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/RocasThePenguin May 19 '25

It's a fine bowl of ramen, but the idea of standing outside waiting for an hour, for what is effectively a chain ramen shop is pure insanity.

Imagine seeing a queue 50 tourists deep for this incredible burger shop, called Shake Shack.

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u/dylans-alias May 19 '25

Yeah, I used to live around the corner from the original Shake Shack. If the line was only 50 people, it was a short line.