Trending Topics
Here’s the translated text:
Tokyo Giyicawara Ramen Shop Food Review Share～
I never expected that Taiwanese people could also enjoy Giyicawara Ramen. As a fan of Giyicawara myself, when I go to Japan, visiting ramen shops is definitely one of the must-see spots in addition to specialty stores.
Most Taiwanese might think that getting in is a difficult task (for example, some shops require a lottery system that requires a local Japanese phone number, like the Giyicawara restaurant in Ikebukuro, which is basically inaccessible to foreigners). I initially thought it might be hopeless as well, but later I discovered that the ramen shop lottery website allows account verification using Taiwanese phone numbers!
✨ No need for Japanese phone verification, and no need for a lottery ticket. You just need to log in, verify your account, register for the lottery, and wait to be selected.
In this post, I want to write a somewhat instructional visit review, hoping to let more Taiwanese fans of Giyicawara know how they can have a chance to dine at this ramen shop. Therefore, the review will include a lot of restaurant photos and screenshots of the website registration and lottery process. If you want to see the lottery process, you can scroll down below～
———
This time, I visited the Tokyo branch of Giyicawara Ramen, located in B1 of Shibuya Parco, which is very convenient to access.
Now, let’s talk about the overall evaluation of the ramen shop!
📍Beitou District, Taipei City (near Beitou MRT Station)
Long queue | A great choice for affordable and consistently quality ramen 🍜
Changsheng Salt Ramen, the first location in Taipei at Tianmu has opened a branch near Beitou Station, and it's a ramen shop I've returned to many times!
🥘
Order Items
🧂 Salt Ramen ($160):
This is the flavor I always order when I come 🤤. The light broth is smooth and not overly salty, paired with slightly charred chicken chashu and pork chashu, as well as noodles that still have a bit of firmness.
However, this time the flavor felt a bit weak by the end, reminiscent of a simple noodle soup base 😆.
🥢 Soy Sauce Ramen ($180):
I ordered this for the first time! The first sip of the broth was impressive!
The soy sauce has a smooth texture, with a hint of seafood aroma. By the end, I found it a bit salty, so it's not suitable to finish the soup.
Recently, there are two types of noodles to choose from, with one on display before it is cooked. One type requires an additional charge of 15 TWD. This time, I ordered both types. Besides the cooked one being thinner and a bit harder when it was served, the difference in texture wasn't very noticeable.
🍄
Will I return: Yes!
The seating inside is limited, so next time I plan to come and line up right when they open!
✏️
Note:
🔸 Cash only 💰 (they also accept bank transfers, but it seems to take longer for other customers to process it).
This time, I came to dine just because I was out shopping at the department store with a friend. I didn't have too high expectations for the food court in the department store; at most, I expected it to be not bad. So I decided to try this ramen shop.
I ordered the "Golden Three Sirs Ramen" for $200 plus a drink for $40. The lady at the counter was very friendly and had a great attitude when taking my order. After about 15 minutes of waiting, the meal arrived, and it was somewhat unexpected; it was better than I imagined. The broth was rich, the noodles were on the thicker side, and the chashu was thick but slightly fatty. It definitely changed my perception of food court offerings. However, it did take a long time to find a seat, which was not very convenient.
(This shop offers drinks with Google reviews, how cliché! 🤣) The drink cannot be refilled.
As for the portion size, the amount is just about right for a woman, but for men, it might not be enough. This place is already better than some ramen shops outside. In terms of food courts in department stores, it’s quite good.
First time dining here.
The atmosphere and environment in the restaurant are great.
The dining experience is very comfortable.
However, the space in the restaurant is not large.
The staff are very friendly.
They noticed we had bags and brought out a storage basket for us.
The noodles have specific characteristics that you can choose according to your preference.
The salted egg yolk flavor is quite unique; it's oily but not greasy.
The grilled char siu is richly fragrant, and when paired with the sous-vide chicken, it really complements each other well and is delicious.
The milk white sauce ramen is also good, but there is still room for improvement.
The prices in the restaurant are affordable,
making it suitable for students.
Parking is convenient as well,
as there is a parking lot nearby.
"After finishing Ah Hui's noodle soup, we directly went to another ramen shop, but we had to wait in line for a long time..."
<About the meal 🥣>
Noodle type: This time, we ordered thick noodles, which had a nice chewy texture and absorbed the broth really well—absolutely fantastic!
Broth: The broth was quite warming and appetizing at first, but as we continued drinking it, it became a bit salty and greasy. Luckily, there were vegetables to accompany the broth, overall it was very good.
Chashu:
I saw their chashu already prepared on the counter, and the flavor wasn’t heavily seasoned, just the usual black pepper, which was enough to be delicious. Pairing it with the broth brought it to another level.
<About the staff 👨🍳>
The staff was super energetic, and they even offered me their soft-boiled egg (they said: “Sorry for making you wait so long”)—so heartwarming! After the meal, they even asked if I was full. My heart just melted!
<About the dining area and environment 🐾>
The dining table was spacious, and there was air conditioning, which was super comfortable. The overall environment was impeccable, and the kitchen is open, giving us consumers or diners more assurance, as we can see how our meals are prepared.
🍜 The new evolution of Kyushu Tonkotsu Ramen! A clear and transparent broth that brings out a sweet and rich flavor!
When it comes to Kyushu ramen, most people typically think of the rich, milky tonkotsu broth, but not everyone can handle the heavy texture and unpleasant odor of pork bones. At Tsukiya, care is taken to remove any gamey smells from the pork bones, and special attention is paid to the cooking process to create a clear, odor-free broth.
The broth is also enriched with local Kyushu soy sauce, selected from three exclusive blends that are not overly salty, providing a mild sweetness that pairs beautifully with the transparent broth, making it truly outstanding.
Accompanying the bowl are green onions and Kumquat from Oita, with pepper available on the table, allowing for flavor customization that keeps it interesting until the last sip. Especially the aroma of the Oita kumquat is simply irresistible, offering a fresher citrus note than many yuzu ramen options!
Amid the sea of rich tonkotsu flavors in the Hakata area, this ramen is a “pure stream” in terms of both appearance and taste 😂. The shop is also bright and clean; it’s no wonder they can open a store in the upscale Ginza department store in Tokyo! You can also enjoy it at Fukuoka Airport, but it seems like the menu at the main store is more extensive with richer options~
After many visits, today’s weather is cool and overcast, perfect for eating ramen. I also wanted some hot soup, so I came directly to the shop. I thought they opened at 17:00, but unexpectedly they started serving at 16:30. Once I entered the shop, there were a few customers eating ramen. Then there was a young lady with a young ramen chef. Since it was my first time there, I didn’t know what to choose, so I ordered a super rich tonkotsu ramen. The ramen arrived quickly, and I found that the serving of noodles was more than usual, I could hardly finish it. The broth was really thick, and next time I want to try a different flavor. I’ll let the shop know to serve less noodles next time.
I heard it's a very famous ramen shop near the Gongguan shopping district, so I decided to try it out.
On weekends, it can get quite crowded, and you need to take a number to wait in line. I recommend waiting on-site because if your number is called and you’re not there, you have to start over. The shop only calls each number three times, so if you miss your turn, you’ll have to go back to the end of the line. After waiting for about 20 minutes, it was finally my turn.
You need to place your order and pay in advance. This time, I ordered the chicken and pork ramen, which came with a piece of chicken thigh and three slices of pork chashu. The chicken thigh was just okay, but the pork chashu was much tastier. As for the broth, the flavor was quite rich, but personally, I found it a bit salty. You can adjust the noodles, but make sure to inform the staff when ordering. I didn’t make any adjustments, and I thought they were pretty good, with a nice chewy texture.
Overall, it’s a decent ramen shop, but it didn’t offer any major surprises.
🍜 The only one in Japan! A must-have pentagon-shaped bowl to celebrate "passing" exams! No waiting in line for souvenirs, take it all home!
When you arrive in Dazaifu, Fukuoka, you'll immediately see the prominent Ichiran Ramen and the crowd waiting in line. Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine is famous for praying for academic success, and the surrounding shops have launched various "passing" related lucky items.
The Japanese pronunciation of "pentagon" is similar to "passing," so Ichiran here cleverly uses this pun to create a pentagon-shaped bowl and chopsticks! When you order the "Passing Ramen" (980), they will say "You passed!" when the noodles are served! 😂
As for the flavor, it is of course as consistently delicious as the regular Ichiran ramen. I usually order spice level 2, which is roughly mild spicy in Taiwan, making it less greasy and making me want to finish it to see the words at the bottom of the bowl! 😂
In addition to the bowl's shape, there are actually many auspicious meanings in the restaurant, the explanations are shown in the photos!
There are few established ramen shops in Taichung that focus on dipping noodles, and this one can be said to be a classic representative in that regard.
There was a time when I loved dipping noodles, but after a disappointing experience at a nearby shop, I stopped looking for them. So, it has taken many years for me to finally try Mian Wu Tian Zong.
🏠 The exterior and interior decor are classic wooden-style ramen shop vibes, with seating for about ten people. After placing your order at the kiosk near the entrance, you wait to be called.
🍜 I ordered the signature seafood dipping noodles (originally I was wondering if the portion would be enough or if I should order a larger size, but fortunately, I didn’t order more, or I wouldn't have been able to finish it 🤣). The dish comes with some chopped green onions, braised pork belly, chicken thigh, dried bamboo shoots, half a soft-boiled egg, and seaweed. The dipping broth also contains chunks of meat and dried bamboo shoots. The noodles are medium-thick, straight, with just the right firmness.
In terms of flavor, the dipping broth has a slightly strong bonito flavor, but overall it's quite good, with the unique texture of dried fish powder. I personally think the broth could be served a bit hotter (the shop noted that if the temperature isn't sufficient, customers can let them know, but I didn't want to bother the chef). The braised pork belly is slightly sweet, tender, and enjoyable, while the chicken thigh is just normal; nonetheless, it’s a decent serving of dipping noodles that makes you want to come back for more. I look forward to trying other flavors or limited offerings in the future.