i love ichiran. it’s consistent and balanced. it’s nothing special, but that’s also what i enjoy about it LOL

i do wish they had an option to serve pork chashu, not just pork shoulder/butt, but i get why. it’s easier + helps balance the overall ramen from being too fatty. i thoroughly enjoy the hakata-style noodles, which are long and thin. additionally, for those who haven’t tried, ichiran has a order form that you can customize the one ramen bowl they serve. i usually get the noodle medium or firm, the broth medium to rich, dashi medium, full clove of garlic, green onion, and mild spicy (although higher is nice too).

a lot of ramen enthusiasts think ichiran is overrated, and it honestly can be. but, it’s the one that is often open 24/7 and gets me a tasty bowl of ramen i KNOW i’ll enjoy. i don’t need to evaluate the menu, don’t need to talk to anyone, and don’t need to think about anything. would i wait an hour in line for it? no. would i pay more than $15 for a bowl? no. but, typically, i don’t need to! the bowl is like less than $10. the wait is little-to-none when i go, otherwise i wouldn’t go. and, i also always get a bowl of rice to add into the broth at the end to finish it off. it’s so delish, and i’m salivating thinking about it rn (i’m starving at the time of writing this)

esp. since i can customize many aspects to my liking, the rating may be higher than average.

  • noodle: 8
  • broth: 7
  • toppings: 4
  • balance: 7
  • satisfaction: 7.5
  • overall: 6.7

refer: ramen review sheet