" (everything). The staff was efficient and friendly. The dish was served with a generous amount of vegetables. The soupless ramen with fish powder was delicious, and the noodles were homemade and had a nice chewy texture. The pork was tender and flavorful. I tried dipping the noodles in raw egg, and it was a perfect match. I finished my meal and left the store feeling satisfied. It was a great experience as always! Thank you for the delicious meal! I will be posting a detailed blog about this visit later on.

It continues to be scorching hot. I arrived at 12:11 during the blazing midday sun, with 6 people waiting outside, so I quickly joined the line. With this number of people, I should be able to get inside the restaurant soon. The person in front of me purchased their meal ticket and returned, so I also left the line to buy my meal ticket. Now, what should I get today... I thought about trying something different from last time when I had the soupless option... but I ended up ordering the same thing as before, the soupless small with extra pork and raw egg. Just like last time. I entered the restaurant at 12:23 and sat down as the second person from the entrance. Oh, this seat is hot. But the owner and assistant cooking inside must be even hotter. I lined up my meal tickets on the counter and quickly received my raw egg. From this seat, I can see the process of boiling the noodles, which is quite interesting. At 12:33, my order was ready. As usual, I ordered with garlic and fish powder. Now, the battle begins (with whom?) I pushed the garlic and fish powder into the soupless sauce, mixed it, and then attacked the vegetables first. After finishing off the vegetables, I mixed the sauce with the noodles and took a satisfying first bite. It's explosively delicious! The umami flavor penetrates my taste buds and directly stimulates my brain. I pressed the surface of the noodles, mixed them with the egg yolk, and took a bite... it's amazing! Then I took a big bite of the pork and savored it. Such a feeling of bliss! I alternated between slurping the noodles and savoring the pork, taking a short break when I was about halfway done. Today, I planned to change the taste midway through. It was my first time trying a flavor change at Jiro. I sprinkled sliced chili peppers on top and felt a spicy kick as I slurped the noodles and chewed. This sliced chili peppers are great. I finished the rest of the meal quickly and left the restaurant after drinking all my water. By the way, I left the restaurant at 12:43. I usually finish my meal and leave in about 10 minutes after it's served. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Jiro's Katsushika Ichinoe branch on a hot summer noon. Fully satisfied.

Second visit. Arrived around 10:45. 2 people waiting outside. This time, I decided to try the soupless ramen for the first time and also challenged myself to the large size for the first time. I ordered the soupless ramen in large size with a raw egg. The bowl arrived about 15 minutes later. I usually start eating from the vegetables, garlic, oil, and fish powder, but I was intimidated by the large size and immediately flipped the bowl upside down. The large size had a decent amount of noodles, but the balance of flavors and the perfect softness of the noodles made it easy to eat. The pork and vegetables that I had pushed to the bottom and soaked in the broth became even more delicious. I finished by adding the egg and slurping it all down smoothly. It was so delicious that I forgot to use the condiments on the table, but I was very satisfied.

Jiro-style ramen with a light and less greasy broth. The staff are very attentive and willing to adjust the toppings based on your preference. Even though I usually take 20 minutes to finish a bowl with less noodles at places like Noyasaru or Koshigaya, I was able to finish the regular portion in less than 10 minutes here. Personally, I preferred the soup at Hibarigaoka over the others.

First visit. I had been curious but it was quite far so I hadn't been able to go to Ichinoe. Arrived around 10:45. There were about 6 people waiting outside. I had decided to try the soupless ramen when I went to Ichinoe, so I purchased the soupless ramen. As I looked at the ticket machine, I saw the enticing combination of "soupless ramen with extra pork and raw egg" so I also purchased that. About 25 minutes later, the ramen arrived. I ordered with less garlic, extra vegetables, oil, fish powder. The oil from the vegetables had a sweetness, and the vegetables were full of flavor and aroma, making it incredibly delicious. The pork on the side, with about 5 pieces from the extra pork, was thinly sliced and had a chewy texture, with a strong broth flavor that was delicious. When I flipped the noodles over and had a bite, the smooth and slightly soft noodles were incredibly tasty. The sauce was well balanced with the broth and pork flavor. There were various condiments on the table, but the default taste was so good that I ended up finishing it without adding anything. The portion of noodles was on the smaller side, but personally, I was satisfied. It was impressively delicious. Definitely going back again.

Around 8 pm on Monday. There were about 5 people waiting outside. I checked the business hours and days off before heading there for my first visit. I parked my car at a nearby coin parking lot and walked over, only to find that the sign was gone. Since there were people waiting outside, I decided to line up and purchased a meal ticket. The staff greeted me cheerfully, so I felt reassured and waited. After about 15 minutes, I was able to enter the restaurant. However, they had run out of pork at that point and I was turned away. I ordered with extra vegetables and oil. Shortly after, my bowl arrived. I had initially thought the soup would be on the less emulsified side, but it turned out to have a thick layer of emulsified liquid oil, likely due to the restaurant nearing closing time. When I tasted it, the soup was rich with the flavor of pork, not too heavy. The vegetables, while there was a lot of cabbage, were cooked to the point of being mushy. The portion size was on the smaller side, and the noodles were slightly thin but paired well with the soup. The pork came in two small pieces, and while there wasn't much oil, it had a satisfying chewiness that I enjoyed. I tried dipping the egg in at the end, but I found it tasted better on its own. Overall, the portion size was modest, but I left feeling very satisfied. Next time, I plan to try adding extra pork and ordering the soupless version. Thank you for the delicious meal.

Arrived at 9:30 am. The line extends beyond the shop to under the pedestrian bridge. There are about 25 people in line at this time. The shop is open from 10:30 am on weekdays and from 9:00 am on weekends. When you reach the front of the shop, order the soupless ramen for 900 yen with extra pork for 100 yen from the ticket machine, then wait outside the shop. When your number is called, you will be guided to a counter seat inside the shop. All orders (vegetables, oil, garlic, caramel, fish powder) are served in about 35 minutes after lining up. The Ichinoe shop is very fast-paced. Sprinkle black pepper on the oil and start with the vegetables. The cabbage is plentiful and easy to eat at a comfortable temperature. There are 5 pieces of pork, one with oil and the remaining 4 with lean pork. The flavors are well-infused and the pork has a firm texture. After finishing the vegetables, flip the noodles. As with the previous visit, the noodles are cooked al dente. The noodles, soaked in the sauce, are delicious and slurped up quickly. Towards the end, the pork with a satisfying chewiness becomes more pronounced. I felt a greater volume than usual and finished the meal feeling satisfied and full. Thank you for the delicious meal.

On July 24, 2023, I visited Daibuta Ramen around 5 pm with a group of 5 people. There was no line inside the restaurant, so we lined up outside towards the pedestrian bridge. Once there were 5-6 people in line, we purchased our meal tickets in advance. Even though I was with only one friend, they kindly let us sit together in line. After being seated, it took about 10 minutes for our orders to be called out. The vegetables were slightly crunchy and the portion was just right for a quick meal. The noodles were on the firmer side with a slightly rough texture on the surface. The sharp garlic aroma when lifting the noodles was irresistible. The soup, which I initially thought was non-emulsified, had a noticeable sweetness and a slightly creamy texture. The soy sauce's sharpness was balanced out by the sweetness of the broth. The pork slices were small but surprisingly moist and easy to eat. Since I ordered with less garlic, the flavor was mild. Overall, it was a delicious bowl of ramen that was easy to eat and leave satisfied. In terms of portion size, it felt slightly less than Kashiwa Koshio Ramen with extra vegetables. Perhaps the noodles not being too soft contributed to this feeling. The staff were friendly, the atmosphere was pleasant, and the unique characteristics of Ichinoe were evident in this tasty bowl of ramen.

On this day, I visited Ramen Jiro Kanne Nanae Store for the 19th time! Visit date: July 22, 2023 (Saturday) Cloudy with occasional sunshine 29°C After the scorching heat rush in early July, it seems to have calmed down a bit, and this day is around 30°C, which feels relatively cool. It's still hot, though, so I'm not sure what to do, but I decided to go to Ichinoe Jiro! It's been about six months since my last visit in January 2023, so I'm excited to go again! The location is a 2-3 minute walk from Ichinoe Station. I arrived a little after 9:45. Oh, it's full, and the waiting line extends to the second pole! I joined the end of the line and gradually moved forward to the first pole, where I will purchase my meal ticket once I'm 5-6th in line, as indicated by the sign. So, I entered the store and bought my meal ticket. I ordered the "Soupless Ramen + Raw Egg." I also bought seaweed for 50 yen, as indicated on the pop-up sign. After about 15 minutes of waiting, my number was called, and I entered the store. I took a seat near the water dispenser at the counter, placed my meal ticket and 50 yen on the counter. The water is self-serve, and the radio is playing in the background. There are three staff members, with the shop owner being the same as always, and two new assistant staff members, a young man and a woman who seems like a part-timer. It's the first time both assistant staff members are absent. The raw egg and seaweed were served first, followed by a confirmation of my order for "everything." Shortly after, my dish arrived. Overall, it looked like this: "Soupless Ramen (everything) + Raw Egg + Grilled Seaweed." I requested garlic and received this amount of "soupless only" as allowed. The fish powder was sprinkled a bit by the new assistant staff member. I started with the vegetables and oil, which were crunchy and delicious. The soupless sauce seemed to be a mixture of pork broth and liquid oil. The noodles are homemade thick wavy noodles. The texture is chewy, and they are well coated with the soupless sauce. The pork consists of two small pieces, one slightly firm and the other tender. I added black pepper, which enhanced the flavor. For flavor variation, I cracked the raw egg in the center, added seaweed around it, mixed it with the noodles, and it was incredibly delicious. The seaweed absorbed the sauce, intensifying the taste, and the egg added richness. The remaining vegetables were still crunchy and coated with sauce, making them delicious as well. I finished the meal quickly and left the store feeling satisfied. It was truly delicious, and the soupless ramen at Ichinoe Jiro never disappoints. Today was another happy day. Thank you for the meal! I plan to upload a blog post about this experience later on my website.

Small Ramen for 850 yen with less garlic. I went around 1:30 pm on a hot sunny day, so there was no wait outside as closing time was approaching. The first impression is that it is easy to eat. By default, the amount of vegetables and noodles is small. There is plenty of cabbage in the vegetables, which is a bit chewy and tastes delicious when eaten with the soup. The noodles have a good firmness and a satisfying texture, and the soup is not too strong, with a sweet and gentle flavor. The soup has a reddish color as its characteristic. The pork slices are small but not only that, they provide a satisfying bite. The service is good and the staff are friendly. Overall, in terms of service, taste, and portion size, it is a beginner-friendly spot for Jiro-style ramen.

Recently, I have noticed the expression "can eat endlessly" being used. Are they trying to say it's delicious? I mean, what does "can eat endlessly" even mean? If you can do it, then go ahead and try. It's impossible. No matter how delicious something is, eventually you'll get full. Get it? Humans, you know, we get full after just one bowl of ramen at Jiro. We can't eat more than that. Should I give it a try? Order the soupless option. If you try it, it's so good that you can eat it endlessly. I'm still eating it now. The soupless at the Ichinoe branch is the best!