Edward's Excellent Ramen Reviews

7/10 Ramen Jiro Ikebukuro This was excellent ramen let down by my poor ordering choices. First of all the meat is great but getting the chasu was a mistake. Secondly I shouldn't have asked for garlic, there's just too much of it and the broth becomes uneatable after its all mixed in. Now the best part is the noodles which are super thick and delicious. The broth is super fatty and delicious. This combination would be great if I'd just got the normal ramen. There's also a fuck tone of bean sprouts even if you ask for normal. So this was good but I made it bad. Ramen Jiro 〒171-0022 Tōkyō-to, Toshima City, Minamiikebukuro, 2-chōme−27−17 1F 03-3980-0210 https://maps.app.goo.gl/UhcuAwHYRMZnBLRKA

7/10 Osaka namba number 1 (according to their sign)! Ok, the first thing to mention here is the huge piece of pork rib. It's longer than the diameter of the bowl and super fatty. It tastes fantastic and melts in the mouth. The soup is tasty but leaning more to the average end of the scale. The noodles to are good but nothing to write home about. Overall, a solid bowl with one standout component complimented by average components.  Hanamaruken Namba Hozenji 1-chōme-2-１ Nanba, Chūō-ku, Osaka, 542-0076 06-6213-0131 https://maps.app.goo.gl/4kQzD3GUqZ9MJCFt5

8/10 Tokushima Ramen This is very delicious ramen. The soup is tonkotsu and with soy base and it's banging. The noodles are amazing, the best I've had in a long time. They're perfectly chewy and have a fantastic taste. The meat is tasty but in my opinion is overflavoured with soy sauce which lets it down. The raw egg is fantastic and gives a really good flavour when you eat the yolk soaked noodles. The other toppings were good too. Overall a very good bowl of ramen. Inotani 〒770-0903 Tokushima, Nishidaikumachi, 4-chōme−２５ 088-653-1482 https://maps.app.goo.gl/Vk7jfZVYwfcUeWVk9

6/10 Another Tonkotsu Ramen - Komurasaki I have three words to describe this ramen, bland bland bland. The soup is flavour less and the noodles are boring. The only bit of flavor comes from the chilly flakes and mushrooms on top. The meat was the best bit and it tasted good. Would not recommend. Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum 2-chōme-14-21 Shinyokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 222-0033 045-471-0503 https://maps.app.goo.gl/S5abDnGZXDsfMx796  

9/10 | Gold star The Hakata Ramen - Hacchan Ramen Wow this is one fatty ramen. I love it. The broth tastes so good, it's almost got a creamy taste to it. The meat is delicious and cooked perfectly. There's black pepper on the meat and I can't get over how good it is. The spring onions are good too. The only let down for me is the noodles. They are thin which I like but not katame which is my favourite. I probably should have asked. I wish I could eat this every day. Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum 2-chōme-14-21 Shinyokohama, Kohoku Ward, Yokohama, Kanagawa 222-0033 045-471-0503 https://maps.app.goo.gl/S5abDnGZXDsfMx796

6/10 Eddy Two Dinners Returns I should start by saying that I did eat a gyudon at Sukiyaki an hour ago so that might taint my opinion. This is fantastic value ramen and it's very tasty. The broth is extremely fatty, you can see so much collagen floating in there. These days I find bean sprouts on ramen to be rather tiresome and not appreciated. The menma leaves something to be desired as well. The noodles are very thick and taste ok. The meat is the best part of the ramen, it melts in your mouth. This is fantastic value ramen and it's very tasty but has a lot of room for improvement. Sengoku Jiman Ramen main shop 6-chōme-5-4 Honkomagome, 文京区 Bunkyo City, Tōkyō-to 113-0021 03-3944-0336 https://maps.app.goo.gl/Ztftju5fa2MbWtTx8

7/10 Ikebukuro Tokyo Tonkotsu Noodle This is the same chain as yesterday and I have to say my first impressions are not as flavourful broth. The broth is much lighter and not as tasty. The noodles are good, thick and chewy but not so flavorful. This ramen has a lot more toppings and 2 types of meat. The meat is great but the menma are a bit plain. The egg is lovely. A solid bowl of ramen but I have to say the Shinjuku store was more flavourful and a better bowl. 東京豚骨ラーメン 屯ちん 池袋本店 〒171-0022 Tōkyō-to, Toshima City, Minamiikebukuro, 2-chōme−26−2 ルート南池袋ビル 1F 03-3987-8556 https://maps.app.goo.gl/cMiHdZYRDGyhc5d19

8/10 Shinjuku Tokyo Tonkotsu Noodle This is a top notch tonkotsu ramen. The soup is fantastic and fatty. You get one long piece of meat and it's delicious. The noodles are lovely and thick and chewy. Just fantastic. The egg is lightly marinated and a little over cooked for my liking. The menma is good and has a little spicy seasoning on it. Overall a solid bowl of tonkotsu. Tonchin Shinjuku 〒160-0021 Tōkyō-to, Shinjuku City, Kabukichō, 1-chōme−11−10 イクザスビル１F 03-3207-5887 https://maps.app.goo.gl/irnKMr15fxPU2S5x5

6/10 Ichiran This is my first time trying Ichiran. The first thing to note is the broth tastes more fishy than I've had before. The meat seems a little disappointing, like crappy slices of bacon. The egg is just a salted hard boiled egg, not marinated and not runny. The noodles are a solid average. I do like the privacy of the individual booths at Ichiran which does allow you to focus solely on your ramen. This is fine ramen but I wouldn't go mad for it. Ichiran Ikebukuro 1-chōme-39-11 Higashiikebukuro, Toshima City, Tōkyō-to 170-0013 03-3989-0871 https://maps.app.goo.gl/iKcP691PA6RL4Unh9

8/10 More Osaka Ramen I don't want to stop eating to write this. It's spicy which I wouldn't normally go for but it's not too spicy and the broth is really delicious. The noodles are thin and firm, just the way I like them. The egg is a lovely deep red/orange and marinated really well. The only issue I have is that it's not cut in half. I believe cutting the egg in half makes a big difference as you get better yolk to white ratio. The vegetable toppings are good. Good thick pieces of meat. This is great ramen, would highly recommend. Ramen Makotoya Shinsaibashi 2-chōme-6-16 Shinsaibashisuji, Chūō-ku, Osaka, 542-0085 06-6484-2058 https://maps.app.goo.gl/ddN9xpbaKVKUwV218  

7/10 Hakata Ramen Center This has the thin noodles I've come to love from our local ramen, but I'd prefer them a touch firmer. The broth is really light but flavourful. The meat is wafer thin but absolutely delicious, really well marinated. The egg is extremely marinated, if anything a bit too much. I also don't like that it's not cut in half, it makes it a bit awkward to eat. Hakata Ramen Center 1-chōme-8-7 Iidabashi, Chiyoda City, Tōkyō-to 102-0072 03-3263-1023 https://maps.app.goo.gl/CTX3GCTGgm9PuNcJ9

9/10 A New Mutekiya Ramen - Honmaru X This seems the same as the signature Mutekiya ramen but less toppings and a lighter broth. This leaves more space on the pallet for the delicious broth and noodles. I think the noodles and broth are the best parts of the ramen so I'd rather have more of those. Just ordered my first kaidama :). Top tip - add some garlic with the kaidama (but don't let Tiph try it or fear her wrath). Mutekiya 〒171-0022 Tōkyō-to, Toshima City, Minamiikebukuro, 1-chōme−17−１ 崎本ビル1F 03-3982-7656 https://maps.app.goo.gl/FCrdc

7/10 Spicy Local Ikebukuro Ramen Free kaedama! It's already a winner. It is too spicy! I do not like my ramen spicy and this is a big disappointment. The (thin) noodles are good and there's lots of meat which is really tasty. Great toppings as well. This would definitely get a higher score if it were less spicy. 龍の神 東池袋店 〒170-0013 Tōkyō-to, Toshima-ku, Higashiikebukuro, 3 Chome−7, 東池袋3-7-5 藤吉ビル1F 03-5956-9698 https://maps.app.goo.gl/hPu2h

7/10 Ippudo Ikebukuro Really delicious broth and good toppings. The meat is great but it lacks an egg. Noodles are kitakata style and therefore thinner than usual. I think I prefer normal ramen noodles. Ippudo Ikebukuro 〒171-0022 Tōkyō-to, Toshima-ku, Minamiikebukuro, 2 Chome−26−１０ アクティオーレ南池袋1F 03-6907-8305 https://maps.app.goo.gl/9fDJn  

9/10 Mutekiya, Ikebukuro The first ramen we had to queue for, very small place with just a counter. The broth is noteworthy, so fatty and flavorful. Super thick pieces of meat that melt in your mouth. The eggs were marinated in heaven and tasted amazing. The noodles were on the hard side which I liked. Best ramen in Ikebukuro. Mutekiya 〒171-0022 Tōkyō-to, Toshima-ku, Minamiikebukuro, 1 Chome−17−１ 崎本ビル1F 03-3982-7656 https://maps.app.goo.gl/FSb5r