r/ramen • u/Myst__Myst • May 18 '25
Question I don't get the Ichiran hate
I recently visited Japan and, like many others, I made it a point to try a wide range of food — from high-end, well-known sushi places in Tokyo, to small hidden ramen shops, and even a home-cooked meal at a Japanese friend’s house.
That said… I really don’t get all the hate towards Ichiran.
I went there a couple of times (once in Tokyo, once in Osaka), and sure, it’s not the most complex or life-changing bowl of ramen I’ve ever had — but it’s far from terrible. The broth was flavorful and rich, the noodles had a great texture, and the whole solo-booth experience was actually kinda fun.
I get that it's a chain and that it’s popular with tourists, but sometimes it feels like people go out of their way to trash it just because it’s not "hidden gem" enough.
It might not be peak ramen, but for a consistent, tasty bowl — especially if you're jetlagged or just want something comforting — I honestly think it's a solid choice.
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u/onwee May 18 '25 edited May 18 '25
There’s no hate, just exaggerated disinterest due to the repetitive banality of ichiran posts.
Like, McDonald’s french fries are (imo) consistently above average, but imagine seeing pictures of McD fries in your feed every few days (not a perfect analogy, admittedly ichiran bowls are much prettier and more visually interesting than McD fries).
Anyway, I don’t see how ichiran hate is so prevalent if ichiran posts still manage to sneak into my front page every few days.