Ippudo

The best ramen in Tokyo is at Ippudo in Roppongi. I realize that's a very bold statement to make in a city with more than 4000 ramen shops, but I stand by my claim. Ippudo doesn't make trendy ramen or gourmet ramen (such as ramen shops with gold flakes) or innovative ramen (such as shops with corn or butter or cheese ramen). It just makes the best freaking bowl of tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen you will ever have in your life. The broth is amazingly rich and savory and decadent - like melted down lard, in the best possible way. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the tiny mysterious white flecks floating in the Akamaru ramen broth ARE lard.

My favorite is their Akamaru modern, made with miso paste and black garlic oil, but the Shiromaru classic is a cleaner version, with less oil. A variety of condiments are available to add to your taste - spicy marinated bean sprouts, pickled ginger, pickled greens, sesame, garlic, etc.

Your happiness of eating this ramen makes us happy!

Condiments for ramen

My prepared Akamaru modern ramen - happiness in a bowl!

Food rating: *****
Bang for buck rating: 5

The essentials:
http://www.ippudo.com/index.html
Location: behind the Softbank at Roppongi Crossing
Average price of meal for two: 2000 yen (~$22)

Tsukumo Ramen

When I was a kid, I used to make Korean Neoguri brand ramen with less water (to make the soup more concentrated), then add milk to the cooked bowl of ramen, which resulted in a creamy, spicy ramen - quite possibly one of the most delicious culinary creations ever. My family and friends would raise their eyebrows and exclaim "gross," but the creaminess of the milk added the perfect balance to the chewy ramen noodles and savory soup base.

I think the folks at Tsukumo Ramen are cut from the same cloth as me, because their pork broth-based ramen topped with a mound of shaved cheese (which melts into the ramen and makes the broth creamy and buttery) encompasses the same concept - that is to say: creamy ramen!

Cheese tonkotsu ramen

"the harmony unexpecter cheese of combination and fermented soybeen paste play whis pork bone soup seemingly is the taste of the nonesuch" ....um...what??

Look for this awning in Ebisu

Food rating: *** and a half (loses stars for being a bit too salty)
Bang for buck rating: 4

The essentials:
http://ramendb.supleks.jp/shop/16
Location: 8 minute walk from Ebisu station, toward Hiroo
Average price of meal for two: 2000 yen (~$22)