Chiyoda City, Tokyo, Japan｜芳蘭

Local, cozy, authentic, VERY tasty ramen and dim sum set. Don't trust 3 starts, they are from locals that prefer posh. If you are a tourist, this basement place is for you. Be aware portion size is XXL and it is the only size :)

We came here because our friend told us this place served good ramen. Unfortunately, the owners (or the servers. We had no idea since there were only two old gentlemen there) couldn't speak any english so we had a difficult time ordering. Fortunately I found pork belly ramen and it tasted great. Looks like the place had been serving ramen for a long time since there were some comments on the wall from satisfied customers dating back from the 80s.

It was originally a restaurant where guests of the Imperial Hotel and people who drank at the Ginza club would come to finish their drinks. If you complain about the price, please don't come. That's why there are so many autographs from older celebrities. It all started 40 years ago when my father told me that it was the most expensive ramen in Japan. It's soul food. I ordered the shark fin ramen for 2,800 yen because it was my father's treat, but I remember regretting it and wishing I had had the chashu noodles lol. This is a ramen shop from the bubble era. I can smoke. Even though it's a ramen shop, the food is delicious. It's a shame because recently it has become a slightly more expensive store. I wish they would raise the price by 1,000 yen. It has the same image as the Amex Gold Card. During the bubble, it was a status card. It was created about 50 years ago and the price at that time was 800 yen, and a bowl of ramen was 350 yen. When the consumption tax was introduced, it became 1000 yen (1989). Considering that, I haven't raised the price that much. This is a shop from the good old days of the Showa era. It doesn't matter if you don't smoke. Don't ask for kindness from shy people. Isn't it nice to have an outdated store like this? The photo shows a large serving of soy sauce butter ramen for 1,400 yen. This is ramen that you want to eat once a year. I was surprised at the low score. I think it would be good to have around 4.5 points. I'll say it again. If you think it's expensive, don't eat in Ginza.