Ichiran Ramen Taipei. Cooked in Taiwan, but feels like you're in Japan. This restaurant is crazy! Open for 24 hours, it holds the record for the longest queue to enter its store. Not just hours, but 10 tiresome days! Do you have what it takes to line up for that long? I know its really disturbing, but for the locals who joined the waiting list for over a week speaks something big for this Japanese noodle house. Hailed as the leading brand of ramen restaurant around the globe, is the hype really true?
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| The long queue of people at Ichiran Taipei head branch on a holiday in Taiwan. |
Ramen fans will definitely say yes. There is no doubt that they will jump with joy once the spicy aroma of the broth entered their noses. I, who is not a ramen lover, fell in love at first sight of my order. A big bowl of the hot noodles with floating slices of pork and minced vegetables, the smell is already enough to tell every customer that it is so delicous.
An unexpected experience. Being a very busy Ph.D. student, I don't have time to read reviews about other people's eating experience Ichiran. What I know is that it is very famous. It was a good idea though that it didn't read anything on the internet. It would spoil any surprise that will happen once I stepped inside the store.
I went to the store at 9:30 am on a Wednesday morning. Going on lunch time even on weekends and holidays would be a bad idea. You will only be wasting your time lining up for something that would seem to take hours to finish. With no line at all when I arrived at the store, I immediately entered inside, greeted by a lady and led to a tiny room which looks like a computer shop. Haha!
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| I was assigned to Table 5. |
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| Available seats can be monitored through this counter booth seating chart. I think the chairs have sensors. Haha! |
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| The reed blind in Ichiran Taipei |
An affair with yourself. Each customer is given a seat and faces a table with a reed blind. It's like a taking an exam or casting your vote in a polling precinct as other tables are covered by a divider. Behind the “tatami”-like cover are the staff of the restaurant, ready to take orders from hungry customers. The same-style that the Japanese are experiencing on their homeland Ichiran restaurants.
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| My order sheet |
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| I also opted for the Ichiran special and the 1/2 noodle refill. |
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| “tonkotsu” noodle soup |
A checklist makes it easy for visitors to decide on the orders. The basic ramen costs NTD 288 and the add-ons will make the bowl of noodles more expensive. For budget tourists in Taiwan, the basic ramen should be enough. An Ichiran special was offered for NTD 134 and I didn't hesitate to try it. It is a platter containing extra slices of pork and a soft-boiled egg placed on top of a “nori” wrapper.
Customers should take note that if they want to have another round of noodles. They can request for an additional serving by doing the kae-dama move. Just place the tiny plate on the sensor, a tune will play and the staff on the other side would raise the curtains and do your request. When I first ordered my ramen, I already checked the half-serving of extra noodles so they already knew what I wanted when I rang the bell.
The soup is life. Another reminder for first-timers that doing the kae-dama is only possible, if your bowl is still-half filled with the mouth-watering noodle broth. I was told by one of the staff that they only give the add-ons but don't serve another round of the soup. Sipping all of it would mean a finished meal.
A ring on the bowl helped me identify the half-way mark. After receiving my extra noodles, I then added my platter of Ichiran Special. It prolonged the life of my ramen and added more taste especially the soft-boiled egg. I also enjoyed the sliced porks, but the best part is really the soup itself. The mixture of flavors and the right level of spiceness created an unforgettable memory on my taste buds.
The hype is real! So don't miss the chance to eat in Ichiran Taipei. I give it a perfect score on my own rating system. Five out of five luomujie stars! With its endless line of customers and superb dining experience, it is no doubt that it is the world's best ramen.
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ICHIRAN Taiwan Taipei Headshop (一蘭 台灣台北本店)
address: No. 97號, Songren Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City, 110
24 hours open
How to get here: MRT Taipei City Hall Station (Blue line) -> walk to the restaurant
ICHIRAN Taiwan Taipei Mitsukoshi Place A11
新光三越台北信義新天地A11
address: B1F, No. 11, Songshou Rd., Xinyi District, Taipei City, 110
Tel: 02-2729-9866
24 hours open
My order:
1.Ramen: NTD 288
2.Ichiran Special: NTD 134
(half-boiled salted egg, 3 pieces of sliced pork and 2 pieces of dried seaweed)
3.half noodle refill: NTD 48
Total: NTD 470
My rating: 5 out of 5 luomujie stars
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