I first tried Tenkaippin 34 years ago at a marathon street near Keisei Okubo Station in Chiba. The restaurant had posters of enka singers inside, making it seem like a suspicious ramen shop (laughs). I have eaten it in various places in Tokyo, Sendai, and Kansai, but I remember it being around 600-700 yen. It's a central kitchen style, so they just have to cook the soup and noodles and serve it, right!? However, it has become quite expensive now, almost 1000 yen. Ramen and soba used to feel like the national food of Japan, and when I was a kid, it was normal to get change from 500 yen. But now it starts from 940 yen! It's more expensive than the nigiri sushi I eat at my favorite sushi restaurant counter. The sign saying "We look forward to seeing you again tomorrow" on the rice bowl is nice, but eating it every day would be tough.

It's been a while since I went to Tenkaippin. I had the Kotteri MAX with extra garlic and green onions topping, along with a small rice and gyoza set. It's been a while since I had the Kotteri MAX, but I think I prefer the regular Kotteri at my age. I also had a beer to go with it, but just one glass since I stopped by before heading to my destination. I'll have to come back during the festival next time.

Rumor has it that the "extra rich MAX" ramen is a must-try, so I couldn't resist and squeezed in a visit during my limited free time. Luckily, there was one seat available and I managed to slide in just in time. I ordered the "extra rich MAX" without hesitation and in just a few minutes, it arrived. It was as thick and gooey as rumored, but surprisingly not too salty or intense in flavor. The texture was just very thick. It was actually quite easy to eat. I was expecting something more intense, so there was a slight feeling of disappointment, but on the other hand, it was easy to eat. I guess if it was more intense, it might have been too much. Anyway, I achieved my goal of trying it, so I felt satisfied. However, I couldn't help but notice that the prices were quite high when I looked at the menu. It seems to be the trend these days.

From tomorrow, it's the Bon holiday! Not that it really matters, but I decided to go all out and try the maximum level of richness! I ordered using the touchscreen in front of my seat. The "Kotteri MAX (firm noodles)" for 1,210 yen with extra garlic for 200 yen. I had the Kotteri ramen at the Ebisu branch exactly a month ago. The MAX is like... if curry is considered a drink, then this soup is definitely food. It sticks to the noodles like crazy, making it hard to scoop up a bite. Also, for personal reasons, I had my wisdom teeth removed the day before yesterday, so I can only use one side of my mouth, which made eating firm noodles and soup quite challenging. And this is unrelated, but after having my wisdom teeth removed, I thought I wouldn't be able to eat anything for a while, so I ate ramen for 10 days in a row and ended up gaining 2 kilograms. The taste was beyond my expectations. It felt quite salty. As expected, my conclusion was "It was good to experience it once, but from now on, I'll stick to regular Kotteri ramen." The extra garlic topping was a good choice. I also added some chili miso from the table halfway through. By the time I finished the noodles and toppings, there was hardly any soup left. I went on a weekday at 12:30 PM and easily found a seat.

Today's Spicy Adventure: Gotanda Station, Tenkaippin Ueno Ameyoko Branch Rich (Level 3 Spiciness) - 1,090 yen (green onions - 130 yen) Light (Level 3 Spiciness) - 1,090 yen Spiciness Level: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ (5) Stomachache Level: ★★★☆☆☆ (3) Spicy Deliciousness Level: ★★★★★ (5) I went on a spicy adventure in Gotanda today! I've been drinking a lot in Ameyoko recently, and for some reason, I always crave ramen after drinking. This time, I visited the Tenkaippin Ueno Ameyoko Branch. It's been so long since I last went to Tenkaippin, I can't even remember how many years it's been. The Ameyoko branch has a touch panel system and self-checkout for payment...! I can feel the changing times. I didn't know that Tenkaippin's ramen could be made spicy! I tried the spiciest Level 3 spiciness this time. My friend and I shared the rich and light options. I actually wanted to try the middle option called "Street Stall Flavor," but they didn't have it... However, I later noticed that it said "Street Stall Flavor" was a mix of rich and light, so maybe that's what "middle" means...? It was delicious to have Tenkaippin after so long. It's heavy on the stomach, but I still love the rich flavor. However, if I had it alone, I would probably die. It's delicious with rice, but I resisted the urge to overeat. The light option had a soy sauce flavor and was light and tasty! (limited vocabulary) If you're looking for a way to end your drinking night, this might be a good choice haha. But when it comes to ending a night of drinking, I also feel like having something rich... The spiciness was surprisingly strong! It was just right for ending a night of drinking. Sometimes, it's nice to have Tenkaippin instead of Naka-hon. Save this if you found it helpful! ✅

I recently watched "Kotteri MAX" on YouTube and decided I had to try it. There was also a long-lost branch of Tenichi in Okachimachi, so I thought I should compare the "Kotteri MAX" with the regular kotteri ramen. When I tried them side by side, they were quite different. Tenichi was a place I used to visit often during my student days after work at the driving school when I got hungry late at night. The taste at the Sakai Higashi Tenichi store was slightly different, and everyone used to say that this place was delicious while the other one was not. I enjoyed the "Kotteri MAX" while reminiscing about the past. Thank you for the meal!

We started drinking at 3:00 PM and ended up at this place at 1:00 AM. This was our 6th stop of the day. The seating at this establishment is too narrow, it would be good if it could be improved. The "Kotteri MAX" was like oil ramen, haha. #Okachimachi #UenoOkachimachi #UenoHirokoji #Ramen #KotteriMAX #Regular #SeasonedEgg

I tried Tenkaippin for the first time, and I chose the classic rich ramen. I felt like just having ramen wouldn't be enough, so I also ordered half-fried rice as a set. This ramen is truly unique and one of a kind - there's nothing else like it. Despite being rich, I couldn't help but drink up all the soup. The soup clinging to the noodles was delicious. I'd like to try the extra rich version next time.

I tried the super rich ramen. I usually order the rich ramen, but those who like rich flavors should definitely try the super rich option. It feels like there is an increased element of thickness rather than just richness from the fat. The noodles are completely coated in the soup, so by the time you finish the noodles, there is almost no soup left. It's delicious. Pouring the soup over fried rice makes it taste like a rice dish with a thick sauce. This is also delicious. Thank you for the meal!

Indulging in a rich soup is like drinking a forbidden elixir. Once you take a sip, there's no escaping the intensity. I find myself craving Tenkaippin ramen regularly. Even though I often think, "Maybe I should try something lighter for a change," my hand always ends up selecting "rich" and my mouth follows suit. While I usually prefer tsukemen, Tenkaippin's ramen is an exception. Today, I went for the rich fried chicken ramen with extra garlic chives on top. I might have gone overboard with the chives and skimped on the garlic, but the crispy fried chicken complemented the rich soup perfectly. I slurped up the noodles eagerly, savoring every bite until the last one. I already feel the urge to go back tomorrow.

Today's noodles are from "Tenkaippin Ueno Ameyoko Store" in Okachimachi. The highlight is the newly introduced "Rich MAX" starting from 6/12 at all stores!**********************************************The signature of Tenkaippin, the "richness," has become even richer with the new product called "Rich MAX." The popular "Zepin MAX" that was a hit in some stores has now made its national debut with a new name! Experience the ultimate richness and umami of Tenkaippin's strongest richness ever.**********************************************Last year, the "Super Rich" offered for the 50th anniversary had a ridiculous limit of 5 servings per day, causing a shortage of refugees who wanted to eat it but couldn't... However, this time it is available as a regular menu item! No limit on the number of servings! Yay! So, after drinking, I went to try it, but it was sold out! What's this? Sold out again! Disappointed, I tried again on a weekday at lunchtime. If it's lunchtime, it should be available! Good! I placed my order using the touch panel ordering machine at each table. Oh? You can specify the firmness of the noodles with this, so I chose firmness... Good! The operation was very smooth, even though the order of the previous customer was being processed, the food was served quickly in about 4 minutes. This is MAX... Let's dig in!《Soup》It's really thick! Even when you sink the spoon, it slowly flows in with a "thick..." feeling! Oh, I should have tried if chopsticks could stand in it. The richness is, of course, rich! The normal richness is already rich enough, but this is a step... no, half a step richer. It's not as rich as the super rich, but this level is probably the limit that everyone can enjoy? It must be irresistible for those who love rich flavors♪《Noodles》Certainly a bit firmer than usual. It has a firm texture with a good chewiness, giving it a bit more satisfying feel! I prefer a firm texture when it comes to rich soup.《Toppings》The meat is thin pork shoulder loin, pretty standard. The green onions are plentiful, which is nice, but a bit dry. The flavored egg is visually appealing with a half-cut appearance. The soft-boiled texture and sweetness are moderate. Thank you for the meal. Beyond the rich, truly rich MAX! I thoroughly enjoyed the thick and rich broth♪ However, the price... I mentioned this during the super rich period, but over 1200 yen is really expensive... The normal richness is already 940 yen... I was curious, so I checked the price changes for the normal richness on the menu at the Akihabara store: 2018 - 730 yen, 2021 - 790 yen, 2022 - 890 yen, 2023 - 940 yen. Oh my...

On a regular lunchtime, I visited Tenkaippin for the first time in a while. I was curious about their new "Extra Rich" ramen, which is a richer version of their regular rich ramen. I ordered the lunch set with white rice, 2 pieces of fried chicken, and a seasoned egg. First, the rice, fried chicken, and seasoned egg arrived. I used to not like Tenkaippin's fried chicken because it used to have a crispy coating and dry meat, but they renewed it a few years ago and this time, it was not bad. It was actually quite good. Now, the Extra Rich ramen arrived. It came in a special red bowl with a ladle, giving it a special touch. Visually, it looked even thicker and richer than the regular rich ramen, but in terms of taste... it wasn't that different from the regular rich ramen. It had a strong thick and sticky texture, and it was delicious as a ramen from Tenkaippin, but honestly, I feel like the regular rich ramen would be just as good. I finished the noodles slurping them up without drinking much of the soup, and the soup was only about one-third gone from the bowl. Most of it had clung to the noodles. Oh, this rich soup goes really well with the mustard miso on the table. I added it halfway through, and the saltiness and spiciness of it paired perfectly with the ramen, enhancing the flavor. In the end, my impression was that "the regular rich ramen is the best." ( ´艸｀)

Located in Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo, stands "Tenkaippin Ueno Ameyoko Store" at the epicenter of Ameyoko. It had become a tradition to reflexively order the rich ramen when entering Tenkaippin. However, on this day... I finally resisted the urge to eat the rich ramen and tried the light ramen. Ohhh! It was my first time seeing Tenkaippin's light ramen. The soy sauce soup with a hint of back fat floating on top. The toppings were simple with chashu, green onions, and menma. This must be what they call Kyoto ramen. It looks similar to ramen from RaRaRa. The soy sauce soup had just the right flavor without the soy sauce being too overpowering. It was like a traditional Chinese soba. After drinking, it seems that light ramen is easier to eat as a finishing touch compared to rich ramen... even though I understand that, I'm sure next time I will unquestionably be eating the rich ramen. Haha, thank you for the meal.

I wanted to eat the Kotteri MAX which has been available nationwide since yesterday, so I changed my route to head to the Ueno Okachimachi store. I arrived around 15:20 and the seats were about half full. I ordered the Kotteri MAX set with firm noodles and added leek kimchi topping (1500 yen). After confirming that the spoon stood up in the bowl (you can do this by poking it firmly where there are noodles), I added the spicy miso and started eating. As expected, the soup was thick and creamy thanks to the Kotteri MAX. It was delicious and satisfying. Finally, I added rice to the soup and enjoyed it thoroughly.

June 12, 2023. Finally, "Rich MAX" is available nationwide. Fans of rich flavors have been seeking out the ultra-rich flavors that were previously only available in select stores, sometimes making their own at home by simmering takeout soup. I was one of them. Now, let's try the ultra-rich... Rich MAX! Huh? The way the noodles are coated in the broth seems familiar, but the taste... was it always like this? Of course, it's delicious, but I didn't feel the same impact as I did before. Maybe my taste buds have gotten used to it, or perhaps there is some inconsistency in the precision of simmering due to mass production for nationwide distribution? (laughs) I might try it again at a directly operated store. *Note: A few days later, I saw on TV that Tenkaippin is using a special paste mixed in with the Rich MAX, not just simmering it. It makes sense and explains the uneasiness I felt.

I've been looking forward to it for a few days and rushed in right at the 11 o'clock opening. When I took my first bite, I noticed that the broth was rich and different in some way. Even after sipping the soup, it didn't seem to change much. When I lifted up the noodles, they seemed to be a bit stronger in richness. I had seen comments beforehand saying it was like a paste, but it wasn't like that at all. Maybe it's just a variation between different locations or something unique to the opening time. I saw a tweet mentioning that those who knew the old rich flavor would understand, so maybe that's it. It made me want to visit the Kitashirakawa shop again after a long time.

I dropped by for lunch on a regular day. The rich and flavorful Tenka ramen I had after a few years was amazing. Being able to choose the firmness of the noodles was something I don't remember from before, I'm not sure if it varies by store, but it was really good. Lastly, I dove the pickled vegetables rice into the soup, mixed it, and finished it all. I was very satisfied.

I went to the Tenkaippin Ueno Ameyoko store. It was difficult to find an open shop because some of the affiliated stores were closed. I ordered a rich ramen and gyoza with half fried rice set. It was a satisfying taste that I hadn't had in a while. Thank you for the meal.

After finishing work, I got off at Okachimachi Station to visit Ameyoko for my hobby, but it was raining. Despite the rain, I decided to wander around Ameyoko and indulge in some food tasting. I spotted the sign for "Tenkaippin" and decided to go in. Of course, I chose the Chakimuchi Don, which was very rich. It was too strong for me at this age, so I think I should start opting for lighter options. Thank you for the meal!

Visited for a final drink. Shared a service set (ramen, 5 gyoza, fried rice) between two people. Chose the rich ramen. The gyoza was light and easy to eat! The fried rice was moist and flavorful. I don't really remember drinking the soup from the ramen, it was so thick and the noodles soaked up all the broth, making it more like soupless noodles. Such a waste of memory.