Ichiran Ramen 一蘭 - (Hong Kong)

 When I used to live near Tokyo of Japan for close to 1 Year,  not a day passed without me transporting and spending time past Shibuya 渋谷 on a daily basis,  using the train line 田園都市線.  There is a popular outlet of Ichiran Ramen in Shibuya that operates 24 Hours a day,  and it became one of everyone’s popular supper spots.   I have also tried their different outlets in Fukuoka,  Canal City and also Roppongi side in Tokyo.   The newly opened Hong Kong outlet over my 2 private visits,  was once surprisingly loyal to the original taste (during late 2am slot),   but a subsequent visit at 6:30pm had a soup base that was too salty and carrying less depth despite ordering it as thicker and oilier already.   At it’s prime state,  it definitely was 95% similar to the original shops’ performance,  although I cannot easily forgive the 2nd visit’s performance either when it was just 70% of the peak.   Rumor has it that the Kyushu Fukuoka Government is directly involved with supporting this 1st Ichiran Ramen shop outlet outside of Japan.   It might well be true,  but it only showed up in 1 of 2 separate visits for me.

 

 

Ordering Sheet -
Opened since 1960, Ichiran Ramen is famous for their almost feminine Pork Tonkotsu ramen with a special Spicy Tare sauce.   2ndly,  their Customizable Ordering Sheet and the Individual eating counters.

 

 

 

Each Individual Customer is by partitioning,   banished to his or her own Dining Space -
This is so Japanese in mentality isn’t it?   They want you to be a 宅男 or 宅女 Otaku,   concentrating your efforts on only enjoying the ramens.   This is a very particular approach in life,  but you have to give credits to them for even thinking up this concept in the 1st place and people do admire them for being so persistent in this matter..

 

Natural Tonkotsu Pork Ramen  豚骨ラーメン -
The noodles were ordered as Extra Hard,  my 1st time was loyal to this state,  but the 2nd time was slightly softer.   The soup base at 2am was viscous thick and aromatic.   Another visit during 6:30pm was still aromatic but much more saltier but less thicker.    The pork also varied during both visits,  it ranged from dry to marbled tender.   At it’s peak,  so close to the best of Japan’s outlet standards.   At it’s low,  the Hong Kong outlet can be at best just ordinary plus…   ~  7/10 to 9/10

 

Tamago Egg -
The Egg & Chasyu at Ichiran Ramen in Japan in fact,  have always just been ok to me.  Their strong point was always their very sophisticated and feminine balanced,  aromatic Tonkotsu Pork Soup Base, and that killer of floury Ramen noodles,  which always remains dense but tasty and made from soft water.   It is directly opposite to Japan 一風堂 Ippudo’s approach,  which uses Hard Water instead.    7/10

 

 

 

Price:   $89 + 10%  plus Egg
Ease of Access:  4/5
Food:  ♕♕♕♕ to ♕♕♕♕♕ 1/2  (Depends on your visit,  and compared to Japan side)

Address : 銅鑼灣謝斐道440號駱克大廈A座地下H及I舖
440 Jaffe Road,  H & I Shop,  Lockhart Building A, Causeway Bay,  Hong Kong
Ph:  2152 4040