A note on the words: negi chashu men is ramen topped with a mound of seasoned scallions and sliced pork chashu, the signature bowl here. Ramen Shop, commonly called “Ra-sho,” is a chain of neighborhood ramen counters. Kara-negi are shredded scallions dressed in sesame oil and a spicy sauce, crisp with only a gentle heat. Asakusa Kaikaro is a Tokyo noodle maker whose medium-thin noodles have a chewy bounce. Otsumami santen-mori is a three-item snack platter, ajitama is a seasoned egg, and doubanjiang is a spicy fermented bean paste kept on the counter.
Ramen Shop Maruka Ikebukuro on Tabelog (English) — opening hours, payment details and the Japanese address are kept up to date there, not here.
To all negi ramen fans, sorry to keep you waiting! This is Hangover Meshi (meshi = meal)!
Negi ramen really is delicious, isn’t it? If it’s on the menu, I usually end up ordering it.
So this time, I’m in Ikebukuro at Ramen Shop Maruka, a shop in the Ramen Shop chain of neighborhood ramen counters known as “Ra-sho.” It sits near Rikkyo University, and I had been curious about it for a while. I happened to be passing by around lunchtime, so I decided to drop in. Usually there is quite a line, but on this day there was only 1 person ahead of me!
After buying a meal ticket, I lined up outside and waited for a bit!
And now, my turn finally came!
Well of course, you have to get a highball!
And this time, I went ahead and ordered snacks too!
I ordered it just thinking of it as a snack, but look at this portion, ha! It is less a snack than a full set of ramen toppings. The heaping pile of kara-negi, the spicy scallions, is fantastic!! Isn’t 500 yen cheap for this?! It was satisfying enough to make me think about having another highball.
When the ramen comes, tossing this into the bowl gives you extra toppings too — how great is that!
There are plenty of condiments too, so it looks like you could enjoy changing up the flavor as you go!
Whoaaa! It looks so good!!!
In the end, it comes loaded with about the same volume of toppings as the otsumami santen-mori!
Rising from the bowl is the sweet aroma of back fat and soy sauce. The broth looks milky and cloudy, but taking a sip, the impression is that it is lighter than expected. While the outline of the flavor is definitely rich and bold, the sweetness of the back fat rounds off the edges, with the aftertaste trailing off cleanly, I would say. It is milder than expected, and delicious.
And the noodles are medium-thin noodles from Asakusa Kaikaro. They slip in smoothly, and when you chew, they bounce right back with a pleasant springiness. They are close in thickness to the spicy scallions, so eating them together as you break down the mound makes for an outstanding match! The star of the bowl, the spicy scallions, is crisp, and the heat itself is mild. Coated in sesame oil and a spicy sauce, the more you submerge them into the broth, the more their sesame oil and spicy sauce sharpen the flavor of the whole bowl. The chashu is the tender sort that crumbles gently apart.
Then, midway through. The moment I tossed in grated garlic and doubanjiang from the condiments on the counter, cranking up the heat and the garlic, it instantly transformed into a punchy ramen with serious kick! This is the complete form, ha.
Incredibly good, ha.
So all told, the sheer satisfaction of the otsumami santen-mori platter and the sheer quality of those chewy noodles. The broth was milder than expected, but the instant you add the chilli paste and garlic, it goes on a rampage! Seriously, it was delicious. Isn’t this right at the peak for an everyday ramen spot? No wonder people line up! You just can’t help wanting to add garlic, so I might only be able to come here when I’m by myself, ha ha.
Here’s hoping you come across something delicious today too!
Ramen Shop Maruka Ikebukuro Menu
Recommended
The 4 items with photos right at the top of the ticket machine. If you can’t decide, pick from these.
A generous mound of seasoned scallions and chashu. You can choose between “regular” and “spicy” for the scallions.
The all-in bowl with scallions, egg, and chashu.
You can choose your noodle firmness, broth strength and fat level. For dishes with scallions, they ask when ordering whether you want “regular scallions” or “spicy scallions.”
Various noodles
Rice bowls & rice
Toppings
Snacks
Even though it is a ramen shop, the lineup is clearly set up to get you drinking proper.
Apparently it rotates daily with things like kimchi, chilled tofu, and pickles.
Alcohol & drinks
Besides cash, payments at the ticket machine support a wide range of options including PayPay, d-barai, au PAY, Merpay, Rakuten Edy, iD, QUICPay, and transit IC cards. There is also a receipt button.
*From the storefront ticket machine during an August 2026 visit. Prices include tax; items are subject to change. Please verify the latest details at the shop.
Ramen Shop Maruka Ikebukuro (Ramen / Ikebukuro Station, Kanamecho Station, Shiinamachi Station)
Tabelog lunch rating ★★★☆☆ 3.7
I ate here and paid for it myself. Nothing on this site is a comped meal.
One more for the road?
