Noodle Stand Tokyo

Vegan ramen in Harajuku

I would like to start this review off by saying that I was in a terrible mood that day... My plans fell through, everywhere was crowded, and the weather was gross. After wandering around Harajuku trying to salvage the remains of my day, I and my group were getting hungry. It was a bit chilly, so I decided on ramen. Checking Yelp, I found a few good places. However, upon actually reaching them, I saw that the lines were outrageous! No way was I going to subject myself to that. Just when I was going to go to a chain restaurant, I remembered the Harajuku Tourism Center's brochure in my pocket. There was an advertisement for a ramen place nearby and a coupon was included in the free brochure! It was easy to find. There was a tiny sign outside, pointing to a basement shop down some steep stairs. There was a menu on the door, and upon seeing an option for vegan ramen, I headed in. Thankfully, it wasn't very crowded. There were only 3 other groups seated and one who had just finished ordering. Unfortunately, though the group ahead was only a couple, they were seated at a 4 person table because they got there first. (Though we were literally standing right behind them. They entered the shop not a minute before us and weren't even seated when we finished ordering.) We, a group of 4, had to sit at the counter instead. Ordering is simple. There's a vending machine in the corner with everything on the menu. Simply put your money in, make your selection, and take the ticket that comes out. Then you give the ticket to the worker (along with the coupon from the brochure if you want to use it) and be seated. There is minimal English, but it's enough to figure everything out. The food was a bit slow to come out. However, it is definitely worth the wait. I ended up not getting the vegan ramen (a coconut-milk based dish). I opted for a fish-stock broth instead, since I don't eat red meat. One word of warning if you're looking for a pescatarian-friendly meal: they top the ramen with a nice, thick slice of char siu... Which won't be a problem for the meat-eaters out there (and may even be an incentive to go). The ramen was delicious, and the serving was big for the price. I was pleasantly surprised to find such a nice place, and especially one so close to Harajuku Station. The broth was really flavorful and the noodles were chewy and springy. A pro is that you can see them making your dish if you sit at the counter. I'll definitely be back!