Ichiran Ramen

Ichiran Ramen is probably the most well-known ramen chain in Japan, and for a good reason. Their consistency is impressive with every single bowl. One of their signature features is their individual dining stalls, designed to let you focus solely on your ramen. You get to eat in privacy, and the servers deliver everything you need right in front of you by lifting a curtain. Minimal interaction, maximum ramen enjoyment.

My first taste of Ichiran was actually thanks to my friend Philip, who sent me some all the way from Hawaii! After that, I had the pleasure of experiencing their delicious tonkotsu at their New York City location.

And a couple of years later, I made a point to visit one of their many restaurants in Japan to see the source for myself.

The bowl pictured is from the Shimbashi Ichiran location back in January of 2024.

Produced in Japan.

What’s in the package

Thin straight noodles, a rich tonkotsu soup base packet, and a red togarashi seasoning packet. The packaging itself feels premium compared to most instant ramens which sets expectations appropriately.

How does it taste

Right off the bat the saltiness is quite pronounced and this leans heavily on the savory side. If you’re sensitive to salt consider adding slightly more water than recommended or using less of the seasoning packet. The broth has a definite creamy tonkotsu richness at a 2/5 viscosity, not as thick as restaurant tonkotsu but noticeably richer than most instant versions.

The noodles are thin and straight and while I’d rate them a 1/5 in thickness they’re surprisingly resilient and hold up well to the rich broth. The togarashi packet looks intimidating but only delivers a mild warmth of about 1/5 on the spice scale once added to the broth.

How does it compare

This is the gold standard of instant tonkotsu ramen. Compared to something like Sapporo Ichiban Shio or Nissin’s tonkotsu offerings, Ichiran’s instant version is noticeably richer and more authentic tasting. The price point is significantly higher than a standard pack of instant ramen but the quality justifies it. It doesn’t taste instant and that’s the highest compliment I can give.

How to level it up

Fresh green onions bring brightness that cuts through the richness beautifully. A few slices of tender pork add another savory layer and feel true to the restaurant experience. A soft boiled egg is almost mandatory with tonkotsu since the creamy yolk mixing into the broth takes it to another level. If you want more heat than the togarashi provides don’t be shy about adding extra since the mild packet is just the starting point.

Final Verdict

One of my favorite instant ramens because it doesn’t taste instant. The richness and depth of the tonkotsu base is impressive for a packet product. It’s a splurge compared to drugstore ramen but if you’re a tonkotsu fan it’s absolutely worth it.