I visited this restaurant in Osaka looking for Jiro-style ramen. When I arrived around 7 pm on a weekday, it was just about full but I was able to get a seat. I was surprised by how slow everyone was eating around me. In the original Jiro ramen shops, you have to finish your bowl in about 15 minutes, so you have to eat pretty quickly, but that atmosphere was missing here. I ordered with extra garlic and vegetables. I was happy that they piled on the extra vegetables generously. It was my first time not having any sauce or oil on top of the extra vegetables. Normally, in Jiro-style ramen, they automatically put sauce and oil on top of the extra vegetables. Putting a lot of vegetables on can dilute the soup, and generally, plain vegetables are not considered tasty. However, I wanted to eat those plain vegetables, so I was happy. With extra vegetables, the overall flavor became lighter, and it turned into a light Jiro-style ramen. However, the lightness was only in terms of flavor, the quantity was outrageous. The vegetables were cooked thoroughly, so they were heavier than they looked and didn't cool down easily. I was satisfied with being able to eat a large amount of light Jiro-style ramen.

I arrived around 3 o'clock on a holiday. I was hoping it wouldn't be too crowded, but there were people from overseas lining up, with about four people in line. It was my first time trying a Jiro-style ramen, and I had done plenty of research online on how to order, so I was nervous but excited as I entered the shop. The system was to buy a meal ticket before lining up. The staff guided me so I didn't have trouble choosing. I ordered a small ramen with an extra raw egg. I waited in line for about 5-10 minutes before being seated. Before sitting down, I bought a black oolong tea from the vending machine in the shop and then took my seat. I carefully read the instructions on how to call for the staff's attention and after a few minutes, they asked, "Are you the number ○ customer? Would you like garlic?" I replied, "A little garlic, with extra vegetables and caramel sauce." The ramen was served right away! It was addictive... I'm writing this review a week later and I already want to go back. Starting with the vegetables, then the noodles, and finally dipping them in the raw egg like a sukiyaki style. With the black oolong tea, it was refreshing! To put it mildly, it was amazing! Next time, I'll try the extra vegetables challenge!

This restaurant falls into the category known as Jiro-style ramen, which means that even if you order the smallest portion of noodles, it will still be relatively large compared to regular ramen shops. If you're confident in your eating abilities, try ordering the largest size. I went around 6:00 PM and had to wait for about 15 minutes as the place was quite busy. They operate on a ticket system, with sizes ranging from mini, small, to large, with the large size containing a whopping 375g of noodles. Since I couldn't imagine finishing 375g, I opted for the small ramen with an extra serving of pork (small pork). It was mentioned that you could change to soupless for an additional 100 yen, so being a fan of soupless ramen, I added that option as well. The total cost for the small pork ramen with soupless came to 1150 yen. In Jiro-style ramen, there's a practice called "call" where you can customize the noodle toppings for free. I chose to add a little garlic and extra toppings (call) to my order. If you choose to add extra vegetables, 600g of bean sprouts will be included. For first-timers, it might be safer to avoid adding too many extras due to the substantial volume. My impression after eating was that the chashu was very large and delicious. The only downside was that the noodle flavor was a bit lacking. Although it's unrelated to this restaurant, my favorite Jiro-style ramen is "Rekishi wo Kizame." It's really delicious, so if you're a fan of Jiro-style ramen, be sure to give it a try. One thing I regret is selecting the number of chashu slices at the ticket stage, as I ended up with too much fat due to increasing the noodle and vegetable portions. If I were to go again, I would order the small ramen with soupless, a little garlic, regular vegetables, extra fat, and crispy noodles.

Near Osaka Shinsaibashi Station, if you walk a little from the shopping street in Minami Semba towards Minami Semba 3 North, you will notice a ramen shop with a yellow sign that catches your eye. Feeling hungry, I decided to try a Jiro-style ramen, so I immediately decided to go to Butayama on that day. Upon entering the shop, I saw a ticket machine where you can choose what you want to eat (on that day, I chose the pork small ramen) and then waited patiently for the staff to call me. "Would you like garlic in your pork small ramen?" On that day, I decided to have it without garlic, spicy, with extra vegetables. Here's a tip from the reviewer: I have a habit of eating slowly, so please forgive me if you are in a hurry. The appearance of the bowl placed in front of me over the counter was truly spectacular. Let's dig in. First, I started with the vegetables on top, munching away. The slightly spicy sauce on top mixed well with the warm vegetables. It was very delicious! The fact that the soup doesn't get watery even with so many vegetables is also a big plus. Next was the chashu. The texture was tender and it easily fell apart in my mouth. You could also taste the right amount of fat. The spicy soup had a soy sauce garlic base that was well-seasoned and complemented all the ingredients without being overpowering. Finally, the noodles. They were chewy and had a strong wheat flavor, allowing you to fully experience the essence of Jiro-style ramen. Even first-time visitors will surely enjoy it, so please give it a try. However, the portion was quite large... I started to wonder if I could finish it all, but I managed to eat everything, from the meat to the noodles and vegetables. After eating to my heart's content, I returned the bowl to the counter, wiped it clean with the cloth in front of me, and left Ramen Butayama. I am grateful for the friendly service and the staff who kindly responded in English even to foreign customers. Thank you for the meal. However, I always wonder what that thing at Butayama that the customer next to me often orders is... What kind of response does it get? (It's not "ARE" like the Hanshin Tigers recently achieved after 18 years!) I wonder what it could be.

The small pork ramen (garlic vegetable oil) without soup, with spicy leeks and spicy pork (pork day). Personally, I found the regular pork to be much more tender and delicious than the spicy pork, and the spicy leeks were not bad but not necessary. The slightly soft vegetables, chewy noodles, and melt-in-your-mouth pork were delicious. I tried adding extra vegetables this time, but my stomach felt so full afterwards, so I think I'll stick to the regular amount in the future.

This is a restaurant that can be highly divisive depending on personal preferences. I personally don't like greasy food, so my rating is low, but I thought the unique noodles and delicious chashu were very tasty. I went to eat late, so I felt a bit guilty while finishing my meal.

I heard from a friend that Butayama Ramen is delicious and packs a punch, so I decided to visit for the first time. I was clueless about how this ramen shop worked, so I mistakenly bought a ticket for a regular ramen with 8 extra slices of pork. To my surprise, it came in a huge bowl! I underestimated the portion size... I'm sorry. The ticket machine and the menu indicated portion sizes, like "large" being equivalent to "regular" at other places. But anyway, I tried my best to finish it all! The pork slices were thick and tender, just holding them with chopsticks made them fall apart. I absolutely loved the pork slices! They were amazing! The garlic, vegetables, pork fat, and seasoning were all customizable, which was great. I had to leave some leftovers that day, so I went back for a small ramen as a rematch! (No photo) I was full after the small ramen. They should change the way they label the sizes, haha. (A small ramen here is like an extra-large at other places, lol) I will definitely go back to try the small ramen with 8 pork slices again! Thank you for the meal.

This is actually my third visit to this restaurant. Ever since I tried it in April, I have been hooked. I have been wanting to go for lunch on a good garlic-eating day, but it's been hard to find a place where I can enjoy a hearty garlic meal without worrying about it afterwards. Among the garlic ramen I have tried in the past 1-2 years, this place is by far the best! I haven't had the chance to try any Jiro-style shops yet, so I still get nervous about ordering. This time, I ordered the "less vegetables, extra garlic, extra pork fat, extra spicy" option. I mentioned the extra pork fat for the first time, and it was delicious. Since I hadn't eaten breakfast and had only been drinking water, it really hit the spot. There is a whole tablespoon of garlic in the bowl, so after finishing the meal, my breath was at a harassment level of garlic smell haha. They say 100% apple juice helps with the garlic smell, but it didn't work for me, so be careful. However, this powerful garlic ramen gives me a surge of energy, making me want to visit regularly. For me, "garlic ramen = garlic injection"! [Menu] Mini Ramen 850 yen (noodles 125g / 2 slices of pork)

On Sunday morning, I walked through Shinsaibashi-suji shopping street and arrived at Zagingi in Honmachi at 10:30 am, but there were already about 15 people lined up. There were many foreigners, so I felt reluctant to wait and after waiting for 30 minutes, I went to Tonkotsu Yama next door. There were only oily men here, no foreigners or women. I was the fourth in line at 10:50 am. I ordered a mini ramen with garlic and vegetables. The soup was average, the pork had a slight smell. I couldn't finish the mini bowl and left a bit. The cost performance is good, but I still think Fukurou in Tsuruhashi is the best for Jiro-style ramen.

Order: Small ramen (light on garlic) Located near Shinsaibashi Station, this is a so-called Jiro-style ramen shop. Even the small size comes with a substantial amount. The noodles are thick and have some cuts, typical of Jiro-style ramen. Unfortunately, they seemed undercooked in some parts. The pork, which is also the namesake of the shop, is chunky yet tender from being stewed. However, the soy sauce seasoning is too strong, making it taste too salty. The pork bone soy soup is not bad, but it seems quite high in salt content.

The chain ramen restaurant, Machida Shoten, run by Gift Holdings, also operates another brand called Butasan, which serves Jiro-style ramen. With over 30 locations in Japan, there are 2 stores in Osaka, in Shinsaibashi and Juso. What's surprising is the generous portion size and the staff's service. The portions are huge and offer great value for money. The menu names are interesting, with the regular size called "small ramen." There is no medium, only large. Even the small size is equivalent to a large serving at other restaurants. The vegetables (referred to as "extra vegetables" when ordered) are also more plentiful compared to other places, so be aware of that. The bean sprouts are on the softer side rather than crunchy. The broth tends to dilute due to the amount of liquid coming out, but there are condiments on the table to adjust the flavor. The staff is energetic and friendly. While there is a fine line between being energetic and loud, the staff here leans more towards the energetic side. It's important to feel comfortable while enjoying your meal, and the excellent service here truly stands out.

I visited the restaurant at 4:30 pm, so it was not crowded. I ordered the classic mini ramen with a little garlic and vegetables, and added some caramel. It arrived promptly. I topped the vegetables with plenty of vinegar and black pepper. The vegetables filled me up nicely. The meat was only two pieces, but I enjoyed eating them while blowing on them. The noodles were firm and curly, just how I like them. I don't drink the soup with a spoon, so the calorie count might be lower. My stomach is full from all the vegetables.

I visited Tonkoyama Minamisenba. The shop is located in the middle of Shinsaibashi Station and Hommachi Station. It is a Jiro-style ramen shop, and they have a rare cold Chinese noodle dish. The cold Chinese noodles come with bean sprouts and cabbage on top, with garlic mayonnaise drizzled over it. They asked about my preference for garlic when the noodles were being cooked. I ordered with normal garlic, extra vegetables, extra garlic mayonnaise, and extra spicy. Since it was garlic mayonnaise, I opted for normal garlic. I usually add cheese in other Jiro-style shops, but I forgot to order it this time. There might not have been any cheese. The bean sprouts and cabbage were very cold, which was refreshing to eat in the summer. The noodles came up from the bottom, and I enjoyed it. However, the oil might not go well with cold noodles. Since the oil solidifies when it's cold, I thought I should order less oil for warm dishes like ramen. Thank you for the meal. (Visit review: 3.47, 146 reviews)

Limited-time cold noodles were added to the menu, so I ordered with extra garlic mayo. Even though there was an 8-person wait, the turnover was fast and I was seated in about 20 minutes, but it was a bit hot at the edge of the seat. The cold noodles are like cold ramen without soup, with plenty of garlic mayo on top. Of course, you can also customize it with your usual toppings, so you can create your favorite taste. Since I added garlic mayo, I ordered with a little less garlic than usual, and the taste is junky but easy to eat. When I felt like it needed more spiciness, I sprinkled shichimi pepper, and it became delicious with just the right flavor change. Putting chashu on rice, pouring the table's ramen sauce, and sprinkling shichimi pepper makes a pretty delicious bowl. The service is also cheerful and bright with a loud voice! A summer-friendly and easy-to-eat ramen that is perfect for hot days! It was quite delicious! Thank you for the meal! See you again! #Shinsaibashi #RamenButsuyama #ColdNoodles #SmallRamen #Rice #VegetablesFatGarlicSlightly #Ramen #RamenClub #RamenInstagrammer

The parent company, Gift Holdings, founded the Yokohama-style ramen Machida Shoten in Machida City, Tokyo, and has expanded various brands nationwide. They have over 30 stores in Japan, with two in Osaka - one in Shinsaibashi and the other in Juso. The popular Tonkotsu Yama, a Jiro-style ramen, was a hit when I visited on a weekday night. There were about 5 people waiting outside, forming a line at the entrance. While waiting in line, I ordered a large ramen for 1000 yen and a side of garlic mayo rice for 200 yen from the ticket machine. Before serving the ramen, they asked, "Would you like garlic?" and you can choose from none, a little, garlic, or extra garlic. You can also customize the amount of vegetables (few, normal, extra) and pork fat (regular, extra fat), as well as the flavor intensity (light, very strong). If you don't specify anything, they will give you a regular topping. Even the small size is like a large serving at a regular restaurant, so be careful with the portion size. The thick noodles are topped with plenty of vegetables like bean sprouts and cabbage, and the soup is a mild pork bone soy sauce base. The thick-cut chashu pork is tender and satisfying to eat. The garlic mayo rice is a bit over the top with mayo on top of the rice, making it a bit too heavy, but it was delicious.

I had a chilled Chinese noodle dish (mini pork, vegetables, extra oil, caramel sauce) as a pre-trip meal before heading to Nagoya. I arrived at 11:20 and there were empty seats available, so I sat down immediately. Last time I had the small pork portion, but since I'm on a diet this time, I opted for less noodles and extra vegetables. I was very satisfied and set off for Nagoya.

After a long time, I tried a Jiro-style ramen. I haven't had Jiro ramen recently, so I was excited to try it. When I entered the store, the smell of tonkotsu broth filled the air, making me even more hungry! I ordered the small ramen with extra toppings. The taste was full of the deliciousness of pork. The oil from the extra toppings melted into the soup, enhancing the flavor. I kept eating the bean sprouts, and when I finally reached the noodles, they were thick, flat noodles. It was satisfying for my stomach. Eating the whole bowl without any flavor changes made me get a bit tired towards the end, so next time, I'll definitely need some flavor-changing items.

It's Friday night and I'm hungry in Osaka city. I decided to go to "Butayama" and ordered the "Kobuta" without soup. The place was crowded, even at night. I saw a tent outside the restaurant and decided to order the "Chilled Ramen" with garlic mayo, a seasonal limited edition. I quickly bought a meal ticket and waited for a few minutes before being seated at the counter. The kitchen was busy, and I heard a loud voice asking if I wanted garlic. I asked for extra garlic and oil on my ramen. The dish arrived, and it looked indulgent with a large piece of fatty pork and garlic mayo. The flavor was a mix of sweetness from the pork and acidity from the garlic mayo. The garlic added a nice kick to the bean sprouts, cabbage, and chewy noodles. The mayo worked well with the tender pork, creating a heavenly combination. The noodles had a good texture and held up well to the rich flavors. I devoured the dish, feeling satisfied and cool despite the summer heat. It was a great choice to have encountered this dish, and I was not disappointed by the amount of garlic in it.

Arrived at the restaurant for cold noodles (with pork, vegetables, lots of oil, and caramel) around 12:00 on Friday. There were already 5 people waiting. My colleagues didn't seem interested in going, so I decided to go by myself after hearing that the cold noodles had started. None of my colleagues wanted to go that day, so I ended up dining alone. Unlike regular ramen or tsukemen, the cold noodles had mainly shredded cabbage and carrots, making it feel like a healthy salad. At least that's what I think ( ´∀`) I'll definitely come back to eat cold noodles again while they're still serving it.

Today, I had an air conditioner cleaning job in Chuo Ward in the afternoon, which was really easy. I finished around 2:30 PM and parked my car around 3 PM. Without cheating, I headed to Tonkotsu Yamasan. At home, there is currently a ban on garlic, but I still wanted to eat it regularly. Regardless of what my wife says about the smell when she comes home, I don't care! So, I ordered a mini ramen with extra garlic and an extra slice of char siu. The female staff boiled the noodles and handled the soup, while the male staff of Indian descent served the food. They were all very cheerful. The soup had a consistent taste, and mixing in the garlic added a nice punch. Maybe I should have added more oil too? I didn't take a picture, but I finished the dish by flipping it over. Just like before, even with extra garlic, the garlic flavor wasn't very strong. Next time, I'll ask for even more garlic. Note: During my commute for night shifts, I see this place crowded, but during odd hours, it was empty. Thank you for the meal. Ramen: 15, Udon: 1, Soba: 2 [Total: 18 bowls]

I went to a standing bar called Kurodaruma nearby and had Jiro-style ramen as a finishing touch after drinking. Many places serve Jiro-style ramen with a lot of quantity, but often the flavor is too salty or the chashu is dry. However, this place has just the right amount of saltiness and a good umami from the broth. The chashu is melt-in-your-mouth tender and the vegetables are piping hot. It clears all the issues of Jiro-style ramen. However, it's still not the best choice for a post-drinking meal (lol). Next time, I'll come with an empty stomach and order extra toppings.