Tokyo Ramen: A Local Food Guide for Visitors (Tokyo)

This is the ramen that represents Tokyo, based on a clear soy sauce soup made from a chicken bone stock. Its hallmark is a refined and light taste enriched with Japanese style dashi, which pairs well with thin wavy noodles. The classic style, with toppings such as roast pork, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and fish cake, has been handed down from downtown diners to modern acclaimed shops. Ogikubo is known as the district where long established shops that shifted from soba making spread a soy sauce ramen rich in seafood dashi, and it is regarded as one of the roots of Tokyo ramen.

Highlights

• A clear soy sauce soup that harmonizes chicken stock and Japanese dashi
• The fine match with thin wavy noodles
• A classic bowl topped with old fashioned ingredients
• The Tokyo ramen culture that keeps evolving in many directions, starting with Ogikubo

Enjoying the Seasons

On cold winter days a steaming hot bowl warms the body and shows ramen at its best. In summer many shops serve chilled noodles or cold dipping noodles, so you can enjoy it according to the season. It is a Tokyo flavor to enjoy casually all year round.

Access and Basic Information

• Famous shops are scattered across the entire city
• Ogikubo, around Ogikubo Station on the JR Chuo line, has long established shops from the Showa era still operating
• The variety runs from long established diners to bold new shops
• Popular shops may have lines

Practical Travel Notes

• Time: Popular shops can sell out at both lunch and dinner, so to avoid lines aim for right after opening or the gap between lunch and dinner.
• Payment: Many shops use a meal ticket machine or take cash only, so it is reassuring to prepare cash including small change. If unsure, first choose the soy sauce chuka soba to learn the shop basic flavor.
• How to eat: Start with a sip of the soup to enjoy the aroma of the dashi, and changing the flavor partway through with the pepper or vinegar on the table is also recommended. Eat the noodles quickly before they go soft.
• Nearby spots: Ogikubo has famous shops gathered around the station, making it an easy town for hopping between them. A city center shop is easy to drop by between sights, and comparing the flavor of each area is a pleasure in itself.

A Quick Tip

Start with a sip of the soup to enjoy the aroma of the dashi. Changing the flavor partway through with the pepper or vinegar on the table is also recommended.