Ramen (with garlic and extra pork fat) for 850 yen, flavored egg for 100 yen, raw egg for 50 yen. There are Jiro-style ramen shops that are not directly related to the original Jiro shop, one of which is run by a company called NS Planning, known as the NS group. Two of these NS group shops are the Shinjuku Kabukicho shop and the Ikebukuro Higashi-guchi shop that I visited this time. Unlike other Jiro shops, they use paper tickets instead of plastic ones. Now, let's move on to the ramen review. First, the soup. Like the NS group's Shinjuku Kabukicho shop, this shop also serves emulsified soup, but it's milder in flavor. Both shops have a good soup with a strong pork flavor. However, in this shop, the garlic punch is even more intense. Next, the noodles. They are about the standard thickness for Jiro-style noodles and cooked slightly soft, but they have a chewy texture that stands out. The gentle soup coats the noodles well. Adding a raw egg and soy sauce on the table makes it taste like sukiyaki. Moving on to the toppings, the pork is small but flavorful, with a good balance of lean meat and fat. The vegetables, mostly bean sprouts, are cooked thoroughly and soft, unlike the crunchy ones at the Shinjuku Kabukicho shop. The seasoned pork fat, which is a specialty of the Ikebukuro Higashi-guchi shop, is exceptionally delicious and pairs well with the vegetables. The flavored egg is cooked thoroughly and seasoned inside. Overall, it was consistently delicious, typical of the NS group. I would like to try it with extra pork next time.

I had the Mazesoba with flavored egg for 1050 yen. I added vegetables, garlic, and fried onions as toppings. I arrived around 10:45 am on Saturday and there were 5 people ahead of me in line. I waited for the first round of customers to finish before being seated, which took about 30 minutes. I felt a bit sluggish from the strong air conditioning, so I decided to add extra garlic. It was delicious. Also, I found that eating garlic-rich Jiro-style ramen after sweating a lot in the hot sun and walking a long distance actually improved my condition.

I visited Ramen Jiro Ikebukuro Higashi-guchi shop after a long time. It turns out it had been a year since my last visit! I had been trying to visit all Ramen Jiro shops, but had been avoiding this one for a while. This shop is relatively easy for me to visit, so I think I will come back after completing the goal of visiting all the shops. Today, I went there on a whim while I was in Ikebukuro for work. I ordered the Da Mazesoba (modified) (1050 yen) with extra ginger (50 yen) and extra leek kimchi (100 yen). I called for vegetables, pork fat, basil mayonnaise, and fried onion. When the bowl arrived, it looked super delicious! There was a lot of ginger too! I mixed it up and tried it, and it was delicious! I added kimchi and ginger halfway through, which added a nice kick to the overall taste. It seemed like there was more volume than before. But I managed to finish it all (laughs). It was delicious. Thank you for the meal!

I ordered the ramen with less noodles at a cost of 850 yen (no extra toppings). I had previously visited the store at Noyarumichi Street, so I will compare my experience there. Despite ordering less noodles, there was actually more than enough in the bowl. The noodles were thick, almost like udon, and very filling. The vegetables consisted mostly of bean sprouts, with a small amount of cabbage, and the chashu was on the thinner side for a Jiro-style ramen. There weren't many standout flavors, so I used the fried onions provided in a separate bowl of miso soup to add some variety while eating the noodles. Next time, I think ordering half the amount of noodles would be a better choice. Some of the men around me opted for this option as well. The soup was emulsified and had a light yet bold flavor. I requested the ramen to be "normal" in terms of oil and garlic, but it turned out that "normal" means no garlic. There was probably some oil added, but it was subtle. Lesson learned: be specific with your order!

I visited around 1 pm on a regular day. There were about 8 people waiting inside and outside. The wait was around 10 minutes because they serve quickly. I ordered the small ramen with firm noodles (850 yen) with extra vegetables and garlic, and extra oil. The noodles were chewy and not too hard, which I personally liked. I will definitely visit again when I'm in Ikebukuro.

Ramen for 850 yen, raw egg for 50 yen. Ikeji was my third Jiro experience following Hibaji and Sakugi. Arrived at 11:14 and joined 10 people in line. Sat down at 11:34. Ordered half noodles. Waited about 10 minutes as they started boiling my portion, then was asked by the staff for toppings, so I requested "a little garlic and extra oil." Served in 12 minutes. Wow! Looks delicious! Flipped it over and slurped the noodles! It felt a bit gentler compared to other Jiro-inspired ramen I've had before. Later realized that the soup was tasty but not overpowering, making it the first time I could finish the soup in a Jiro-style ramen. Moved the extra oil to the raw egg, then mixed it well and dipped the noodles in it. The pork slices were attacked first, as I recently learned that you have to eat them before they eat you. The soft texture of the pork combined with the noodles was amazing! Mixing the pork fat and raw egg to create the forbidden dipping sauce, then dipping the noodles in it was heavenly! It was so delicious. It was my first time calmly savoring a Jiro ramen. The atmosphere in the restaurant was not tense either, making it a good recommendation for first-time Jiro visitors! (I also noticed a few solo female diners, which was a first for me in a Jiro restaurant). Thank you for the meal! It was delicious!

Small ramen for 850 yen. I ordered the noodles firm and with less garlic. I arrived around 10:50 and there was no line outside, with available seats inside. The portion of noodles was standard, with a good amount of vegetables included. The black oil with a soy sauce flavor was a unique feature. The soup was a bit bland, with a lot of water in the vegetables, and the pork was not particularly impressive. Overall, it was mediocre. The service was friendly, which might be good for beginners.

Ramen at Ramen Jiro Ikebukuro Higashi-guchi Store Jiro, located in the fierce ramen battleground of Ikebukuro. I have a memory of missing out on it before due to temporary closure. Today, I visited at the somewhat awkward time of 3:30 pm, but there was still a line of 7 or 8 people. Although the menu did not have a small ramen option, they will take orders for things like less noodles while you wait in line. Of course, I ordered mine with less noodles. The Jiro here has a wide variety of toppings such as fish powder, seaweed, flavored egg, raw egg, kimchi, and more. I added seaweed to mine. When the bowl arrived, the overwhelming volume was impressive. However, when I took a bite, it was surprisingly gentle in flavor. I think it's on the lighter side compared to other Jiro locations. If you want to enjoy a healthier Jiro ramen, the Ikebukuro store might be a good choice. Thank you for the meal.

I arrived at Ikejirou with a hangover, there were about 7 people waiting in front of me. I entered the shop for the first seating at 10:30. I ordered the noodles firm with the broth mixed in completely. Ikejirou is the best for someone like me who loves a strong flavor. I ordered my noodles with no broth and extra garlic. The first bite was refreshing and sharp with a soy sauce flavor. The garlic at Ikejirou is not mixed into the soup, but rather dissolved in it. It feels like the garlic is melted into the soup. Today's garlic was slightly pasty. Ikejirou is delicious as always. Thank you for the delicious meal.

It has been about 2 years since my last visit. Previously, I had the impression that the noodle portion was generally small. Even with a small ramen, I thought it would be similar to other shops with a small portion, but it seems like they have increased the amount. Purchasing a meal ticket is done after lining up and before entering the shop. After purchasing, the staff will ask about the firmness and amount of noodles. This time, I ordered the pork ramen for 950 yen, with an additional raw egg for 50 yen. I requested less vegetables, extra oil, and a little garlic. It's hot in the summer, but it was still delicious. I would like to visit again.

At 5:00 PM, I suddenly felt like stopping by after a long time. As I walked from Ikebukuro Station, my stomach was growling and my brain was filled with images of a large serving of meat, greasy and caramelized. The stimulation turned into saliva filling my mouth. I turned the corner and saw the sign. Oh, is it closed? My anxiety was confirmed. It seems they only serve lunch until 3:00 PM for a while. (Crying)

Ramen Yasai - Extra vegetables, extra oil, extra flavor. Cleanliness: 3.0 Service: 2.0 Cost performance: 2.5 Preference: 4.0 I ordered the noodles firm, but they were overcooked. The soup lacked depth and was a bit bland. It was disappointing considering it was a place I usually enjoy.

Ramen for 850 yen. On a rainy weekday before 12:30, there was a 10-minute wait for a group of 5, but when leaving, there were 10 people waiting. The soup had a rich umami flavor, the noodles were flat and delicious, and the chashu was thick, with 2 slices about 1 centimeter thick and a high salt concentration. Towards the end, it felt a bit too salty. The staff were kind and pleasant.

The 38th stop on my direct lineage Jiro journey is Ikeji. I have now conquered all the nearby Jiro shops that I can easily visit. The remaining ones are Sapporo, Sendai, Niigata, Aizu Wakamatsu, Kyoto, and Mejiro-dai (scheduled to reopen), a total of 6 shops. Since I can't go on Jiro expeditions often, I plan to take it easy and explore new shops from now on. It's hard to say when I will complete the journey, haha. Jiro shops can be different even if you visit the same one multiple times, so I will revisit nearby Jiro shops to find my favorite. Oh, it's about time to start trying other Jiro-style shops, right? The one to finish off this journey is Ikeji. It has received mixed reviews, with both positive and negative opinions. The shop is run by the same company as the one in Kabukicho, which was mediocre, so I'm a bit worried, haha. On a weekday around 11:20, there were about 6 people waiting outside. Inside, there were 3 people waiting, and I bought my meal ticket upon entering. I heard that the shop owner is often absent, but this time there was a strong and imposing man who seemed like the shop owner, and a young assistant male working as a two-person team. Even when seats became available, we had to wait to be seated. There was no sense of urgency at all. The staff were also friendly, making it a comfortable experience for beginners. Water is self-service, with ladles available. There are pepper, chili pepper, and sauce available. I was seated at 11:33 and my meal arrived at 11:41. Ordered items: - Ramen 850 yen I was curious about the various aspects of the soup. The soup didn't have a lot of liquid oil floating on top, and it was creamy and had a porky sweetness. At first, I felt that the seasoning might be a bit weak, but as everything mixed together, it had a great balance, slightly sweet and salty, with a good richness. It was really delicious. It was served piping hot and was not bad at all. The vegetables were mainly crunchy bean sprouts. They were slightly watery and lacked aroma, so they were just average. However, the soup was flavorful and the extra oil I ordered was delicious, so I'm glad I added it. Many other customers also ordered extra oil. Even with the extra oil, the portion was not that large. The oil here is said to be like braised pork, and it was indeed sweet and had a unique taste. Personally, I found it a bit too sweet, but I appreciated the originality. Even though I ordered extra oil, it wasn't that much. The noodles had a rough texture and soaked up the soup well. They had a soft and chewy texture that I liked. Despite being thick noodles, they were short and easy to eat. The noodles themselves had a good flavor and texture, and they paired well with the soup, making it delicious. The noodle portion was a bit on the smaller side for a Jiro shop. I would estimate it to be around 270g before boiling. It was so tasty that it disappeared in no time, haha. There were two small slices of pork. They had a good amount of flavor and you could taste the pork, but they were a bit tough for my liking. To be honest, I wasn't expecting much, but I was very satisfied with the delicious soup and noodles! This shop seems to have varying reviews, so opinions might differ depending on the timing. With this, I have completed my journey of visiting direct lineage Jiro shops. From now on, I will enjoy Jiro shops at a more relaxed pace. Thank you for the meal!

As a Kansai person, I had never tried Jiro-style ramen before, but I decided to challenge it today! I waited in line for 30 minutes, feeling flustered because I didn't know how to order. The other customers who were used to it ordered smoothly, while I was still confused. First of all, the portion was huge, the flavor was intense, and the oil was overwhelming. I thought I wouldn't be able to finish it, but it was so delicious that I became addicted!

You can't ask for extra noodles, but they give you a lot. The chashu is tasty but too spicy. The noodles and soup are almost like Kawasaki's Jiro. The service is average. The seasoned egg doesn't have much flavor. It wasn't crowded because there were only a few people, so you don't have to wait in line like at other Jiro shops.

[Visit date: Late May 2023] Visited around 12 pm on a holiday, with a rating of 3.67 at the time of visit. The location in Kabukicho and here in Ikebukuro had good access but had been putting off visiting. Visited in order to conquer all locations. There was a wait of 18 people even during lunchtime on a holiday. Was seated in less than 30 minutes. The ticket machine is located near the entrance, and you can purchase a ticket when a spot at the counter opens up. They may ask about the amount of noodles before purchasing. They even politely ask about the firmness of the noodles. Beginners can feel at ease. Below is what was ordered. Ramen (¥850 including tax) ordered with less noodles. Served in about 10 minutes after being seated. Ordered with less garlic and oil. Even with less garlic, there was quite a bit in it. The seasoned fat adds a nice flavor, enjoyed with the chewy thick noodles. The clientele seemed younger. It seems like a place where even beginners can visit with peace of mind. Thank you for the meal.

I have tried several Jiro-inspired ramen shops near Ikebukuro Station East Exit in Toshima-ku, Tokyo, but this was my first visit to the original Jiro shop. I arrived around 1:30 PM and the restaurant was full inside, but there were only 3 customers waiting outside, so I didn't have to wait long to get in! I ordered the ramen for 850 yen with firm noodles, extra vegetables, garlic, pork fat, and spicy flavor. I had finished visiting other places in the morning, so I added plenty of garlic to enjoy the Jiro ramen fully (lol). Based on reviews, I ordered firm noodles, and it was a great tip. The soup had a salty and mild soy sauce flavor that made you want more. I can understand why Jiro fans are addicted to it (lol). The firm noodles had a satisfying chewy texture that I loved! The crunchiness of the bean sprouts and the tender pork were also excellent. With the strong garlic and rich pork fat, this ramen made me feel like I was doing something bad for my body (in a good way). The portion of noodles was quite large, but I managed to finish it all by the end. I left the Jiro shop feeling satisfied and full! Thank you for the meal!

- Order: Small ramen (850 yen) with less noodles, less garlic, extra oil. - Impression: This was my second time at a Jiro-style ramen shop. The oil was said to be famous, and it was indeed delicious. The noodles had a firm texture, and the soup had a strong punch to it. However, even with less noodles and regular vegetables, the portion was quite substantial. Be careful when placing your order. - Situation: Arrived at 11:30, with a wait of 2 people. Seated immediately and served right away.

Today, the weather was bad so the ramen shop was relatively empty. I went around noon and only had to wait for about 10 minutes. I ordered my ramen with extra garlic and extra oil. It was delicious as always, but for some reason, it tasted a bit lighter and less satisfying than usual. I ended up adding more soy sauce to make it more flavorful. I realized that I had forgotten to ask for less vegetables, so I think the water from the bean sprouts diluted the broth. Despite feeling a bit disappointed about my mistake, I still love this place.