Japanese old style Ramen place, owned by an old man who has good craftsmanship in creating a bowl of Ramen, and an old lady who is very friendly. You also can add a huge meat for 100 Yen. Quite crowded at noon so you better go hurry.

This is a long-established ramen shop with enduring popularity around Asakusabashi. I visited for the first time for a weekday lunch. The characterful red sign and retro shop name tell of its long history. The enticing exterior, which seems likely to appeal to enthusiasts, raised my expectations. I settled at the counter fitted with acrylic dividers and ordered a luxurious ramen-and-rice meal of 『shoyu ramen／750 yen』 with 『1 slice of chashu／150 yen』 and 『half rice／150 yen』, acting like a regular lol. Pickles and a slotted ramen spoon arrived first. Apparently, the slotted spoon is for retrieving the minced meat that sinks into the soup. A huge bowl was plunked onto the counter in front of me. It seemed to contain the soup and noodles already. After adding the toppings, they poured more soup over the top to finish it. The owner gave a slight glance as if to say, "Yours is ready!" (^_^;). What a portion. I took a gulp of soup that looked like enough for two servings. Hmm, thin and lacking depth…. The pork-bone animal smell was strong, and the soup was more distinctive than expected. This will definitely divide opinions. The universally loved medium-thick Nishiyama noodles seemed to have been boiled a long time and were quite soft. There was plenty of minced meat, but unfortunately it barely tasted of anything and was literally bland. Oh dear, have I made a bad choice for the first time in a while? What turned things around was the thick chashu I had submerged with my chopsticks at the start. Once I confirmed it had thoroughly absorbed the soup, I placed it on the half portion of rice. A drizzle of the homemade chili oil on the table turned it into a superb chashu rice bowl. This tender pork belly was truly delicious! The intensely spicy chili oil was a perfect match and made it even tastier. I'm glad I read the earlier reviewers' posts! I broke it apart, mixed it well with the rice, popped it into my mouth, and gulped down the remaining ramen soup. This is better than the ramen lol. The lack of excess fat also scored highly; I wish I'd added another slice. I had asked for fewer noodles, but I was plenty full by the time I finished. The ramen itself was questionable, but the chashu saved my lunch. Would I have felt differently if I'd chosen miso ramen?

+2

Today I headed to a ramen shop in Asakusabashi that had caught my interest. The shop is called Tenryu. You'll find it by following the elevated tracks from Asakusabashi Station. It really has the appearance of a long-established shop. Miso ramen seems popular here, and although I was very tempted, I ordered chashumen this time. I was in the mood for shoyu ramen today. There is a bowl of magic powder on the table. That's the secret to making it tasty, huh. Now, the food arrived. There were 3 thick slices of chashu. The menma had a nice color. The plentiful soup looked good. Taking a sip, it tasted somewhat light, with the feel of old-fashioned chuka soba. I like this kind of soup. The noodles were medium-thin and slightly curly. They were boiled a little soft, but that suited it well. The chashu deserves special mention. The pork-belly chashu was incredibly delicious. Juicy, not greasy, and easy to eat♪ I headed to the next place thinking I'd try the miso next time.

+3

A well-worn, community-oriented place run by an elderly couple. It only opens for lunch, and although I went early, it filled up in no time. I ordered the recommended miso ramen with a chashu topping. Thin noodles with bean sprouts, minced meat & pork belly, and a bowl filled to the brim with light soup. The flavor was light and very average. However, the chashu topping was enormous! Thank you for the meal. P.S.: The shoyu ramen here is simple but refreshing in flavor. It comes with chashu by default, but I definitely recommend adding another slice as a topping.

My favorite ramen in Asakusabashi♪ The shio butter is especially delicious!! Congratulations on 55 years! I hope you stay healthy forever! The shoyu ramen is getting clearer, yet its flavor is becoming deeper! It's amazing how it keeps evolving! By the way, the rice is also Koshihikari from Niigata Prefecture and is cooked perfectly! On top of that, the rice-bran pickles made by the owner are exquisite; I might be eating rice just because I want these pickles.

+3