Pre-order Ramen: Is it worth it?

Ramen used to be a secondary option for most visitors to Tokyo; a cheap meal for those on a budget, or a quick stop to enjoy the local cuisine after a long day of exploring the city. Even for locals, ramen is considered a meal for the common people, and it can easily fill you up for less than 1,000 yen.

In 2015, however, everything changed. Why? Because Japanese soba Tsuta became the first ramen shop to receive a Michelin star. The renewed recognition of gourmet ramen sparked a trend where ramen shops began to teeter on the edge between cheap eats and fine dining. In the following years, more and more ramen shops received a Michelin star. Although these stars were later Lostthe recognition the store gained led to long queues, which soon became a nuisance to local residents.

To avoid customers waiting outside, many popular ramen shops have switched to online reservations. But is it worth it? Here are three of the most popular reservation shops, and some alternatives to consider if you don’t want to compete with foodies online.

Reservation store: Ginza Hachigo

The latest restaurant to receive (and then lose) a Michelin star is the posh Ginza Hachigo, about a five-minute walk from Higashi-Ginza Station. Since appearing in the prestigious Michelin Guide, the restaurant has switched to a hybrid system where you can either wait in line or make reservations online through TableCheck. Guests can wait in three 30-minute slots starting at 11am, or make reservations online from 12:30pm to 3:30pm. Online reservations are accepted starting at 9am on Saturdays.

The ramen here is Chuka soba, featuring a clear broth made from Nagoya Cochin chicken, duck and ham, topped with French scallops, mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes and regardlessIn terms of quality and service, Hachigou is top notch and if you can book online, it’s good value for money. The biggest annoyance, though, is the 500 yen charge, which can be avoided if you choose to line up in the morning. The wait can be long, though.

Alternative: Mendokoro Ginza

If you want to avoid the hassle of online booking, consider Mendokoro Ginzasa, which is just a short walk from Shimbashi Station. Ginzasa also has an extraordinary Salt (Salt) Kelp Ramen, Bonito and Rengan As a base. Be sure to order the Tai Nigiri as a side dish. Tea Rice (Japanese rice porridge) and finish with the remaining soup. The service and ambience at Hachigou are impeccable, but the ramen itself is just as impressive.

Reserved store: Japanese Ramen Gokan

Probably the most popular ramen shop in central Tokyo is Japanese Ramen Gokan, which has quickly become a popular restaurant in the Ikebukuro neighborhood. Every Sunday from 11am, you can use TableCheck to reserve a table for the following week (Wednesday to Sunday). Again, the reservation fee is similar, this time 390 yen. Unlike Hachigou, though, Gokan only accepts reservations, so you don’t want to think about going in to try and see if you can just walk in.

Gokan is mainly chicken soy sauce (soy sauce) ramen, and shellfish and chicken shio ramen. Both are excellent, which is why this shop ranks high in most ramen shop rankings, including TaberlogIf you decide to visit, you might want to try the shio dish as it has a unique shellfish flavor that you’re unlikely to experience outside of Japan.

Alternative: Shinjiko Shijimi Chuka Soba Kohaku Ikebukuro

If you can’t get a reservation at Gokan, there are plenty of other options at Ikebukuro Station. Heading west to the APA Hotel, near the lobby entrance is the second branch of Kohaku, a ramen shop that uses clams from Lake Shinji in northern Shimane Prefecture.

Again, the ramen here is salt ramen, which perfectly captures the sweetness and umami of the clams. A must try Decheng (highest grade) version with various extra ingredients. tea tree It’s simply mouth-watering and you’ll wonder why you can enjoy such delicious food without the annoying online reservations.

Reservation store: Ramenya Shima

One of the most brutal ramen shops is Ramenya Shima, which used to have lines starting at 7am and was often sold out by the time it actually opened. While it used to have a mixed system, the shop has switched to taking reservations only through the Omakase app. Shima accepts reservations a day in advance starting at 8am, but again, there’s a 390 yen reservation fee. The first seating is at 8:45am, and you can make reservations in 30-minute increments until 2pm.

Shima offers ramen and tsukemen in three flavors: soy sauce, salt, and white soy sauce. The tsukemen, which is limited to 10 servings per day, may be tempting, but the rustic soy sauce ramen is the most popular menu item. The light but rich chicken broth topped with a rich chiyu chicken fat will definitely leave you wanting.

Alternative: Matsui Ramen

A ramen shop of similar quality is Ramen Matsui, which doesn’t have a competing reservation system, but is just a short walk from Shinjuku Gyoenmae Station on the Marunouchi Line. Here you can find similar shoyu ramen, but shio ramen is also a good choice. Shoyu ramen uses chicken, dried fish, clams, and Rausu kelp, while shio ramen uses scallops, clams, and kelp broth.

If you choose salt ramen, be sure to order Dexing (specially made) with a variety of toppings, including raw scallop sashimi. The wife of the husband-and-wife duo is a sommelier, so both ramen dishes come with wine pairings. Matsui is a phenomenal alternative, offering amazing ramen and luxurious store decor. If you fail at Shima, this is definitely a shop to keep an eye on.

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