On my fourth visit, I tried the Japanese-style cold noodles with extra noodles and mayonnaise marinated bamboo shoots for the first time. The broth here is really delicious, so I decided to order the cold noodles, and it exceeded my expectations. The noodles were thin and smooth, the cold Japanese-style broth was refreshing, and the extra noodles made me really full. If you visit this restaurant, I recommend also ordering the tsukune rice bowl, as it is also delicious. If you love Japanese-style broth noodles, you will definitely love this place.

I've never seen Ichian so open before. I happened to pass by on a Saturday afternoon and they were open! Finally, my first visit! It seems like their specialty is salt ramen, but I couldn't resist being my Type B self and ordered soy sauce ramen instead, with a rich flavor. I debated adding extra pork fat, but in the end, I went for it. The slightly gamey soup and the sharp noodles are incredibly delicious! This is really good!

I wanted to visit a certain restaurant but it was fully booked, so I ended up having ramen for lunch two days in a row at the neighboring Ichian restaurant! I tried the salt ramen (clam salt) for ¥880 and the soy sauce ramen (pork back fat) for ¥880, along with a pork bowl. The salt ramen was delicious. It's a small restaurant that only fits 6 people, but I would love to visit again. I ended up buying a cake on the way home.

Today's lunch was another ramen shop near Ibaraki Station. The shop is located a bit off the main street, away from the heavy traffic. I parked my car at a nearby coin parking lot and arrived just after the shop opened. Huh? The curtain is not out! There was a notice that the shop will be closed from the 25th to the 30th, even though I came today with high expectations... But there was a signboard saying "Open" at the entrance, so I entered. The shop is not very spacious, with only 6 counter seats facing the kitchen. There was one customer before me. The owner was managing the shop alone. Payment is made in advance. I ordered "Wonton Ramen" and "Steamed Rice". As mentioned in other reviews, the owner is not very talkative and a bit unfriendly. Well, as long as the food is delicious. It arrived in about 10 minutes. The clear soup with a hint of light back fat floating on top. The soup had a gentle flavor with the sharpness of soy sauce, and a slight hint of ginger. Delicious. The thin straight noodles were soft and had a good texture. The wontons were filled with a good amount of filling, and the texture was nice and chewy. This soup goes well with white rice. It wasn't mind-blowing, but it was a well-balanced and delicious bowl of ramen. Of course, I finished every drop of the soup. Thank you for the meal.

The last time I went was in September 2017, and it seemed like the place was still relatively new and energetic. However, when I visited again after 5 and a half years, the chef seemed more mature and refined. I ordered the "power salt" ramen, and it had a seasoned and mature taste. It felt like the ramen had aged like a sauce that has been continuously added to over the years. I think I'll come back again to see how it has continued to grow.

I had the limited Negi Shio ramen. It had a strong flavor of green onions in a clam broth with salt. The toppings included bamboo shoots, chashu, and plenty of menma. I was surprised by how thin the noodles were, almost like somen noodles. But they paired well with the broth. The tamago kake gohan (egg over rice) was enhanced by the bonito flakes. It was a great bowl of ramen.

When it comes to Itami, it is known as a highly competitive area for ramen with many high-quality shops. Amongst this competitive area, there is a standout delicious ramen shop called Ichimu-an. This small shop has only 6 counter seats and is run by a tough-looking owner. Despite his appearance, he is very polite. It is a one-man operation, but they offer a variety of ramen types such as salt ramen, soy sauce ramen, backfat and dried fish, backfat soy sauce, and mixed noodles, with prices ranging from 750 yen. Noodle upsizing is 100 yen, and extra noodles are 150 yen. With so many ramen options, I had a hard time choosing, but I decided on the light soy sauce ramen and a pork bowl. The light soy sauce ramen costs 780 yen and has a clear soup with a deep brown color. The soup has a gentle chicken broth taste with a deep umami flavor and a hint of sweetness. The straight thin noodles complement the soup perfectly. The pork consists of two types: loin and belly, both marinated well and with a good texture. The toppings also include seaweed, chicken meatballs, bamboo shoots, and pickled mustard greens. With such delicious and abundant toppings, 780 yen is a steal. The pork bowl costs 200 yen and comes with two types of sliced pork, each with its own unique flavor. The sweet and savory sauce is addictively delicious. This is also a great deal for 200 yen. Both the ramen and the pork bowl offer excellent value for money and are incredibly tasty. It was a delight to encounter such delicious and classic ramen after a long time. I highly recommend this place. Thank you for the meal!

"I visited Ramen Ichimu-an in Ibaraki City and tried their "Wantanmen" (750 yen). The soup is made from chicken and seafood broth with a mild soy sauce base, creating a well-balanced and flavorful broth with a smooth texture. The homemade noodles are medium-thin and have a good chewy texture. The wontons are smooth and have a chewy texture with a delicious filling. You can also adjust the flavor with black pepper, yuzu pepper, and vinegar on the table."

This is not a report, but I visit this restaurant regularly. The location of the restaurant is hard to find. It was before 2 PM, no other customers were there, it was empty. Today, I ordered soy sauce ramen with extra pork fat. I also got a side of rice balls with minced chicken. Payment is made upfront. The noodles are thin, just the way I like them. The chicken meatballs with lotus root are delicious (^-^) I am satisfied once again today. Thank you for the meal.

I was drawn to a transparent soup and beautiful noodles that I saw on Instagram, so I decided to go there. I followed the navigation but ended up wandering around the area. There was a coin parking nearby for 40 minutes at 200 yen, but I couldn't reach it. I left the store and turned right, then right again. I parked at a coin parking for 60 minutes at 200 yen, with one car already there. The restaurant had 6 counter seats, and the chef was working alone. Due to unstable ingredient supply, they were only open for lunch. I ordered the Salt Ramen with Plum for 780 yen, with an additional topping of one wonton for 100 yen and a side of rice balls for 200 yen. I paid in cash at the counter, where they had set up acrylic boards for safety measures. After a while, the ramen and rice balls were served on a tray. The white leeks, plum, soup, and noodles looked beautiful as expected. The soup had a slight seafood flavor and was delicious. The plum matched surprisingly well, and I never knew it could be so good. The noodles were thin, just right in texture. It was not the heavy fish or seafood broth that is popular nowadays, but it was delicious with its elegance. The chashu and meatballs were tasty. The wonton I added could have been a bit more chewy. However, the grated yam in the hot soup clung to my lips and was hot. The rice ball with meatballs was topped with nori and grilled shrimp, crispy and fragrant, reminiscent of chicken rice from Kagoshima. Despite my age and preferences, I would like to come back for this delicious ramen. The chef, who seemed reserved, recommended another flavor for my next visit. I finally found a delicious ramen that I can enjoy after a long time.

"I visited Ramen Ichimu-an in Ibaraki City and tried their Soy Sauce Ramen (2 servings) for 780 yen. The soup is made from chicken and seafood broth with a low viscosity soy sauce base, giving it a rich and slightly intense flavor. The chicken broth adds a strong umami taste, while the subtle seafood flavor adds depth to the overall taste. The homemade noodles are thin and straight, with a smooth and firm texture. The chashu pork comes in two varieties - tender belly meat and moist shoulder meat, both seasoned perfectly to bring out their individual flavors. You can also customize the taste with black pepper, yuzu pepper, and vinegar available on the table."

I came to work near Ibukishiei Station, so I went to "Ichian" for lunch. I arrived around 1:30 pm. The restaurant has only 6 counter seats. Since it was already past 1:30, there was only one customer ahead of me. I ordered the "Back Fat Soy Sauce Ramen" from the menu, along with the lunch set menu "Tsumire Gohan". I paid 980 yen in cash upfront. After waiting for about 8 minutes, the dishes arrived! First, I took a sip of the soup. There was a lot of back fat floating on top, and it was delicious because it extracted umami from local chicken, aromatic vegetables, and seafood. The seasoned broth and back fat made it creamy and flavorful. Next, I slurped the noodles. They were homemade medium-thin straight noodles, cooked al dente. The toppings included two types of chashu, bamboo shoot, seaweed, chicken meatballs, and komatsuna. You can enjoy both pork shoulder and belly chashu. The meatballs had lotus root in them, giving them a nice texture. The komatsuna served as a palate cleanser. The tsumire gohan came with dried shrimp, chopped seaweed, green onions, shiso leaf, and three chicken meatballs on top. It's a rice dish similar to porridge, where you pour ramen soup over it. The dried shrimp added great flavor! I finished every last drop and bite. It was a satisfying meal without any artificial seasonings.

Tuesday, 11:38 am, first visit. It seems to be a self-service system. They have "Chikara-shio" which has a deep dashi flavor with plum, and "Riki-shio" which is a strong clam broth. They also have multiple types of soy sauce. I chose the "Riki-shio". You pay before ordering. The noodles are thin and straight, with a simple meatball that goes well with the flavorful soup. I really like this. The "Aji-hen tamago" was surprising with its appearance, soaked in sauce. The sauce has a good bonito flavor with a strong soy sauce taste. When mixed well with the noodles, it creates a delicious chewy texture. You can dip the leftover soup to balance out the oiliness. It's hard to decide whether to enjoy it as a standalone dish or as an extra serving of noodles. I ended up enjoying most of it as is.

[Ichimu-an] "Back Fat Shoyu" 780 yen "Extra Meat" 300 yen "Large Size" 100 yen The soup is based on chicken and animal bones, with plenty of back fat floating on top. The soy sauce base is strong and distinct, with a deep umami flavor that also incorporates a seafood taste. It's delicious! The noodles are thin and straight, made from domestically grown wheat, giving them a rich aroma and delicious taste. They pair well with the soup. The chashu consists of rolled pork belly and rare chashu. The pork belly is slightly seared, adding a crispy aroma that is delicious! As always, the seasoning of the rare chashu is outstanding. I really like the rare chashu here.

"Chikara Shio" for 780 yen. Visited this place after a long time in April 2022. Parked my car at a nearby coin parking lot and arrived around 12:30. I entered and took a seat at the open counter. Since I hadn't tried their salt ramen before, I ordered the clam-based "Chikara Shio" out of the two options available. Payment is made upfront. I paid and waited for my order to be ready. Soon, my bowl arrived. It had medium-sized pork belly and loin chashu, menma, fish cake, komatsuna, green onions, and seaweed. The soup was a slightly cloudy clear broth. It looked like it had just the right amount of oil. Let's dig in! First, the soup... Upon taking a sip, I could taste the umami of the clam broth. It didn't hit me right away but slowly unfolded. The salt seasoning was also delicious. It was smooth without any sharp edges, with a pure salt flavor. The straight thin noodles paired well with the soup, offering a satisfying chewiness. Both types of chashu had a rich meaty flavor and were tasty. The chicken meatball was light and had a slight crunch from cartilage. The soup remained delicious until the last drop. Next time, I'd like to try their soy sauce-based ramen after a long time."

"I visited Ramen Ichimuan in Ibaraki City and tried their Shoyu Ramen Tanpaku (780 yen). The broth is made from chicken and seafood, with a light soy sauce base that is smooth and well-balanced. The homemade noodles are medium-thin and have a nice texture. The chashu pork comes in two types, belly and shoulder, each with its own delicious flavor. You can also customize the taste with pepper, yuzu shichimi, and vinegar on the table."

I went to "Ichian" in Ibaraki City, Osaka Prefecture for the second time after a long time. I ordered the "Back Fat Shoyu Ramen" for 780 yen. The ramen arrived with small pieces of back fat floating on top. First, I tried the soup. The soup had a sweet and rich flavor from the back fat. I couldn't taste the bonito flavor that I had experienced with the strong soy sauce ramen I had last time, but I could taste the umami of the soy sauce. The noodles were thin and straight with less water content. They were cooked to a normal firmness. The ramen also had tender chashu and bamboo shoots. It was delicious. Thank you for the meal!

It's been a while since I visited Ichimu-an near Ibaraki-shi Station, so I decided to try their ramen. I was prepared to wait in line since it was past noon, but surprisingly I was seated right away at the back. I chose the soy sauce ramen with a rich flavor. Following the restaurant's system, I paid when I placed my order. After a while, the soy sauce ramen arrived. It had two types of chashu, fish balls, seaweed, bamboo shoots, and komatsuna. As always, I was impressed by the appearance of the dish. First, I took a sip of the soup with a ladle. The rich soy sauce soup with a strong dashi flavor was irresistible and delicious! Next, I slurped the straight noodles. They were perfectly coated in the soy sauce soup and tasted delicious! The fish balls had cartilage, giving them a crunchy texture and great flavor. The two types of chashu were melt-in-your-mouth and flavorful. The bamboo shoots were tender and had a satisfying texture. I savored every bite and before I knew it, the bowl was empty. Ichimu-an's ramen is truly the best! I can only describe it as "delicious"! I can't wait to go back again! (^^)

Today (11/2), I traveled to Ibaraki City Station on the Kyoto Main Line by transferring from Hankyu. I visited this restaurant located a few minutes walk from the station. I entered before 1 pm and found only a couple as the previous customers at the counter seats. I ordered "Soy Sauce Ramen (780 yen)" from the menu (no ticket machine). Soon, a round bowl arrived with a clear soy sauce-colored broth with a hint of oil, straight thin noodles peeking out, two slices of chashu, chicken meatball, bamboo shoot, spinach, and seaweed toppings, all looking quite delicious. When I tried the soup with a spoon, it had a rich and slightly thick gravy-like soup base with the umami of chicken and seafood, a unique texture for ramen but truly delicious! The straight thin noodles were chewy and springy, also very tasty! The toppings, especially the chashu, were flavorful and satisfying! After taking my time to finish the hot soup, I can say that it was worth coming all the way to Ibaraki City today.

Hankyu Ibaraki-shi Station is a 5-minute walk away from "Ramen Ichimuan". It's located just off the main road, so it's easy to overlook, but it's popular. I arrived at 1 o'clock and the place was already full. There are only 6 seats at the counter. I noticed later that the vertical box right at the entrance is for storing belongings since there is no other place for them. However, since you pay in advance at your seat, make sure to have your wallet ready. They offer different types of salt, soy sauce, etc., which can be a bit overwhelming. They also have rice dishes. I ordered the "Chikara Shio Ramen" for 780 yen plus an additional 100 yen for a flavored egg. It's a one-man operation, so it may take some time for your order to be served. Finally, the ramen arrived. The soup is a light amber color and clear, not quite what you'd expect from a salt-based soup, but it looks beautiful. It has a strong clam flavor and tastes delicious! Despite being a salt-based soup, you can taste the richness from the two types of juicy chashu. The straight thin noodles are a perfect match. What's unique is that there are chicken meatballs in the soup. The bamboo shoots are also large. The flavored egg was slightly overcooked, but still good. I couldn't help but finish every drop of the soup. Everyone else seemed to be enjoying their rice dishes, but I was completely satisfied with just the ramen. I'm curious about the soy sauce ramen too...