Saying that the Japanese love their ramen would be a complete understatement. Ramen is a staple food there and there is an abundance of ramen stores scattered all over Japan. While most of these places sell pretty good ramen, it is pretty hard to find a place that really knocks the ball out of the park.

In Japan, a place that sells good food can easily be recognised by the insane, snaking queues that can last for hours. One of the places in Tokyo that has some of the craziest queues is Fu-unji Ramen, a no-frills place that sells solid bowls of tsukemen ramen that is hard to beat.

Photo Credit: Japan Travel 

The inside of the stall is an organised mess of people and if you’re claustrophobic, be warned that this place can be pretty anxiety-inducing. There are 2 rows of people here: the ones sitting at the counter area and the ones standing behind waiting for their turn. The pressure to eat fast is real here as there are people literally breathing down your necks.

Orders are placed at the door before you begin the tedious queue behind the other patrons. Fu-unji serves up 3 different noodle sizes: small (200g), medium (300g) or large (400g). All the tsukemen here are sold at the same price (1000 Yen) regardless of what size of noodles you order, so it really is pretty value for money if you order a medium or a large!

What makes the ramen here at Fu-unji so unique is the fact that it is fish based. Many would think that a fish-based ramen broth would be a bad idea as the fishy taste may be too overpowering, but somehow, Fu-unji made it work very well.

Besides the fish component, Fu-unji layers their broth with chicken broth and fish powder, creating an addictive, savoury concoction that hits all the right spots without being too overwhelming.

Aside from that life-changing broth, the ramen noodles were perfectly cooked and delightfully chewy. We appreciate how the thickness of the noodles managed to hold more of that insanely good broth, making each mouthful a piece of heaven.

The ramen is also topped with a copious amount of succulent pork, crunchy bamboo shoots and a runny flavoured ajitama egg that not only soaked up all the goodness of the broth but also added a variety of flavours and textures that enhanced the entire the dish.

For those of you who are not fans of tsukemen ramen, you can also opt to try their normal ramen for just 950 Yen. The ramen has a less fishy taste and the broth is a little milder as compared to the tsukemen broth. Despite both ramens being incredibly delicious, we have to say that we prefer the tsukemen ramen more!

Fu-unji Ramen 
2-14-3, Yoyogi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Tel: +81 3 6413 8480
Mon to Sat: 11am – 3pm, 5 – 9pm
(Closed on Sundays)
Nearest Station: Shinjuku

Koso-an is a traditional teahouse in Tokyo and it offers a quintessential Japanese experience that all first-timers to Tokyo should try.

Enjoying a Japanese tea session in a traditional teahouse that overlooks a Japanese garden should be on everyone’s bucket list. Enjoy some quiet moments and embrace the peacefulness while eating traditional Japanese desserts & tea.

And you can do just that at Koso-an. Here’s why you should add the humble teahouse to your itinerary for your next visit to Tokyo.

Koso-an is tucked in a quiet corner of Jiyugaoka. You wouldn’t otherwise know it is a teahouse unless you pay close attention, for all it has is a small wooden signboard which reads ‘open’.

Follow the stone pathway and walk across the pretty little Japanese garden and you will be led to a pavilion. It isn’t a very big one; just enough to sit about 20 people. That is why a line always forms, but good things are worth the wait.

On the menu, you do not get many choices—just a few regular Nippon drinks and sweet treats in the likes of matcha tea, matcha desserts and shiratama zensai (red beans with dumplings).

Anmitsu (¥830) is a summer favourite. A gorgeous bowl of fruits and jelly, topped with bean jam and served with a cup of tea, this is a simple yet authentic Japanese treat.

Not too big a fan of sweets? There is the Macha (¥830)—a serving of bitter and creamy Japanese green tea with a homemade confectionery.

You see, nothing at Koso-an is overly fancy; yet, it hits all the right spots with its homeliness, simplicity, and authenticity.

Koso-an
1 Chome-24-23 Jiyugaoka, Meguro, Tokyo 152-0035, Japan
Tel: +81 3 3718 4203
Thu to Tue (Closed on Wed): 11am – 6.30pm
Nearest Station: Jiyugaoka