粋な一生 Iki na Isshou: middlemen

Akiba has become a veritable mini ramen mecca, with several new shops sprouting within walking distance from the station and ranking high in the annual magazine awards. Unfortunately, many of those shops were closed, and I promised a friend from out of town a solid ramen experience.

Iki no Isshou has been around a few years and has its own devoted following. The interior is spacious, with several tables for small groups. Perfect for chatting over a plate of pre-ramen gyoza.

The shop specializes in shio...

Shio ramen (720yen)

...though they serve the holy trio of shoyu and miso as well, the latter of which my friend ordered.

Miso ramen (780yen)

Both bowls were a bit underwhelming. The shio had a decent soup, with faint undertones of chicken stock, though a bit too bland. It might have fit better with more flavorful noodles, as the chewy flour noodles added little to the bowl.

The miso was lacking the impact and depth that other miso bowls have with the first sip. The presentation probably wasn't helped by the giant donburi that housed the ramen.

This is a good example of non-chain, middle-tier ramen. Open late, serving lots of bowls and customers, and still better than what you'll find in some mass-produced franchises. But far from the high level of craft that you'll find in a lot of the top shops in the area.

Tokyo, Taito-ku, Taito 1-27-2
Closest stn: Akihabara

Open from 11am-9pm (closes at 8pm on weekends)

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