Wakayama, Japan｜Ide Shoten

Imagine a place where the air is filled with tantalizing aromas, and where a bowl of ramen becomes an unforgettable experience. Look no further than Ide Shoten 井出商店, a renowned ramen joint that once claimed the title of "Best Ramen in Japan." Having personally experienced their culinary brilliance, I can confidently say that it is a well-deserved accolade. Upon arriving, be prepared for a wait time of around 30 minutes. But trust me, every minute spent lingering outside is well worth it. The anticipation builds as you watch the chefs passionately work their magic through the open kitchen, crafting each bowl with meticulous care. Once you're finally seated, it's time to savor the taste of perfection. The broth, rich and flavorful, captures the essence of traditional Japanese ramen, making each spoonful a delight to your taste buds. Whether you choose their soy-based shoyu ramen or the creamy tonkotsu, there is no wrong choice – every option is exquisite.

Read the reviews before visiting - some preferred Marumi and said Ide Shoten smelled bad. Went around 3:30pm and there were a few customers inside. I actually tried both eateries and preferred Ide Shoten’s tonkatsu broth. It might smell overpowering when you stepped into the eatery but the taste was actually good - the broth was savoury and rich, the chashu were tender and didn’t have any porky taste. I liked it more that Marumi’s which was more subtle. While I was there, they constantly had customers (many of whom were locals) entering the eatery. Like most eateries, the store was small and seats were limited. So customers would be expected to leave as soon as they have finished eating.

There was a line outside at 9:00 p.m. waiting to get into the small Ramen Shop in wakayama. I hesitated because who would wait in line at 9:00 p.m. for ramen? Well, I I'm so thankful I did! This place is known for its specialty wakayama robin. It's kind of tonkatsu ramen, but with a twist, which apparently all of the locals know about! The place is really small, and really old. And they really only do ramen. No alcohol. Really unique and wonderful Ramen, serve piping hot to slurp up. Wonderful. If you're in Wakayama, drop into this place.