Ichiran: An Introvert’s Paradise 

This is one of those posts I have been putting off for a long while, so here we go. Ichiran is one of Fukuoka’s most famous ramen restaurants. The small chain, featuring 65 restaurants in several different countries, started off as a small family-owned shop near Kurume back in the 1960s. In 1993, the company opened its first concept restaurant, which I hereby decree “an introvert’s paradise.” The concept, made famous by the likes of Mikey Chen on YouTube, features individual booths divided three ways by privacy barriers and bamboo curtains. This atmosphere allows patrons to focus solely on the ramen with minimal distractions. Aside from the novelty and global notoriety, Ichiran is one of Fukuoka’s best ramen shops, and exports. While the ramen is pricier than the likes of Kurume Taiho and Ganso Nagahamaya, the broth is rich, and the orders are customizable. Let’s dive in.

The Concept 

Ichiran, like my French friend, is about the experience. Unlike my French friend, Ichiran gives you the ultimate ramen experience. Patrons order their meals from a ticket vending machine. Many Ichiran locations offer menus in English, Chinese, and Korean, which makes ordering easy for tourists. Some locations vary on what drinks they offer. For example, the Tenjin-Nishidori location offers Coca-Cola and Orange Juice, while the Nakasu main shop offers Ramune. Want extra noodles? You can order kae-dama at the machine, or at your seat! Want dessert? I highly recommend the matcha-almond pudding. 

Once you finish ordering at the machine, you are seated at your booth. Some locations have foldable dividers which allow guests to mix and mingle with their friends. Others do not. Like JET, every Ichiran is different. Once you are seated, the anonymous server will great you and take your tickets. You will be asked to fill out a customization card, where you can choose the texture of your noodles, the richness of the broth, the amount of seasoning you want, and the number of toppings you want. Once you finish filling your card out, the server will prepare your dish. 

Ichiran is rare in Japan as they are one of the few restaurants that allow you to customize your order. If it is your first-time eating here, just go with the Ichiran recommendation. Over time, you may find that you prefer a richer broth, or a more-seasoned broth. You can fine-tune your ramen experience. 

In the meantime, you can pour yourself a glass of water from your booth. Each booth is equipped with a tap and a cup. No need to get up from your seat, and no need to ask for a pitcher of water. Nice touch. 

After a few minutes, your mystery server will lift the bamboo curtain and serve your ramen. They will bow, wish you an enjoyable meal, and leave you alone. I usually bow with the server and say thank you. Now, it is you and the ramen. Ignore the crying baby in the background, it is time to eat without any distractions. 

Want to order extra noodles or dessert, and you did not order at the machine? That’s okay! You can fill out refill forms from your booth! You can even order additional items from your chopstick wrapper, too. Just make sure you have cash to pay for any extras you order from this point. 

Need to use the restroom? Every Ichiran is different, but the Tenjin-Nishidori location now offers guests “seat holder passes,” which alert staff to wait for you to return. This was the only Ichiran location I have been to with this pass. I once ate at the Hakata Station location, where I attempted to alert the staff that I needed to use the restroom and that I would return. Thanks to poor Japanese on my part, I returned to a cleaned booth! That’s okay, we straightened out the situation and I got to finish my dessert. 

Once you are finished with your meal, all you have to do is leave. The staff with say “Thank you very much” as you leave the restaurant, and they will promptly prepare the booth for the next customer. The experience is quick, easy, and tasty. It really is an introvert’s paradise. 

The Ramen 

Ichiran specializes in Tonkotsu ramen, or pork bone ramen. I mean, they are a Fukuoka establishment, so of course that is what they are going to specialize in! The broth is more consistent with Hakata-style tonkotsu, which features a rich, fatty broth. I tend to order mine with medium richness, which is the recommended way to order. The broth is seasoned with dashi, or seasoning broth, which adds flavor to the ramen. Since each Ichiran is different, your bowl may taste different between locations. The Tenjin-Nishidori location has a stronger dashi, compared to the locations in Nakasu, Hakata, and Dazaifu, which I have also tried. 

Noodles are thin and straight, consistent with tonkotsu ramen. I always order mine cooked to the recommended medium doneness. They are firm, yet not too firm. If you like your noodles firmer, you can order them that way. Softer? That’s fine, too. 

The cha-shu, or pork slices, appear to come from the shoulder. While competing chain Ippudo offers higher-quality cha-shu, Ichiran’s is also tasty. I recommended ordering cha-shu with your ramen. 

Personally, I order my bowls without green onions, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and mushrooms. But I have been ordering my bowls with a clove of garlic lately, which enhances the flavor of the ramen. Popular YouTuber Mikey Chen loves to order his Ichiran with everything, whereas I prefer to focus on the meaty textures and flavors. 

You can order special vinegar at the machine to further season your ramen. I personally order this, as it adds a savory tang to my ramen. 

If you are looking for my recommended way of ordering Ichiran, I suggest ordering the vinegar at the machine, and circling extra dashi and garlic, while ordering no green onions. Leave everything else at the recommended setting. 

Locations 

Ichiran has over 65 locations in several countries. They even have three locations in New York City, but not Los Angeles. The most-famous location is their multistory main shop located near Nakasu-Kawabata station in Fukuoka. However, since some locations serve variations of the standard recipe, I recommend the Tenjin-Nishidori location for its more-flavorful broth. 

Some locations even have special bowls. The standard Ichiran shop will offer a circular ramen bowl. Tenjin has rectangular bowls, and the Dazaifu shop has pentagonal bowls! 

A Parody 

We keep spending most our lives, eating at Ichiran’s paradise
We keep spending most our lives, eating at Ichiran’s paradise
We eat ramen, once or twice, eating at Ichiran’s paradise
We keep spending most our lives, eating at Ichiran's paradise

Conclusion 

Ichiran is delicious, and while it’s pricier than the competition, I find myself going back regularly. While some critics will compare Ichiran to McDonald’s in terms of restaurants, Ichiran is better classified as a small, international restaurant chain. If you had one day in Fukuoka, I would recommend you eat at one of the city’s many ramen restaurants, with Kurume Taiho coming in as my top pick. If you want to experience true Fukuoka ramen history, head over to Ganso Nagahamaya and give it a try. While Ichiran is very tasty, and truly is one of my favorites, I’m a local. Since Ichiran can be found in other major Japanese cities, some critics will dismiss it as “junk ramen.” 

If you live in Fukuoka, I see no problem eating at Ichiran. When you’re a tourist visiting Japan, visit a local ramen restaurant. If you’re an introvert, Ichiran is paradise.