Rokurinsha

I queued for 35 minutes to get this bowl of noodles! Down in the rabbit warren that is Tokyo Station, Ramen Street hosts a number of well-known ramen joints. The one with the longest line is Rokurinsha, known for its thicker al-dente noodle and dipping broth.

Looking down Ramen Street

Determined to taste what all the fuss was about, I settled down to wait in line. Obviously, Rokurinsha is a destination for foodies worldwide as this helpful notice in Japanese, English and Korean can attest to.

Luckily, 35 minutes passed by relatively quickly as I soaked in the sights and sounds of the Tokyo Station underbelly. Once I got to the front of the line, I was escorted to the vending machine where I chose my ramen - the popular "special" that seemed to have a bit of everything. A seat at the bar came soon after that. I just had time to ask for a bib (to catch the oily splashes) and voila, my ramen was set in front of me.

I was given two bowls - the noodles were room temperature but the broth was hot. The broth was incredibly complex - porky but also seafood undertones as well. It was a little too complex for my liking and also quite salty. There is no doubt though that a lot of ingredients went into making the broth. It was confusingly complex though and it made me realize that I prefer a simpler, focused broth that brings out the flavor of one thing - whether that be pork, chicken or seafood. The noodles was exactly how I liked them though - and reminded me of sanuki udon. All in all, it was a serviceable lunch and Rokurinsha is definitely a favorite for many. It was not my preferred ramen house though.

Once your belly is full, consider walking through Ramen Street to explore Character Street - lots of exciting shops here! Ramen Street is found in the basement of Tokyo Station, near the Yaesu entrance.