As I was walking in Akihabara, I saw a sign that said "Lanzhou Ramen" and thought to myself, "Lanzhou... that's almost like Mongolia, right?" out of curiosity, I decided to enter the shop. When I entered, I was greeted by the smell of spices... It reminded me of the smell of hot pot. The unique aroma excited me. I can't remember the name of the menu I ordered, but everything was recommended by the manager or the staff, which made me feel warm and fuzzy. When I looked it up online, I found out that the basic features of Lanzhou Ramen are "One Clear, Two Hundred, Three Red, Four Green, Five Yellow." One Clear refers to the clear soup, Two Hundred to daikon, Three Red to chili and special chili oil, Four Green to coriander and garlic leaves, and Five Yellow to golden noodles. I see... I was enjoying a Lanzhou Ramen that stays true to its basics. I feel like I could get addicted to it. While I was eating, I made eye contact with a very cheerful and cute staff member in the kitchen, and it reminded me of a long-lost friend. Even though it was my first time here, this shop was filled with a lot of warmth... Thank you for the delicious meal! ♡

I visited Gofuku in Akihabara for the first time and it was delicious. The perfect level of spiciness, authentic taste of star anise and coriander, and the chewy texture of the knife-cut noodles all came together beautifully. My personal Taiwan craze has been further ignited. It would be even better if they offered a large portion of coriander.

In May 2023, a Lanzhou beef noodle shop called "Gofuku" opened in the basement of a building at the corner of Showa Street and Akihabara Station South Street. The large sign of "Lanzhou Ramen" is displayed at the intersection. The shop boasts of noodles handcrafted by craftsmen with over a hundred years of history and tradition from the original Chinese region. The secret soup is simmered for a long time with over ten types of medicinal spices. Lanzhou Ramen has become quite popular in Japan, with shops like "Kaen-yama" in Ikebukuro and "Makoroku" in Jinbocho opening in August 2017. I visited the shop around 7:30 pm and found a cozy underground space with high counters and tables. I ordered the Gofuku Lanzhou beef noodles for 935 yen and a beer for 217 yen using the QR code on the table. The noodles were served promptly, although they were not handcrafted upon ordering. The dish had five slices of beef, chili oil, and cilantro on top. The clear beef broth was refreshing and flavorful, and the noodles had a chewy texture. Mixing in the homemade chili oil and spices added a spicy kick and authentic spice aroma. Overall, the experience was satisfying, and the shop also seemed like a good place for a drink in the evening, although I was the only one having beer that night.

I visited the newly opened Lanzhou Ramen and Chinese Izakaya "Gofuku Akihabara" on a weekday afternoon in May 27, 2023. The restaurant features authentic Lanzhou Ramen made by veteran noodle artisans who trained in Lanzhou. The interior of the restaurant gives the impression of having many locals from Lanzhou, both customers and staff. Orders are placed using a system where you scan a barcode and order through your smartphone. This time, I tried the following ramen: - Gofuku Lanzhou Beef Noodles for 935 yen According to the restaurant's website, the soup is a secret herbal soup made by simmering beef, beef bones, and over 10 types of spices, including spices directly sourced from Lanzhou, for 7 hours. I chose the spicy option, so there was a nice kick to it. The ramen comes with chili oil and cilantro, but you can choose to have them or not when ordering through your smartphone. You can also choose from four types of noodles: thin noodles, flat noodles, triangular noodles, and thick noodles. This time, I had the thick noodles, which had a soft and chewy texture. The toppings included thinly sliced beef, daikon radish, chopped green onions, and cilantro. Overall, the taste, aroma, noodle texture, and toppings did not have a Japanese twist but rather maintained the authentic flavors! Thank you for the meal!

I had Wu Fu Lan Zhou Beef Noodle Soup. The soup had a rich beef broth with spices and a bit of spiciness, which was delicious. I chose thick noodles, which were chewy and paired well with the soup. The beef was tender and flavorful. Thank you for the meal.

The taste was average.