During my Tokyo trip, I opted to stay in the Ikebukuro area, which is a good decision, methinks, because it gives you easy access to everywhere. I only wish I had more time to explore the area, though, because it turns out to be quite huge (and has a lot to offer). One of them…. is that “cure-for-the-mother-of-all-hangovers”: ramen. And I first had my taste of Ikebukuro ramen at this small place called Tokyo Ebisu.
From the get-go, I had one ramen destination in mind: Kohmen. The guidebook said there are two Kohmen places around the JR Ikebukuro Station, one on the East exit, and the other on the West exit. To head to my hotel, I have to take the West exit. Since I didn’t want to confine myself to one place, I decided to look for the one on the East exit.
But it was not to be.
For starters, the moment I stepped out of the East Exit, I was overwhelmed with the number of shops and dining places. The “cold beating” that I got from my Kawaguchiko jaunt was also belatedly making itself felt. And yes, at that time, it was still drizzling.
I was also feeling the hunger pangs now. So what did I do? Enter the first ramen shop I saw. It turned out to be Tairyuken Tokyo Ebisu.
(Disclaimer: This is not a proper review, though, since I only sampled one dish. Instead, this is just a recounting of my gastronomic experiences.)
The Tairyuken Tokyo Ebisu Experience
You learn something new everyday, and this was one of them.
The place was quite small, with one long counter, and about 4 tables (good for 3-4 people). There were only 3 staff present.
When I entered, I was instantly greeted with their requisite “Irasshaimase~” (you get used to it after a while, that’s how they greet customers in ANY shop/store).
I immediately took one seat on the counter, and the staff (let me just call him Staff-san) went about his business behind the counter. After a few beats, I called his attention and asked for an English menu.
It was then he realized that I’m not from there (haha!). He smiled, rounded out of the counter and called me towards a machine by the door (which totally slipped my attention when I first came in. I was too busy removing my bags and coat.)
So it was a vending machine of sorts, but instead of the products or goods, it had square buttons with photos and prices of ramen bowls.
S0 what you do (as taught by Staff-san who, unfortunately, does not speak English) is to choose which ramen you want. Press the corresponding button, then insert your payment (bill) or drop the coins in the slots provided at the bottom of the machine. Out comes your change (if any) and a slip of paper, where your order is written. You take that piece of paper and hand it to the Staff-san, and they will then proceed on preparing your order.
I was impressed.
From a business operator standpoint, it’s very cost-efficient, especially in terms of manpower and time. From a customer’s view, it’s very convenient and also saves a lot of time. There is no need for a cashier; they just open the machine at the end of the day to get the collections. You don’t need to line up for payment later.
So I asked for Staff-san’s recommendation, in hesitant Japanese. I only had specification: “karai wa dame!” (Absolutely nothing spicy!) He laughed at me, then went on to ask me what I want. There’s gyuuniku (beef), there’s butaniku (pork), there’s tori (chicken), there’s yasai (veggies)….
Me: Yasai, onegaishimasu!
See, I was reminded that I didn’t have any vegetables since I arrived in Japan two days before.
So he took the order, and I went back to my seat to wait. The vegetable ramen cost 930 yen (Php345 or USD 7.75).
It didn’t take long, only about 10 minutes, and when it came, WHOA. WHAT A HUGE SERVING.
Sa~ tabemashou~
I loved how crisp and fresh the vegetables were~ I didn’t know you could have ramen with pure veggies (and an egg) in it! The Chinese noodles used were also very, how do you say al dente in Nihonggo? *grins*
I overestimated my hunger. Because I had trouble finishing it.
I think I hung around for more than an hour. A couple of sarariman (salaryman, in suits and with their black bags) came in and went while I was still nursing my ramen bowl. They were just…. slurping away!
I grew up being admonished against making that slurping sound, because they said it was a sign of a lack of table manners. But here, it is one way of showing appreciation for the food. I tried doing it, and it become a hot mess – literally and figuratively. Soup was all over my chin and the front of my shirt. Haha!
The result of this random entry to a random store? I got warmed to the bone, so I just felt lethargic and simply want to go back to the hotel and curl up under the covers. So that’s exactly what I did. Went back to the station to take the West Exit (because it’s much warmer to navigate at the subway station), arrived back at the hotel, turned the heat up, and dropped off to sleep, with ramen in my mind. 🙂