Hienadz Vardanyan 
In other parts of the world, it’s hard to imagine getting good food in a train station. In the USA, if we’re lucky, we’ll get a Starbucks that has an alright selection of sandwiches.
Things are a little different in Tokyo.
There are a lot of famous ramen restaurants in Japan, and particularly in Tokyo. The city is so full of amazing restaurants that they pop up in even the most unexpected places – like Tokyo Train Station.
Today, we are going to share with you our two favorite tonkotsu ramen places in Tokyo station.
Tokyo-eki Ikaruga(東京駅 斑鳩)
If you are visiting Tokyo and find yourself going through Tokyo Station (Tokyo-eki in Japanese) then you have to stop to eat at Tokyo-eki Ikaruga.
東京駅 斑鳩@東京ラーメンストリート
— Daibar【ランナー????♂️】 (@runnerDaibar) November 28, 2019
初訪????
『魚介とんこつ 東京駅らー麺』
おーーっ‼️
めっちゃ美味ーーーい????????????
クリーミーな濃厚魚介豚骨????
ツルシコ麺に絡みつき最高????
巻きチャーは柔らかくウマウマ〜❤️
東京駅でしか食べられない斑鳩
を堪能させて頂きました????
大満足でご馳走さまでした???? pic.twitter.com/zvLX5fYkoj
There is no other place in the world where you would expect to see an incredible restaurant inside a train station – but Tokyo is full of these kinds of surprises.
This is one of the best ramen shops in Tokyo for tourists because it’s cheap, the food is made quickly, and it is the perfect place to see what life is really like for the people who live in Tokyo.
You will find that this restaurant is full of as many locals as it is tourists.
So, what makes Tokyo-eki Ikaruga so special?
Well, according to its patrons, it’s the fish-based broth they use in their soup and ramen recipes.
Like most establishments, they’re quite secretive about their signature dishes, but we know that this base contains dried bonito flakes and mackerel flakes.
They also have a popular animal broth made from pork and chicken bones.
One of their most popular dishes is their char siu. This is one of the best char siu dishes in the city.
We don’t want to sound too cliched but this really does crumble when you touch it and melt in the mouth. The sauce is also to die for.
This station store is best known for its Tokyo-eki Ramen (Tokyo Station Ramen).
This recipe uses the fish-based broth, but the broth is enriched with pork bones to give an even more complex and addictive flavor.
They use ramen noodles that are on the thicker side but do a great job of soaking up all the flavor.
It also comes with a boiled egg and a good helping of roast pork. You will not be hungry after a bowl of this Ramen.
There is a ticket machine outside the restaurant, you will order your food there and then stand in the line.
There is typically a 10-15 minutes wait to get food here, with that being closer t0 30 minutes during the busy periods.
This is not the kind of restaurant that patrons are encouraged to sit down and chat in. The food is cooked and served quickly, the customer turnover is also very fast.
As most local customers are commuters, there is a sense that this restaurant is simply a place to stop and refuel before moving on to a long day of work.
Store Information
- Tel: +813-3286-3586
- Business hours:9:30-23:00
- Regular holiday: no regular holiday
- Access: JR Yamanote Line / Tokyo Station (Yaesu South Exit) 1-minute walk
- Address: First Avenue Tokyo Station Underground South Street Tokyo Ramen Street, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
TONKOTSU RAMEN ORESHIKI-JUN Tokyo(とんこつらーめん俺式 純 東京駅店)
You can find Tonkotsu ramen Oreshiki-jun on Ramen street – this is the affectionate name given to the first basement of the Tokyo Station.
Where many of the best tonkotsu ramen spots can be found.
Oreshiki-jun is one of the most unusual ramen spots at Tokyo Train Station – but is one that shouldn’t be missed if you are on the hunt for good food.
The soup that they use in all their dishes is made on-site and takes over 24 hours to make.
It is made using pork bones and a series of secret ingredients and spices. It is not spicy but it is incredibly rich in flavor.
Tonkotsu DX ramen is the most popular ramen dish at Oreshiki-jun. It cost just over 1000 yen. This is a great option for someone who is looking for a unique dish on Ramen Street.
The mellow, but flavorful soup blends perfectly with a slightly heavier ramen noodle (made from wheat and a few spices), to make the perfect mid-day pit stop.
If you found the food at Tokyo-eki Ikaruga a little salty, then the Tonkotsu DX ramen will be exactly what you are looking for.
Store Information
- Tel: +813-3212-2558
- Business hours:10:30-23:30
- Regular holiday: no regular holiday
- Address: First Avenue Tokyo Station Underground South Street Tokyo Ramen Street, 1-9-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
