I visited the restaurant at 2-16-13 Koenji Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo after reading MyRebi's review and adding it to my wishlist. I arrived on Saturday morning at 9:48 am. I purchased a ticket for Wakame Ramen for 830 yen and a boiled egg topping for 60 yen from the ticket machine above the counter inside the shop. I sat at the counter seat and handed the ticket to the staff. There were two men and one woman working at the shop. There was only one male customer before me, and no one else came in while I was there. The shop was playing the radio. At 9:53 am, the Wakame Ramen with boiled egg topping arrived. The noodles were thin and had a texture similar to Hakata ramen. The soup had a nice blend of slightly tangy soy sauce and pork bone flavors. The pork belly chashu had a good amount of fat. The seaweed was crunchy after being rinsed in water. The yolk of the boiled egg was perfectly cooked. I added grated garlic halfway through, making it a ramen with a strong kick from the morning. Thank you for the meal.

Today I had breakfast at Taro Ken! Set: This time, even when curry is served, I patiently wait. I first finish the ramen, then observe the marriage of the remaining soup and curry. Well, it's definitely the same base, but it may not be such a moving development. It's more about how powerful the combination of TGS (standing soba) ✕ bonito can be. However, this time I made some adjustments to the curry and found an item that stood out, so let me talk about that. The toppings are arranged in the order of achar, garlic, and pepper, but surprisingly, the pepper delivers a powerful punch! I was expecting it to make it spicy, but it turned out to have a sweet and fragrant taste, creating a mysterious flavor. I remember reading about tuning vanilla ice cream with pepper a while ago, maybe that was to experience this element of pepper's aroma.

Overall rating criteria: The average (normal) rating is 3.0 points, with evaluations in increments of 0.5. The total points are calculated by multiplying food/taste by 4, service by 2, atmosphere by 2, and cost performance by 2, then dividing the sum by 10. Alcohol/drinks are not included in the evaluation. Review: Not specified. Tasty.

I came to Koenji on September 12, 2023, so I had to visit Taro-ken, a must-visit restaurant for noodle enthusiasts. Even though it's in Shin-Koenji, it's a new area, but still exciting. I arrived at the restaurant around 7 pm, and there were no other customers. Visiting a new restaurant always makes me a bit nervous, especially when it's a local long-established place with its own rules. I understood that the basic concept was to buy a meal ticket and eat standing up from the appearance of the restaurant. I had the exact change of 930 yen ready, and it matched the price of the Ramen and Half Curry set, so I instinctively made my choice. I was standing and waiting, but since there were no other customers, I was invited to sit at a table. The Half Curry arrived first. It was a generous portion, almost like a full serving, which was a pleasant surprise. The Ramen was served shortly after. It had a nostalgic feel to it, which was intriguing. I garnished the curry with Fukujinzuke and started my meal. Both the Ramen and Curry were delicious. The curry was especially appetizing, like the curry I make at home, so it was a clear winner. In the end, without any more customers arriving, I left the restaurant. Since it's open 24 hours, I'm sure many people come here late at night for their last meal. The peak time of the restaurant might be even later. Oh, it would be nice to have breakfast Ramen here as well. However, Koenji has many delicious Ramen shops.

During the daytime at Taro Ken, it's not necessarily a bad time to visit, but it feels like a waste to come now when they are open 24 hours. This time, I ordered a set for the first time in a while! The set includes ramen with half curry, a combination that has been available for a long time. There is also a set where you can get curry with half ramen, which was probably introduced around the same time as the ticket machine, or maybe it was only ordered by regular customers before, I'm not sure. Please make sure to purchase the correct set. However, since they are the same price, I think they will correct it if you point it out. What I was thinking this time was to take a bite of curry, then a sip of soup, and say, "Hmm, the flavor profile expands differently because they use the same base..." like Ramen King Hidetoshi Ishigami mentioned on TV, but I ended up unintentionally finishing the curry first out of habit...and that's when I realized my plan had gone awry. I should have noticed sooner. So, I licked the remaining curry off the plate and then slurped the soup, and I must say, the combination of flavors is quite unique. Even though the soup is completely different, it gave me a similar sensation to the curry set I had recently at a ramen shop in Yotsuya-Sanchome... I'll make sure not to forget to try it properly next time!

A shop where you can feel the history, open 24 hours, popular among taxi drivers. The Chinese noodles are nostalgic and comforting, with smooth noodles and delicious soup. The curry is also delicious with a generous portion. The prices are reasonable and the staff are very friendly towards customers. A ramen and curry combo costs only 930 yen, so my son, who has a big appetite, was very satisfied.

The restaurant is quite far from Koenji Station. It has a nostalgic feel, like the kind of place a taxi driver would go for ramen. The chashu is incredibly tender and delicious. Surprisingly, the curry is even better than the ramen! The soup and noodles are just okay.

I finally visited Taro-ken, which I had always been curious about whenever I passed by. The taste was neither good nor bad, just average and delicious. It was lighter than it looked, more like a typical Chinese-style ramen. There was quite a lot of seaweed, which provided a satisfying texture. Next time, I would like to challenge the curry, which seems to be more popular than the ramen.

Tarouken at dawn. Even though it's early morning at this time of year, it's still bright outside. As the season progresses and it gets darker, a sense of urgency arises, but at the same time, there's a feeling of admiration for those who are working hard from this early hour. Today's seaweed ramen: the sweetness of the soup is emphasized. Isn't it interesting how it contrasts with the seaweed? The modesty of the homemade soup. You won't find the same taste anywhere else, no matter when you come back. What is it exactly...? Rumor has it that the master will tell you if you ask, but I dare not inquire. I feel like knowing would take away some of the enjoyment. That's why I've been coming here for 20 years. Other customers, please don't ask in front of me!

It's been a while since I visited Taro-ken♪ This place is great for when other shops are closed in the early evening. The fact that it's open 24 hours is really convenient. Today I had the ramen (730 yen) with thick, tender chashu. The noodles were smooth and the light soy sauce broth was delicious. It's always a comforting taste. Thank you for the meal.

Today's temperature is 35℃ (according to the car thermometer)! In the midst of this scorching heat, I decided to eat piping hot ramen at an open-air restaurant! I was sweating profusely. I ordered Menma Ramen for ¥990 with extra noodles for ¥150, the same as last week. Today, I decided to change up the flavor to cater to a more common taste. For some reason, this restaurant has always had both black pepper and white pepper available, and my personal favorite is the white pepper. I like to pour a generous amount, like a sand timer, and add a spoonful of garlic. As these ingredients dissolve, the taste becomes more stimulating and enjoyable. This is why a generous portion of soup and noodles is appropriate. In the past, a senior colleague told me, "Eating hot food in the heat makes the temperature feel relatively cooler." I tried it, but my body quickly overheated. It seems like this concept is not suitable for someone who sweats a lot from physical labor. So, I stood next to the water cooler at the restaurant, drinking cold water like a steam engine while eating! However, I still felt unwell... It seems like my body is not yet accustomed to the summer heat. This doesn't bode well for my fishing trip next week...

I had a slightly late lunch and decided to investigate a restaurant in the neighborhood. I had always passed by this place and had been meaning to try it out soon, so I finally decided to go in. It was relatively empty in the early afternoon, so I bought a meal ticket and ordered a set of ramen and half curry. The curry was served quickly, and it was delicious, with a thick, home-cooked style curry as many other reviews had mentioned. The ramen took a bit longer to arrive. I took a sip of the soup and found it to be a bit salty, almost like replenishing salt under the scorching sun. However, the ramen had plenty of ingredients like bamboo shoots, seaweed, and large cuts of toppings, so it was quite satisfying to eat. I finished off by adding some pickles to my curry, finished my meal feeling full and satisfied.

Marunouchi Line, just a 2-minute walk from Shin-Koenji Station along Takaminami Street, stands a prominent sign for a long-established ramen and curry shop called Taro-ken, which is open 24 hours a day. I went there early in the morning, and both the table and standing areas were bustling with customers. In addition to ramen, curry is also a specialty, so I decided to order the Ramen Curry Set for 930 yen, along with a boiled egg for 60 yen. The set menu allows you to enjoy both dishes. The curry was served immediately, while the ramen took about 5-6 minutes. The curry portion was quite generous, about 2/3 of a regular serving. It had a classic taste like curry from a soba shop, not too spicy, which I personally preferred. The ramen was a simple soy sauce flavor with a generous amount of toppings including two large slices of chashu, seaweed, green onions, and a boiled egg. For 730 yen, the cost performance was excellent. It's the most popular budget-friendly shop in the area. Taro-ken Address: 2-16-13 Koenji Minami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo Access: 3-minute walk from Shin-Koenji Station Opening Hours: 24 hours Closed: No regular holidays Seating: 7 counter seats + 2 table seats Payment: Cash only Smoking: Ashtray available outside the shop No parking, parking meters available

Wearing a shiny white belt, I gazed enviously at the slightly worn black belt of the karate master. Taroken in Koenji stood out with its orange noren curtain. While standing in front of the ticket machine, a mother approached me and said something. Oops, I still had my earphones on. I quickly removed them and listened again. "Um, what would you like?" she asked calmly. Was she going to make ramen together with the male customer who had just purchased a ticket? "I'll have the ramen half curry set, please," I said, and she guided me to a table in the back. I poured water into a cup myself and sat down at the back table. At almost the same time, the mother brought over the curry rice. I also got up and received the curry rice on a silver plate. I dug in right away. Delicious. As a child, I had eagerly anticipated when I would get to eat that curry rice again. I tried adding the red fukujinzuke that I hadn't eaten in a long time. It's good, it goes well with the curry. Everyone has known that for a long time. I slurped the ramen. Delicious. Let's not get into whether the chashu is delicious or how the soup tastes. Taroken was undoubtedly the seasoned, skilled black belt of a place.

I visited the restaurant early in the morning as usual. I always end up thinking, "I don't need to eat so much food early in the morning..." Ramen with extra bamboo shoots: The toppings here used to be on the pricey side, but now they are aiming for the ¥1,000 mark. The soup today is exceptionally delicious! It has a meaty texture... Oh, the last piece of warmed up chashu is so chewy and tasty. Maybe that's what's making it so good. I haven't posted a review yet, but I had a similar experience at a ramen shop in Ogikubo the day before yesterday. Even though it's not a chashu ramen, it comes with four thick slices of chashu, and that really enhances the flavor. The perfectly crunchy bamboo shoots are also plentiful, you keep scooping them up. With this much quantity, I wonder if it affects the overall seasoning? I love this, but my mentor from my taxi days couldn't chew it, so whenever we came together, he always gave me his portion. Having a meal in Koenji early in the morning without a car is great because there's this shop, TGS Itomatsukichi across the street, and TGS Edomaru on the Ring Road, all standing-eating places. I feel like there was something else too...

Today, I stopped by after work. I ordered my usual ramen and half curry set with an extra topping of chashu. The staff cleared the table so quickly that I couldn't take a picture of the half curry. The current staff members are different from the ones before, as they give instructions like to eat faster or to eat more neatly. I think I eat pretty quickly myself. Next time, I will be more mindful not to be instructed by the staff while eating. I want to savor the delicious food, but is that being selfish? I will visit again.

A few minutes walk from Shin-koenji Station to Koenji Station, you'll find a 24-hour ramen and curry street shop. You can purchase a food ticket from the vending machine and sit down to eat, or eat standing at the counter. The ramen is based on soy sauce for 730 yen, with options to add toppings like noodles, wakame seaweed, menma, and chashu. The vegetables are simmered in a pot on the counter, and the ingredients like menma are taken out of the fridge and the chashu is lightly warmed up as each order is prepared. The soy sauce ramen I ordered was quickly made and I dug in right away. It has a nostalgic Tokyo ramen look to it. The noodles are round, soft, and straight medium-thin noodles. The soup is a black soy sauce base with some back oil floating around. It has a strong salty flavor but goes well with the noodles. I wished for some rice. The toppings are all substantial, with the wakame being thick and crunchy. The leeks are roughly sliced and the chashu is two slices of firm pork belly with a good chew. There's pepper on the table, but I didn't feel the need to change the flavor and finished it all. It's a simple ramen with a nostalgic feel, without the trendy richness of fat. I'd like to try the morning curry next time.

I visited a ramen shop in the morning with the intention of only having ramen, but the incredibly delicious smell of curry being stirred in a large pot in front of me tempted me. I ended up ordering a ramen-curry set. While waiting for my order, I watched the kitchen where they were adding Chin Tan soup to the curry to stretch it a bit. When the curry was ready, the ramen was also served. The ramen had visible pork fat floating on top and juicy slices of pork chashu. The flavor was clear and I noticed the Wakame seaweed and thickly chopped green onions, which are unique to Kanto region. The noodles were easy to slurp down. I realized that this combination of flavors would definitely attract a variety of customers from early in the morning. I also found out that you can customize the flavor to suit your taste, so next time I might go for a soy sauce based, rich and fatty broth. The curry that I ordered as a side dish was beyond my expectations. Even though it was a half portion, it had several pieces of pork in it and the concentrated flavor and umami were evident. I thought I might try the half ramen and curry set next time. After leaving the early morning atmosphere of Koenji behind, it was a wonderful Sunday.

Ten years ago, I used to be a salesperson who traveled to this area. I had always been curious about this place since then. This year, I happened to have business in Minamiasagaya. I had some time before heading to the next site, so I decided to go. I ordered a ramen and half curry rice set. Even though it was a stand ramen, it was carefully made. The soy sauce ramen had a nostalgic taste. You can also add extra lard. I stood and slurped down the ramen, then ate the curry with a crunch. This combination cost 980 yen. It's a bit pricey for standing and eating, but it's not easy to find curry like this outside. The ramen is also well-made with good ingredients and heating, so I guess it's worth it.

Visited around 8:00 PM on Sunday. No wait, about 5 groups in the restaurant. A few more people came in after me, showing that it is still popular. It's nice that there are 2 ticket machines. Ordered ramen and half curry set at the standing counter, and it arrived quickly. The half curry had just the right amount of volume. It's a simple, no-frills dish that reminds me of the taste everyone had in college. But sometimes, that's exactly what you want to eat. Thank you for the meal.

Early Sunday morning heading to work. Parked at the roadside parking in front of the shop and went to this 24-hour open store. The ramen and curry here have a nostalgic taste. Especially the curry reminds me of the thick school lunch curry. Topping with a boiled egg goes well. Even though it's a half portion of ramen, the amount of soup is the same as the regular size. And all of this only costs 990 yen, which is amazing value.