This is a tonkotsu ramen shop that opens at 6:30 AM. The menu is not limited to ramen; they also offer set meals and curry. Since I like curry, I ordered the tonkotsu curry. Rice was free for a large serving, so I ordered it large. However, it turned out to be not as large as I expected, and the curry was more tonkotsu than I anticipated. It didn't suit my taste since I’m not a fan of tonkotsu ramen.
📍Ximen Station, Taipei
Located on Kunyang Street, about a 6-minute walk from the MRT station, the overall decor at the entrance is very Japanese, making it particularly eye-catching among the surrounding shops. I had previously eaten at the JiJiKun branch in Neihu and remember that after hiking up Jinmian Mountain, I headed straight there, arriving 40 minutes before opening time. Even then, I couldn't be in the first batch to enter, so I had to wait for about an hour. At that time, I thought the food was quite good, but considering the long wait, it slightly decreased my desire to return. Luckily, the new branch in Ximen doesn’t require a queue for lunch on weekdays!
Dishes 🥘
The small specialty shop, located in a humble space, is a ramen restaurant that many locals frequent. We were also recommended by locals to give it a try. The shop only accepts cash payments and offers a wide variety of flavors to choose from, though the salt flavor and curry ramen are the most popular options.
Given our limited stomach space and that we hadn't had a chance to try Hakodate's specialty ramen yet, we decided to order the much-recommended salt ramen. This is a classic representation of Hakodate ramen, with a broth made from simmered chicken bones that is very light. To be honest, the first bite was quite puzzling; it was different from the salt ramen I had in other regions. However, the more I ate, the more I found it delicious. The broth has a moderate saltiness and feels perfect for having after a drink.
That said, considering that some people might never be able to accept it (for instance, my travel companion gave up after half a bowl, which I ended up finishing), I suggest others also consider trying the curry ramen!
A super rich tonkotsu soy sauce broth paired with thick straight noodles, accompanied by chashu, seaweed, and spinach soaked in the rich broth...
This is the Kakei ramen, a style that is distinctly recognizable, and each bite hits hard with flavor.
I never expected to find such delicious Kakei ramen in Taoyuan.
"Iroji Ramen"
This ramen shop has just opened, and just by looking at their IG, you can tell how much effort went into the preparations.
The owner couple is from Japan, and their Chinese is quite good. Their polite demeanor makes you feel very comfortable just being served.
🍚 Today's order
👉 My Ramen (NT$360)
My Ramen + Hard Noodles + Extra Salt + More Oil.
As a fan of bold flavors, naturally, I piled on all the buffs for my first try.
During the ordering, seating, and waiting process, you can catch a whiff of the soup’s aroma. It’s the prelude of the rich soup mingling with the fragrant fat of the chashu. Just waiting makes you feel happy.
Many ramen places have great flavors, but their presentation often falls short. The ideal is to have both good taste and appearance, which scores major points. Here, the ramen...
Looks amazing!!
The color combinations are very balanced, with the entire bowl displaying warm tones, making it very appetizing.
However, the taste...
The flavor is even better than the visual appeal!
The broth is rich and penetrates deep to the bone without being overly heavy. It's like jumping directly into a pot of simmering tonkotsu broth—pure satisfaction. It’s akin to the exhilaration after an intense workout or a thrilling sports match, or the joy of singing all night. You feel the excitement but also embrace this intense flavor adventure.
Using thick noodles is a tradition of Kakei! The fat and collagen are just perfect for thick noodles, presenting a straightforward challenge.
The soft-boiled egg is perfect, with almost liquid yolk being the best proof. The spinach soaked in the tonkotsu broth is also a standout, and the super large seaweed adds not just visual impact but also enhances the flavor. The chashu comes in both thicker torched slices and lighter sous-vide renditions; I usually prefer the torched version, but here, the sous-vide chashu is even more tender than at others, melting effortlessly with just a gentle press of the tongue and teeth—a superb chashu.
In summary, this is ramen that I absolutely love and highly recommend for fans of bold flavors. If you enjoy rich tastes, you must come here to try it.
(You might not even need to choose "salty broth," as "regular" is said to be flavorful enough—I'll have to try that on my next visit).
This will definitely be the next hot ramen spot in Taoyuan. However... my feelings are mixed; this recommendation... will make it even harder to get a seat in the future!!
On weekdays in September, you don’t have to queue at 17:00.
First, buy a meal voucher at the machine at the entrance, and once inside, you can just press the "stone pet" on the high bar table in front of you👌 There are coat hooks and storage baskets behind you, which is a thoughtful touch.
Chicken and Shellfish Salt Ramen
It has a sweetness from the seafood, with no fishy smell. The salt flavor is refreshing but not bland; it belongs to a summer light soup that you can drink all the way to the bottom without feeling burdened.
Super Rich Tonkotsu Ramen
Honest and true, it truly is super rich. It flows slowly, has a high noodle strength, and the richness is close to the level of curry sauce. You could say it’s at the dipping noodle level. While it isn’t spicy enough to cause stomach pain or numbness in the mouth, your taste buds can subtly sense its presence, adding layers to the rich broth. The meat slices are thinly cut, not burdensome, with no greasy mouthfeel, pairing well with the thick soup. The broth underneath retains heat well and can be hot, so please be careful😇
Before reaching the oily limit, you can have a bite of bean sprouts to change up the flavor—
Unlimited noodle refills, with both handmade noodles and fine noodles available. The handmade noodles are thicker, and both have their merits. The noodle refill provided is fine noodles; it's recommended that big eaters start with handmade noodles to try both types🫶
The table and floor have no stickiness, and the space is large, so you won’t bump elbows with the next table. The air conditioning looks like it’s working hard (there are three units), but it still can’t compete with the heat from the open kitchen, which is a bit unfortunate.
Pingtung Ramen Old Brand - Kyushu Tonkotsu Ramen, the most basic Tonkotsu Ramen has gone from 80 Yuan to now 100 Yuan, but it's still cheap! Nowadays, lunch boxes are going for almost a hundred as well, so I think the cost-performance ratio is still very high.
Tonkotsu Ramen 💰100, the ingredients inside include dried bamboo shoots, kelp strips, fish cake, and chopped green onions, and of course, the most important chashu can't be missing. Their chashu comes in three slices, each quite large and also a bit thick, giving it a soft yet slightly fibrous texture 🤣 but it's acceptable. The soup base is a rich Tonkotsu broth, and to reach this quality for 100 Yuan is pretty good, really a nostalgic flavor.
Creamy Ramen 💰110, with the added milky flavor from the cream, combined with the Tonkotsu, it's like milk on milk. If you love creamy flavors, you must order this bowl.
The small dishes in the restaurant are also a great deal at 35 Yuan, and they have free refillable sparkling drinks. If you don't have enough broth, you can request more soup. It truly is a high cost-performance value restaurant!
Overall Review: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Dickson's Fooday mouthwatering food review is here!
This time, I want to specially recommend an incredibly delicious ramen shop.
You can see that I rarely give a five-star review,
so that means it truly is fantastic!
Currently, in my personal opinion,
the best ramen shop I’ve ever eaten at in Taipei is this one!
It’s definitely a five-star rating
and a place that must be revisited!!
As everyone probably knows, famous ramen shops in Taipei
almost always require you to queue up.
And it’s not that kind of queue where you can be seated in ten minutes.
Many places usually have people lining up outside even before they open.
It seems like there’s a habit for ramen shops to operate this way,
where there are many ramen places that require you to wait outside patiently, lining up to get in.
I think one advantage of this ramen shop
is that they use a number ticket system.
So, you just need to draw a number and can use the app to track when your number will come up.
This greatly reduces the lazy frustration mindset of someone like me who really hates waiting in line. 🤣🤣🤣
I often feel like the waiting time is even longer than the time spent eating ramen.
No matter how delicious it is, it can still feel exhausting. 🥺🥺🥺
This ramen shop doesn’t seem to have been around for very long,
especially with many new ramen shops opening in the Zhongshan district recently,
and many of them seem to be quite famous!
However, among the ones I’ve eaten at, this shop is my personal favorite.
From the way they manage the queue to how they take orders using a machine,
it seems like many current Japanese ramen shops are adopting this style.
You find a long queue outside,
then after finding a seat, you use the ordering machine to place your order.
This shop has made some improvements,
as you can place your order first and then get a number.
You can then use the number shown on the app to decide to stroll around nearby before returning to eat ramen.
This significantly enhances our experience of waiting in line for ramen,
because once you have the number,
you can plan your time accordingly,
then take a stroll in the Zhongshan district,
and if the wait is too long, you can even sit in a café for a bit.
Suddenly, I feel that waiting for an hour outside other ramen shops is simply ridiculous!
Additionally, this ramen shop often has various limited-edition ramen flavors.
Recently, due to the Olympics wrapping up,
they’ve introduced a special “Lin Yang Pei” ramen!
So it’s clear that this shop often has creative ramen variations!
You might want to follow their IG to catch some exclusive items!
Furthermore, from the small decorations inside the shop,
it could be seen that the owner is very fond of cats.
Each small ornament on the table is a tiny cat.
And when you’re getting ready to eat,
the staff will greet you warmly, saying
this little cat is here to keep you company while you eat!
Wow, this place really champions a cat-loving philosophy!
Now back to the main topic!
Food: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌕
Beverages: N/A
Atmosphere: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Service: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
Price: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌗
Location: 🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘
⭐️ Food section
This ramen shop doesn’t offer a lot of ramen options.
They mainly have two categories:
one is mushroom-based tonkotsu soy sauce,
and the other is white truffle chicken seafood.
Additionally, there are limited-edition ramen as previously mentioned!
This time I came with a friend,
👉 Special grade, white truffle chicken seafood ramen $370.
Since the other ramen focuses on soy sauce,
I personally prefer non-soy sauce flavors!
So naturally, I ordered the white truffle!
When the ramen was served, it was indeed quite impressive!
Overall, it looks very appetizing.
First, I think the soup base is excellent.
It's not overly salty or greasy,
and it’s really refreshing to drink!
Additionally, the noodles are very flavorful,
and the texture is exactly how I love it—springy and chewy.
You can also ask the shop about the noodle firmness,
and you can make your choice while ordering,
so I think everyone should be able to find their preferred noodle texture.
You can also choose whether or not to add a soft-boiled egg based on your needs.
As a financially free person,
I obviously added another egg without hesitation.
Look at this, it’s what they call financial freedom!
The slices of meat in the ramen aren’t overcooked,
but because of this, it feels just right while eating.
All I can say is that this whole bowl of ramen paired together
is simply delicious!
I really think everyone must try it~~~
Furthermore, you can also add noodles,
so if you feel it’s not enough, you can raise your hand and ask the staff.
They will also inquire about your preferred noodle type and firmness!
Since there was a limited edition item that day,
my friend also ordered that.
The limited-edition ramen has a daily limited supply,
so when it’s sold out, it’s gone!
And it doesn't appear on the menu outside,
so you have to press the limited edition option on the ordering machine to see it!
👉 Lin Yang Pei gold medal limited edition
This ramen is quite special,
as it’s made with lamb
and contains some lamb bones and other elements.
Up until now, I think I’ve never had lamb ramen!!
So it was really new for me.
And the soup base they prepared is completely different from the previous bowl,
the overall texture and flavor give a totally different feeling.
Because of this, exchanging bites with my friend was also a thrilling experience!
This leaves us even more excited for upcoming limited edition ramen!
👉 Special Chashu Rice
The chashu rice is more like an option if you didn’t have enough ramen,
to fill your tummy with some chashu rice!
I found the chashu rice quite nice.
But compared to such excellent ramen,
the brilliance of the chashu rice is somewhat overshadowed.
Still, the combination of chashu and sauce with rice is also very good.
If anyone feels it’s not enough, or wants to try the chashu rice,
I would recommend getting some!
⭐️ Beverages section
Here, there’s also an unlimited supply of cold water.
Waiting outside in the scorching summer heat,
once you enter, you can immediately enjoy a cold drink.
This is truly a major delight before eating ramen!
⭐️ Atmosphere section
In terms of space arrangement for ramen shops in Taipei,
this place has quite a large area.
Many ramen shops typically have just a narrow aisle,
with other seating areas only at the bar in front.
This ramen shop feels more like a restaurant.
The front area has many table seating zones,
with sections for two and four people.
There are probably around five to eight tables,
so the inside isn’t very cramped.
In addition to the table seating area, there’s also a bar seating area in front of the kitchen.
This part is the same as other ramen shops,
where you can directly watch the chefs make the ramen.
I think the atmosphere inside is pleasant,
and it follows a more understated and elegant style.
The lighting is dimmer,
so I feel it has a different vibe compared to typical Japanese ramen shops.
As mentioned previously, the owner appears to be a great cat lover.
Aside from the small cat figurine decorations on the tables,
there are also some wall paintings and other decor,
which are generally related to cats!
In summary, I think the space planning is pretty good.
It doesn’t feel like you’re crammed in with others like in other ramen shops.
It has more of a date-like atmosphere,
and this is something I find wonderful!
⭐️ Price section
Considering the price for a ramen shop,
I think with its deliciousness and richness of ingredients,
this price is very reasonable.
For Taipei ramen shops, it’s quite affordable!
⭐️ Service section
The staff in the store are very friendly.
When you’re lining up outside,
they will guide you on how to queue and the traffic flow.
Once you’re seated inside,
they’ll help to refill water and serve your ramen.
If you have other queries like needing extra noodles or broth,
you can immediately call the staff for assistance,
so I think the service is quite good!
That day, there was also a slight incident.
As it turns out, this shop requires you to queue and use the ordering machine to pay in advance.
You have to wait for your number before you can enter and make a purchase.
I noticed some people realized after completing their order
that the waiting time was too long.
Perhaps they had other plans to attend to,
so they couldn’t wait that long to eat.
At this point, they’d request to get a refund from the staff.
I think this shop could improve on their operations.
Currently, the ordering machine displays the numbers that have been called,
but it seems to lack showing your purchased number after you’ve placed an order.
This way, consumers could decide based on the number in line
whether to purchase first or not.
Otherwise, it seems many people pay first,
only to find that they still have to wait for several more.
This could be rather frustrating, right? 🤣🤣🤣
⭐️ Location section
This ramen shop is located near Zhongshan MRT Station,
basically behind Shin Kong Mitsukoshi.
Transportation is very convenient;
it takes about ten minutes to walk from the MRT station.
And since it’s very close to the Zhongshan business district,
as mentioned earlier,
if you take a number,
you can plan to stroll around Zhongshan nearby according to your ticket’s number and time.
So, I think the location of this shop is truly excellent!
⭐️ In conclusion,
this ramen shop is currently my number one in Taipei!
Whether it’s about the food or the atmosphere,
and although it’s traditional for ramen shops to require queuing,
at least this one allows us to wait without standing idle in front for too long.
Just for this reason, I think it’s really fantastic!
If you enjoy visiting various ramen shops,
then you definitely shouldn’t miss this amazing ramen place!
Additionally, with their various limited edition ramen,
customer engagement is quite high!
So I have to repeat: a high recommendation with five stars!
🤪 Dickson's Mouthpiece Zone 🤪
Now, when you tell a girl that you’re going for delicious ramen,
usually ramen shops require on-site queuing,
making the entire date planning not very time-manageable!
But in this ramen shop, we can take advantage of the system that doesn’t require waiting on site,
and instead utilize the various small stores in the Zhongshan district to create a nice itinerary for both eating ramen and dating!
This allows us to be thoughtful and mysterious men,
drawing a number at the ramen shop in advance.
Then, we can leisurely wander with the girl in Zhongshan,
seemingly just browsing around small shops, shopping for little items,
or walking through some creative markets near Zhongshan Station.
Then you can use the shop’s app to track your number anytime,
and when your number is almost up,
you can give her a delightful surprise,
leading her right to the ramen shop’s door,
while many others are still standing at the vending machine to place their orders.
👩: Isn’t this ramen shop super popular with so many people? When will we get to eat if we just queue now?
🙎🏻♂️: Hehehe, don’t worry, as a VIP,
I’ll take you right inside!
👩: No way, stop joking! I see online that usually, it’s a half-hour to an hour wait~~~
💁♀️: Hello, your number is up, welcome to be seated~~
🙎🏻♂️: Let’s go! You see? It’s our turn now~~
👩: 😍😍😍😍 Oh my gosh, how lucky! We can eat ramen right away!!
You see,
if we arrived ten minutes early to draw a number,
it can provide so much emotional value for the girl!
Just this simple detail
can help to plan a lovely date in Zhongshan
and enjoy such delicious ramen at the same time.
How wonderful it is to bridge the distance between us and the girl
with the prospect of standing in line for ramen for so long,
coupled with such delicious food, surely it will make her ecstatic!
See, haven’t we just instantly brought us closer to each other? 🥰🥰🥰
Chaozhou's new ramen shop - Wan Gu Ramen, is decorated in a very Japanese architectural style, filled with super cool and expensive toy figures, and surprisingly, they are also for sale. After seeing the prices, I decided it was better to just have ramen, hahaha.
It features an open kitchen, and sitting at the bar allows you to watch the chef skillfully prepare the noodles, giving off a true Japanese artisan feel.
My meal was a tonkotsu ramen with extra chashu. Overall, the flavors lean towards a Taiwanese style. Although I love the bold flavors of Japanese ramen, I think this place has created its own style. The tonkotsu broth includes diced onions and is paired with minced chashu, resulting in a richly textured and refreshing taste.
The other dish, a soy sauce chicken broth, has a refreshing soup base that I think is an improved version of a delicious Taiwanese ramen.
This ramen place 🍜 is a new shop in Qingpu.
Although the store isn't big (about 14-16 seats), the dining environment is quite clean.
Ordering is done using an automatic ordering machine.
First, choose the seat you want (✨ if it's busy during meal times, just select a seat randomly; the owner will arrange the seating). Then, select the ramen broth you want and the firmness of the noodles. After ordering, payment is made, and you can place your order slip in a small box at the owner's front desk.
There are counter seats and window seats; today I was seated by the window. At the table, they provided refreshing lemonade 🍋, and I ended up drinking several cups...
🍜 Braised Chicken and Shellfish Broth $250
The broth is made from free-range chicken, very rich but not overly salty, with a full, delicious chicken essence. I chose the standard firmness for the noodles, and they were just right. Next time I visit, I might try a different level of firmness. The chicken was prepared sous-vide, making it tender and not dry! Overall, it was quite delicious～
🍜 Truffle Beef and Mushroom Ramen $350
The broth is rich with real ingredients, and coupled with truffle, it offers a strong flavor impact. I was initially a bit worried about the truffle flavor, but it turned out to be rich yet smooth. I also chose standard firmness for the noodles, and the first bite of the beef was surprising, bursting with grilled aroma—very tasty! Plus, it was paired with sous-vide chicken, enjoying two types of meat is just delightful～
🌟 If you're still hungry, you can get an extra ball of noodles for free.
Overall, both the meal and the dining environment were quite nice, and I would visit again if I get the chance.
Parking 🅿️: There is a free parking lot behind Qingpu Junior High School nearby, about a 5-minute walk to the store.
Thank you Fooday🥳 for inspiring me to try more different cuisines🍽
🚩Location🧭
It is located near the intersection of Dazhi Road and Xinyi Street in Taichung's East District, close to the @大魯閣新時代购物中心 (Daluge New Era Shopping Center).
🪑About the overall atmosphere🎡
There is a food cart outside, and the store has air conditioning. The seating is relatively limited, and the lighting is warm-toned.
💰About the pricing💰
Kyushu Tonkotsu Ramen is $110, which is considered a cheap price.
🍴About the meal☕
When ordering, the staff mentioned that the broth would take about 15 minutes, so I really waited for about 15-20 minutes. The ramen included a piece of seaweed, half a soft-boiled egg, two very thin slices of pork, and some chopped green onions. Since there were no bean sprouts, I felt it didn't quite qualify as Taiwanese ramen. The noodles themselves were flavorful and had a nice chewiness, and the soft-boiled egg was super delicious, but the meat slices were really very thin; this aspect is completely aligned with Japanese ramen. If Japanese ramen is often very salty, this broth seems to have been adjusted for Taiwanese tastes, so it can be enjoyed easily, and when you drink it at the end with the green onions, it doesn't feel too greasy.
🤨Conclusion♥
I happened to pass by this place and thought since I've seen it somewhere else, I might as well try it. Besides the slightly long wait, there's nothing much to criticize.
