Oodles Of Noodles...

Ramen will most likely elicit much passion and emotion if you ever enter into a conversation regarding this beloved staple with a Japanese. The magnitude of ramen joints in Tokyo is so incredible I can bet that you can easily have ramen for five years and yet not eat at the same place twice.

For moi, a non-pork eater, the pork-based stock is of paramount importance as some ramen tends to possess an overpowering taste of pork which I find difficult to stomach. Ichiran and Ippudo, our two favoured ramen shops certainly have more than pork up their sleeves, though credit must go to Joanne & Jimmy for the discovery of the latter.


Ichiran


Since my days of "flying the friendly skies", I kept raving about the ramen at Ichiran in Fukuoka and was over the moon to find their outlets smacked right in the heart of Tokyo!

In true Japanese fashion, there is a procedure to follow before you can enjoy a steaming bowl of Ichiran ramen. First, buy a meal coupon at the vending machine. Next, slide into an empty partitioned booth and fill in the prerequisites for your ramen via a questionnaire. Texture of noodles, fat content, level of spiciness, amount of garlic, green onions and pork slices can all be tweaked to suit one's tastes. Press down on the service call and a faceless server will collect your form through a small opening and within minutes deposit a steaming bowl of ramen right before you, as per your requirements.

Don't let the shabby shop front fool you though. There is nothing simple or shoddy about the ramen at Ichiran. Instead, the pork based soup stock is a complex balance of tastes, textures and colours that will allow you to sit back with a sign of contentment as you slurp them all down.

Ichiran
Address: 4-11-11 Roppongi, 2F Roppongi GM Building, Minato-ku, 106-0032 Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 03-3796-7281
For more locations, please log on to www.ichiran.co.jp


Ippudo

The unique wall feature with the hanging lit spoons

This well-known chain has even made it to the shores of Uncle Sam although in my humble opinion, the ramen here plays second fiddle to Ichiran. The interior is but a totally different story. The communal dining area has a cosy feel with warm lighting and a unique wall feature showcasing numerous spoons strung up as a sort of lampshade for the spotlights. A very ingenious idea!

The milky ramen, the bite-sized gyoza and the die-die must try pickled vegetables!

In terms of condiments, Ippudo is certainly miles ahead of its competitors. Choose from sesame seeds, pepper, soy and Yuzu infused soy sauces, pickled ginger, vegetables, spicy beansprouts to fresh whole garlic (garlic pressers are even thoughtfully catered for!) and give your ramen some added loving pizzazz. What pique my appetite though is the spicy pickled vegetables and the great thing is you can keep loading up on them! Throw in a bowl of rice and you have one contented customer grinning from ear to ear:)

According to my other half, the gyoza here is yet another strength of Ippudo. Bite-sized and juicy, the accompanying yuzu infused soy sauce bears the final hallmark of oishii!!!

Even though I am not too fond of the ramen here, I still managed to apply some arm-twisting and insist on dragging my other half to Ippudo whenever the craving for pickles come a-calling. All I need to do is order some ramen and gyoza to keep the dude happy while I revel in the simple pleasure of my modest diet of rice and pickles. Ahhh, the basis of life...

Ippudo
Address: 4-9-11 Roppongi, Minato-ku, 106-0032 Tokyo, Japan
Telephone: 03-5775-7561
For more locations, please log on to http://www.ippudo.com