In Japan, queuing up for food is a way of life. The longer the line, the better the food. Ten years after Rokurinsha opened in 2009, lines for the famous tsukemen in Tokyo Station are ever present.
The master ramen chef of Rokurinsha originally trained under the inventor of tsukemen ramen. In 2005, the first Rokurinsha branch opened in the Osaki district of Shinagawa, Tokyo.
It’s widely popular success allowed the ramen shop to expand to its second location in Tokyo Station’s Ramen Street in 2009. Today, there are 4 branches including Tokyo Sky Tree and Haneda International Airport (in the departures area after immigration).
At Tokyo Station, Rokurinsha still commands the longest lines of the 8 featured ramen shops in Ramen Street. It remains the most popular and most known among locals and tourists as Tokyo’s best tsukemen.
At all hours of the day, expect a line at Rokurinsha in Tokyo Station. The longest lines form during the lunch hour (between 11am to 2pm) and from the late afternoon through the end of the dinner rush (between 5pm to 9pm).
There are marker points throughout the line informing of the wait times, much like in roller coaster lines at amusement parks.
If you want to experience the tsukemen with shorter lines, come in the mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
Once you arrive at the front of the line, wait for a server to invite you to order from the vending machine. Vending machines are used to pay and order at all ramen shops in Japan.
The pictures on the buttons are your menu choices. Feed bills and coins in the machine first, and then press your selections including add-ons like eggs, meats, side dishes, and even beer.
Tsukemen at Rokurinsha starts at 830 yen. If you are hungry and like eggs, the extra 100 yen is worth it.
Collect the ticket and give it to the server. She will take half of the ticket and give you back the other half which you will keep with you until you are seated.
After you get back your ticket, you may be asked to stand aside and wait again until your seat is ready. Be aware to stand at the side and not right in front of the entrance nor in the middle of the Ramen Street hallway.
As soon as your seat or table becomes available and cleaned, you will be seated right away. Give your vending machine ticket to the server. You can ask for a paper bib to prevent splash stains on your shirt.
Your table or counter seat will have chopsticks, seasonings, napkins, and complimentary water.
As soon as your order arrives, slurp away! Once you finish your noodles, there will be an excess of tsukemen dipping sauce. This is too salty and heavy to drink on its own, so your server will offer you soup broth and yuzu powder to lighten and brighten the dipping sauce into its own broth.
After you finish your bowl, do not linger as there are hungry people in line waiting for your seat. Since already paid the vending machine, you can simply just stand up, thank the staff, and from the exit door.
Rokurinsha Tokyo Station | TripAdvisorReviews
B1F Tokyo Station, Ramen Street
First Avenue/Ichibangai, Yaesu Central
Daily, 7:30am to 9:30am and 10:30am to 10:30pm
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