Ramen lover here. It's just ranked the best, but you can eat mesmerizing tsukemen EASILY in Tokyo. Almost every ramen shop in Tokyo is great lol not gonna lie.
I had 8 hours in Tokyo (layover) and decided to go. Would do that anytime in a heart beat. If the only I did in Tokyo was eat tomita's tsukemen I wouldn't be mad🤣
@@5AMRamen Yes, one of his last videos before the shutdown was in Japan. He's posting a lot of at home stuff now, but he's sprinkling in some leftover Japan videos that he hadn't gotten to. I certainly hope you all get together some day.
@@5AMRamen Don't do it. He is so fake. People who have met him say he is a horrible person in real life. Don't put yourself in the same airspace as him. Your better than that.
I was going to ask you if you went to Tomita and here it is. So glad to have your opinion on the establishment. I cant wait to try those tsukemen shops. Great video...one of your best.
@@5AMRamen you did a great job on this video. Saw the movie Ramen Heads and was familiar with the ordering process, but you made it even more understandable....thanks again
Another awesome video, thanks Frank! We loved the nuttiness and bounciness of the noodles at Tomita. Somehow picks up the thick gyokai broth so well despite it being so smooth. It was a life changing meal for us and completely worth waking up at 5.30 am (we had 1 week in Tokyo at the time). I couldn’t not eat another bowl when we passed by the Narita branch before our flight home! Not as good as the Matsudo 本店 but a satisfying last bite before leaving Japan.
That's awesome! Love the dedication - the 5:30 am wakeup and making sure to grab another bowl at the Narita branch! Those noodles really are something special. Work so well with that broth, for sure.
DON"T WATCH THIS WHILE HUNGRY! Once again, fantastic video! I caught it at 38 minutes since you uploaded it. Thought we were going to be first!!! Le sigh, either way we get to watch you eat yummy RAMEN! We would visit definitely even if we had to wait! We have ordered at a machine before and came back with a specific time set for us. Looked so tasty and SO JEALOUS! They don't have great ramen in Bali. Watched your whole video to support.
Haha, love the disclaimer! Yes, perhaps half a day is a small price to pay for delicious tsukemen / ramen 😋. Which place did you go to where you ordered from the vending machine and had a specific time to go back and eat? I'm sure Bali doesn't have any ramen...but such amazing local food!
@@5AMRamen I don't remember the name! But it was near Shibuya. We actually loved the Vending machine style and it was prevalent throughout Tokyo. It was pretty tough if you don't read Japanese. Luckily we have google translate! Haha! If you can share the love it would be amazing!
Truly appreciated this clip. I just became a fan of Tsukemen not long, hopefully oneday when everything is readt i'll get a chance to try Tomita. Really like the clip . This is the first one. I will definitely explore more
You have the best slurp, Frank! Sunny Side could not keep up with your experience and technique. You would be the best Ramen guide in and out of Tokyo.
This looks really good!!! I love the idea of the different topping and how they plate it looks so good. Only thing is that it is still an hour to travel from Tokyo (depending on where in the city you live/stay) and if you have to be there before 8 AM so you have to get up really early. The narita branch is a good alternative to get a first taste. If you really enjoy it then go all the way over to the restaurant in Matsudo.
Ramen / tsukemen is indeed an art form at Tomita - high-level plating and presentation. I think what you mentioned is a fine way to test the Tomita waters - starting at Narita or even one of their other branches in the city!
I had no ide until now, but the last time i was in Japan i went to the store in the Narita Airport just before getting on my plane back, really good finish to my trip.
What a great video! I'm salivating as we speak. I actually saw this ramen shop in a documentary on a flight to NY. I will be in Japan with my family for the first time in June but will not be able to make it out to this place unfortunately. I do however want to order from them. Do they ship to the US? Keep up the work on the videos and keep on slurping!
On one trip to Japan I showed up at the restaurant at 6:30am on a Wednesday in the pouring rain. There was already people waiting outside and one of the employees told me based on my place in line I would not get a reservation for the remainder of the day. Madness. 🤯
I walked right past that location in Narita two years ago and had no clue what it was. Welp! XD I'd be down for the trip out Tomita if I was in the country for 3-4 weeks again. Might have to find a place to spend the night within Tokyo in order to arrive there on time (I usually stay in Atsugi while I'm in the country). But, I'm always down for noodles and some exploration.
That's the spirit! I think with a 3-4 week trip again, you can def make the case to visit 😊. If you run out of time, you can simply swing by Tomita at Narita. Also, for reference, Atsugi has some high level ramen!!
@@5AMRamen Good to know! I haven't gotten the chance to explore around Atsugi as much as I would like. My buddy lives out in the suburbs, so there isn't much around that area. I know the area around Hon-Atsugi Station looked like it had a fair amount around it, though.
Awesome! Enjoyed the video and I found the translation of the vending machine menu particularly useful. Wanted to ask - what are the other items on the menu at the main shop? Do they serve gyozas there? I once tried the gyozas from Tomita Shokudo down the road (main shop was under renovation when I visited) and I found them to be pretty amazing.
Thanks for watching! I'm happy the translated vending machine was useful. The shop looks quite snazzy now after the renovations. You know - I don't think they have gyoza at the main shop. All the other items on the vending machine are individual toppings, rice dishes, drinks, and the tsukemen kits to take home. Might have to pay a visit to the other shop for those gyoza 😊.
So glad i found your channel! I eat ramen in singapore and document them on IG. I cant wait to visit japan and try the places u recommend! Also i always thought it was pronounced as su-ker-men. Thanks for teaching
Always great to connect with a fellow ramen collector! Happy you're documenting the bowls over there. Thanks for watching and will keep the ramen info train rolling!
So I’m thinking Tomita wouldn’t be a spontaneous decision ! I guess if I were in Tokio for a decent stretch I could give a day over to a visit but honestly there is soooooo much to do in Tokio and so many ways to deplete your yen reserves ... 😃❤️
Haha, right...at least with the line you were guaranteed a spot if you arrived early. Some other high level spots have gone in the same direction after Tomita started.
@@5AMRamen It is nuts how fast that booked out. I had to book spot for 3 which as much more limiting but managed to grabbed one. A bit close to another reservation but should still be fine. Ya it was just like the system kept refusing to let me make reservation saying too many people try again later. and just spam it until you get through as you see all the slots disappear XD.
Hey Frank! I love your videos! I was in Japan recently and was going to sacrifice a day for Tomita Ramen. However, I have a shellfish allergy and was afraid I might waste my time just to find out I can't eat their ramen. I have two questions. 1) Does Tomita Ramen contain shellfish? (From your video and other resources it seems like it doesn't) 2) what's a good resource to find if ramen shops use shellfish or not (or listing of general ingredients)?
Hey hey! Sorry for the delayed reply. I indeed don't believe Tomita uses any shellfish but it's hard to 100% confirm. For reference, I'm working on a Tokyo Ramen Guide that includes the ingredients for some of the more popular Tokyo ramen shops. Generally speaking, most are shellfish free!
I've been there. Absolutely amazing. But I made a big mistake. I ordered the larger noodle portion, not knowing just how much there was. I know it's considered rude to not finish your ramen, so I forced myself to eat all of the noodles. After finishing the noodles, I could only get one spoonful of the soup after they added the hot water. If I ever get a chance to return, I'll order the small noodle portion.
Awesome you've been! Hats off for finishing the bigger portion of noodles too...no easy feat, with tsukemen noldles noodles being so thick. Next time you can grab the small portion and enjoy more of the soup wari (the hot water added). I need to make a trip back myself - they've changed a few things and I believe you now have to make reservations online.
Thanks so much, have been enjoying your Ramen videos! Could you please put the Japanese up as well as the English name? It would help me find them much more easily.
Thanks for watching! In the description I usually put a link to my blog, with the Japanese name of the ramen shop too: www.5amramen.com/post/tomita-ramen But sometimes there isn't a blog link...in these cases I'll try and add the Japanese name too 😃
You're my fucking hero man. This place is first and last on my list to hit when I get to go to Japan after watching Ramen Heads ( 7 times), but was wondering how the ordering and timing worked. Totally saving this video for reference for that trip!
Also I don't suppose there's a way to buy these kits to be shipped to the US in like ultra cold pack because mannnnnnnnnn I have a serious fucking need right now....
Glad the video was helpful! It's going to be a magical visit once the borders are open again. Awesome you've watched it 7 times 😊 Yes, I think it's hard to send those frozen kits outside of Japan unfortunately. I'll keep an eye out if they release again a dry noodle instant ramen version: www.instantramen.jp
It looks so good!! And your slurping makes me crave it! 😆 I’ve tried ramen with fish broth and didn’t like it. Does this have a strong fish taste or can you mostly taste the pork?
Glad the slurping added to it, haha! Do you remember the bowl of fish ramen you had? At Tomita the fish takes more of the backseat to the pork and chicken richness. It's there, but more of an accent.
This was very informative. Thanks for the step by step order instructions. I'm open to trying more tsukemen as I favour ramen with broth. Have you tried their ramen?
In my opinion, it taste spectacularly good at first but since I've been there so many times, the taste grew on me and I don't appreciate it as much as I did the first time I tried.
@@5AMRamen damn we saved money for that trip in Japan, it was money well spent, as Tomita was part of our itinerary. Our trip to Japan was last 2019, just before the lockdown.
Thanks for the review. Really miss japan during this covid19 pandemic. I have tried ittaou, fuunji, do you think it is good idea to try tomita in my next trip?
Tomita is a similar experience in terms of tsukemen style as those 2, but with a more fishy and grainy soup. So I think it would depend on how much you love tsukemen and the time you have here when travel is back!
just subscribed, so i'm late posting. I wanted to go to the original shop but wound up getting some at their airport location. It was good but I probably wouldn't say its the Best in japan either.
Right on - the airport bowl is good, albeit a bit more manufactured. That best in Japan title is always tricky - comes down to personal taste, amount of hype, etc. Thanks for subbing and welcome aboard!
Hey Frank, thank you for the wonderfully detailed video! Have you tried the branch in Kitte by any chance? It was so good I ate there twice (not sure if it has the same quality as the original in Chiba). Tomita also has an instant ramen cup that sells at 7-eleven. Although good, definitely not as great as the one at the shop. Would love to hear your take on it.
Thank you for watching! I haven't tried the Kitte branch but that's awesome you were able to eat there...twice too, haha. I'm sure they maintain the quality there. Many put the main shop in Chiba on this pedestal because Tomita himself is there. For some, that's worth the commitment and wait...the magic there. I haven't tried their instant ramen actually! I did have a Tomita cold summer ramen from 7-Eleven tho - put it in a video too - feel free to check out 😊.
Hey man just found your channel and love the content! For the Tsukuba trip you did, if you go again there is a ramen spot where they serve kara miso ramen and it's across the street from a Lawson or FamilyMart (I forget haven't been to Tsukuba in a while), and their kara miso ramen with gyoza on the side is phenomenal. I definitely recommend it.
Thanks for watching! I need to do a Part 2 for Tsukuba ramen...so much ramen ground there to still cover 😃. Do you remember the name of that ramen shop or what part of Tsukuba it might be in? Sounds like a great bowl!
@@5AMRamen Broo so i can't read Japanese, and was interning and staying at the facility right by where you filmed earlier near the space shuttle etc. I know the 1 way to get there, is to go down this 1 road from Sakura-kan(leads past a yakitori spot run by a guy named Hiroshi san - phenomenal yakitori here too )- where there is traffic on either side, and once you pass by a starbucks on your right hand side, its 1 or 2 stoplights north of that in a complex on its own. There should be ample parking, and they have a very distinctive doubanjiou that smells very strongly!
Thanks for the detailed instructions! Will have to check it out when I'm back there - hopefully they're still there and slinging ramen. It's cool that you were there for that too (in Tsukuba). Ramen and science, what a city 😊
Not directly and not the frozen type but someone shared this with me before! www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B00KYOI400 Hopefully they can send to where you are. Thanks for watching!!
Curious what your top 3 tsukemen places would be (no particular order). I’d definitely put Fuunji in my top 3 (probably #1). Tomita definitely has a place in my top 5.
Ooo...tough one! I think my Top 3 (in no particular order) would be Michi, Tomita, and Menya Itto. Oh boy, but then again there's also places like Fuunji (which you mentioned and is excellent), Katsumoto, Oborozuki, or even Toshioka. Can we stretch it to top 10? 😅
@@5AMRamen great great list! I agree with your assessment in your video... when you get to the top of the top, it really does become splitting hairs between which is the best. Thank you for a great and thorough breakdown 🍜!
You said it well - it really is splitting hairs when it comes to this level of tsukemen! It's therefore tough to come up with that definitive top 3 or 5...maybe we can stretch it to top 20 😅. Thanks for watching and awesome that you're a huge tsukemen / ramen fan as it is!
@@5AMRamen Haha even a top 20 would be tough. Definitely a huge fan of tsukemen... I fly out to Tokyo just to grab a few bowls... luckily it's a short flight from Seoul. Just read flights are resuming from Korea to Japan... hopefully I'll be there soon (the tsukemen in Korea is worse than an average place in Japan)!! Thanks for the vid! Love how thorough and informative it is!
@@SeoulMan2020 Thanks for that! I'm happy to hear you found the video was informative. I miss going to Seoul myself - I squeezed in a quick trip before the pandemic. Are there any good ramen shops in Seoul you'd recommend? Although every time I visit eat Korean food 90% of the time 😃
Thanks for watching. I also want to consider currency fluctuations, with people watching a year from now, for example. For reference, ramen in Tokyo costs normally 7.50 to 10 USD (800 Yen to 1,100 Yen). This is a rare time where you would pay more (with all toppings at Tomita is about 18 USD, or 16 Euros).
What we really need here is a copycat recipe, so that everyone can recreate this and enjoy this regardless of where in the world they live. 🙂 Nice video though.
I did a double day with Tomita at lunch and Menya Itto in the evening. Note to fat guys like me: the stools at Tomita are fastened to the floor, and it was a tight fit to the counter. Sort of like eating from a tray on an economy fare airline seat.
Wow, they look so nice and make me mouth watering and craving them, of course!! I also like eating Ramen, and the Best Ramen restaurant that I’ve ever been is Kadue Syokudou part of Shinshirakawa city in Fukushima pref. Their noodle is so unique that curly and chewy texture like Udon noodle and they make it from scratch by hands. Check this out, if you have time!!
I'm actually planning to visit Shirakawa this year - will add that place to the list! Those noodles sound amazing. Thanks for the heads up and for watching too 😀
Wow, that’s awesome! Even though I don’t know much about city which is famous for Ramen, these Ramen are one of the specialties of that area. surprisingly, there’re a lots of Ramen shops in front of the station. I hope that you can find your most favorite and please give me some comments how it was, for sure!! Thank you for replying comments and enjoy your Ramen trip & take care
I've had alot of ramen but never had dipping ramen before. Why is the dipping sauce separated from noodles and can you just pour the sauce over noodles and eat it like a bowl of normal ramen?
Tsukemen (dipping ramen) is inspired by dipping soba. It's a different experience - when the noodles are separate, you get to appreciate their flavor and smell more, along with their chewiness (since they're not cooking in the soup). Furthermore, dipping ramen soup these days is very thick and potent...too potent and strongly flavored if you drink it by itself. However, in dipping form, it works better - the noodles only pick up a little bit of that potent soup.
I do love my instant ramen! The ones in Japan are next level too. Here are some of my local favorites for the "bowl style": www.instantramen.jp/post/best-instant-ramen-japan For the packet style, "Sapporo Ichiban" is something I grew up with. I haven't had it outside of Japan tho.
@@5AMRamen Thank you for the reply. I do see Sapporo Ichiban here at the Asian grocers sometimes. I'll have to be sure to have that link open next time I'm at Uwajimaya and see if I can find any of those to try!
Someone who lives near Tomita should put up a foot massage business or a manga cafe (with manga in several languages including English) so tourists have a place to kill time (and spend money) while waiting for their time slot.
Ive never been to Japan but ive tried most of the Ramen shops in LA and we have a lot of excellent Ramen here, i can only imagine how good it must be in Japan. Love your videos man, saw you on BestFoodReviewShow
Thanks for watching - cool how you found me from BFRS! Some would say LA has the best ramen scene outside of Japan. I gotta grab some bowls there when travel has resumed 😊
![BEST Ramen in Japan - Impossible to Book [Iida Shoten]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/hEUMQPGs7vo/mqdefault.jpg)
![BEST Ramen in Japan - Impossible to Book [Iida Shoten]](/img/tr.png)
![The Best Tonkotsu Ramen in Japan! I had all ramen in IPPUDO! [IPPUDO Complete Guide]](/img/n.gif)
When travel to Japan is possible again, would you visit Tomita? Or too much hassle?
5 AM Ramen I would but probably the one in Tokyo station.
Yes
Most definitely!!!!!
I'm NOT waking up at 6am just to be there at 7am to get a ticket!
Are they out of their fucking mind?!
Yes 💯
I appreciate the “how to order” bit and everything else you do 👌🏼
Thanks a lot! 😊
Ramen lover here. It's just ranked the best, but you can eat mesmerizing tsukemen EASILY in Tokyo. Almost every ramen shop in Tokyo is great lol not gonna lie.
Absolutely - the quality of ramen / tsukemen here is unrivaled. What's your favorite tsukemen spot in Tokyo?
I had 8 hours in Tokyo (layover) and decided to go. Would do that anytime in a heart beat. If the only I did in Tokyo was eat tomita's tsukemen I wouldn't be mad🤣
Haha good on ya! You need to eat ramen for any Tokyo layover and with that said, it might as well be Tomita 😊.
Thanks for the video and also thanks for suggesting other shops that are just as good but easier to eat at.
You've got this! I can't wait for you to do something with Mikey Chen at Strictly Dumpling. That interaction would be awesome!
That would be aweome - would love to collaborate with him! I know he was spending a lot of time in Japan up until recently.
@@5AMRamen Yes, one of his last videos before the shutdown was in Japan. He's posting a lot of at home stuff now, but he's sprinkling in some leftover Japan videos that he hadn't gotten to. I certainly hope you all get together some day.
@@5AMRamen Don't do it. He is so fake. People who have met him say he is a horrible person in real life. Don't put yourself in the same airspace as him. Your better than that.
Its 1:30 am now and i want some great ramen but i need to get some sleep dir work tomorrow! This was somehow satisfying 😀👍🏿
Hopefully you can grab some ramen for lunch! 😊
After the quarantine is over it would be kool to see an entire video on Tsukemen ramen!!!!
Later down the road, I'm happy to do a bigger tsukemen video - including the history!
All these years and I still haven’t tried Tomita. Something to look forward to next trip 😃❤️
It will be that much more epic when you go!
I was going to ask you if you went to Tomita and here it is. So glad to have your opinion on the establishment. I cant wait to try those tsukemen shops. Great video...one of your best.
Glad you liked the video! I figured ppl were curious about Tomita - yourself included 😊. Used more fancy arrows in this one, haha.
@@5AMRamen you did a great job on this video. Saw the movie Ramen Heads and was familiar with the ordering process, but you made it even more understandable....thanks again
Another awesome video, thanks Frank! We loved the nuttiness and bounciness of the noodles at Tomita. Somehow picks up the thick gyokai broth so well despite it being so smooth. It was a life changing meal for us and completely worth waking up at 5.30 am (we had 1 week in Tokyo at the time). I couldn’t not eat another bowl when we passed by the Narita branch before our flight home! Not as good as the Matsudo 本店 but a satisfying last bite before leaving Japan.
That's awesome! Love the dedication - the 5:30 am wakeup and making sure to grab another bowl at the Narita branch! Those noodles really are something special. Work so well with that broth, for sure.
DON"T WATCH THIS WHILE HUNGRY! Once again, fantastic video! I caught it at 38 minutes since you uploaded it. Thought we were going to be first!!! Le sigh, either way we get to watch you eat yummy RAMEN! We would visit definitely even if we had to wait! We have ordered at a machine before and came back with a specific time set for us. Looked so tasty and SO JEALOUS! They don't have great ramen in Bali. Watched your whole video to support.
Haha, love the disclaimer! Yes, perhaps half a day is a small price to pay for delicious tsukemen / ramen 😋. Which place did you go to where you ordered from the vending machine and had a specific time to go back and eat? I'm sure Bali doesn't have any ramen...but such amazing local food!
@@5AMRamen I don't remember the name! But it was near Shibuya. We actually loved the Vending machine style and it was prevalent throughout Tokyo. It was pretty tough if you don't read Japanese. Luckily we have google translate! Haha! If you can share the love it would be amazing!
Wow I love these long vid.. keep up the awesome content
Thanks and glad you like it! Will keep it coming.
Truly appreciated this clip. I just became a fan of Tsukemen not long, hopefully oneday when everything is readt i'll get a chance to try Tomita. Really like the clip . This is the first one. I will definitely explore more
Thanks for saying that and for watching! Tomita will be waiting for you in all its tsukemen glory until then.
I actually enjoyed watching this review. Very informative.
Happy to hear it!
Yesss been wondering more about this ramen shop after seeing the documentary
Thanks for watching and hope the info was helpful!
You have the best slurp, Frank! Sunny Side could not keep up with your experience and technique. You would be the best Ramen guide in and out of Tokyo.
I have years of practice! I'm sure Sonny would be slurping the same way after so more training here 😃
The alternatives you suggested are really useful :) Thank you for the quality review!
Thank you for watching!
This looks really good!!! I love the idea of the different topping and how they plate it looks so good. Only thing is that it is still an hour to travel from Tokyo (depending on where in the city you live/stay) and if you have to be there before 8 AM so you have to get up really early. The narita branch is a good alternative to get a first taste. If you really enjoy it then go all the way over to the restaurant in Matsudo.
Ramen / tsukemen is indeed an art form at Tomita - high-level plating and presentation. I think what you mentioned is a fine way to test the Tomita waters - starting at Narita or even one of their other branches in the city!
I had no ide until now, but the last time i was in Japan i went to the store in the Narita Airport just before getting on my plane back, really good finish to my trip.
Nice way to end the trip! Last meal should always be ramen 😁
FUUNJI OMG!!!!! Will leave you BREATHLESS!
What a great video! I'm salivating as we speak. I actually saw this ramen shop in a documentary on a flight to NY. I will be in Japan with my family for the first time in June but will not be able to make it out to this place unfortunately. I do however want to order from them. Do they ship to the US? Keep up the work on the videos and keep on slurping!
Unfortunately they don't ship the frozen ramen outside of Japan but they so sell some instant ramen. I hope you all had a wonderful time here!
Great to know thanks man! Never had dipping ramen. I need to find some.
Dipping ramen is a wonderful genre within ramen. Would be awesome if you could find some!
Wonderful video Frank! I love the altar tribute to Kazuo Yamagishi in Tomita, what a wonderful touch! 😊
Thank you for watching! Great spotting the altar 😃
Definitely worth the hype 😋😆
Hard for me too not to smile when eating it ☺️
@@5AMRamen your smile is truly heartwarming ^.^
Why thank you 😀
Oh, what I wouldn't give to try that just once! lol, you sure know how to make someone drool... I hope you're having a great week!
Haha, drool napkin at the ready! Once it's safe to travel again, Tomita will be waiting for you 😊.
Great video! Love the way the order process was done as well as your final thoughts!
Thanks for watching! Wanted to make this one as robust as possible 😊
@@5AMRamen Definitely one of the best reviews and insights into the ordering process I have seen. I have subscribed! Thanks for the great content! :)
@@fumeokid Thanks for subbing too! Will keep the content coming 😃
On one trip to Japan I showed up at the restaurant at 6:30am on a Wednesday in the pouring rain. There was already people waiting outside and one of the employees told me based on my place in line I would not get a reservation for the remainder of the day. Madness. 🤯
So sorry to hear that! Hope you're able to snag a spot in the future when you visit again.
Dig it. great video as always!
Thanks for watching!!
this is my #1 to go on my list!
They're at the top of many ramen heaps for good reason!
Learnt alot, thanks Frank!
Happy to hear that and thanks for watching!!
Great video. Appreciate the “how to order part”. Subscribed
Thanks for subbing and glad that was useful 😊
I walked right past that location in Narita two years ago and had no clue what it was. Welp! XD I'd be down for the trip out Tomita if I was in the country for 3-4 weeks again. Might have to find a place to spend the night within Tokyo in order to arrive there on time (I usually stay in Atsugi while I'm in the country). But, I'm always down for noodles and some exploration.
That's the spirit! I think with a 3-4 week trip again, you can def make the case to visit 😊. If you run out of time, you can simply swing by Tomita at Narita. Also, for reference, Atsugi has some high level ramen!!
@@5AMRamen Good to know! I haven't gotten the chance to explore around Atsugi as much as I would like.
My buddy lives out in the suburbs, so there isn't much around that area. I know the area around Hon-Atsugi Station looked like it had a fair amount around it, though.
I've been told that the Narita branch isn't very good, but that the Tokyo Station branch is good, bit not as good as the home spot.
Wow, it really looks like it´s the best.
They don't mess around 😄
Awesome! Enjoyed the video and I found the translation of the vending machine menu particularly useful.
Wanted to ask - what are the other items on the menu at the main shop? Do they serve gyozas there? I once tried the gyozas from Tomita Shokudo down the road (main shop was under renovation when I visited) and I found them to be pretty amazing.
Thanks for watching! I'm happy the translated vending machine was useful.
The shop looks quite snazzy now after the renovations. You know - I don't think they have gyoza at the main shop. All the other items on the vending machine are individual toppings, rice dishes, drinks, and the tsukemen kits to take home.
Might have to pay a visit to the other shop for those gyoza 😊.
So glad i found your channel! I eat ramen in singapore and document them on IG. I cant wait to visit japan and try the places u recommend!
Also i always thought it was pronounced as su-ker-men. Thanks for teaching
Always great to connect with a fellow ramen collector! Happy you're documenting the bowls over there.
Thanks for watching and will keep the ramen info train rolling!
These videos are great man, only just found your channel (via Japan by Food), keep it up - the vending machine breakdown was so clutch
Thanks for coming to the channel, will keep it up 👍
Haha, glad the vending machine breakdown was clutch!
So I’m thinking Tomita wouldn’t be a spontaneous decision ! I guess if I were in Tokio for a decent stretch I could give a day over to a visit but honestly there is soooooo much to do in Tokio and so many ways to deplete your yen reserves ... 😃❤️
Definitely not a spontaneous one 😊. As you said, Tomita is one five million things to eat and do in Tokyo. Even just the ramen options are endless!
They do have online reservation now but idk if its any better. Basically the whole week get book out in about 15mins lol.
Haha, right...at least with the line you were guaranteed a spot if you arrived early. Some other high level spots have gone in the same direction after Tomita started.
@@5AMRamen It is nuts how fast that booked out. I had to book spot for 3 which as much more limiting but managed to grabbed one. A bit close to another reservation but should still be fine.
Ya it was just like the system kept refusing to let me make reservation saying too many people try again later. and just spam it until you get through as you see all the slots disappear XD.
Hey Frank! I love your videos! I was in Japan recently and was going to sacrifice a day for Tomita Ramen. However, I have a shellfish allergy and was afraid I might waste my time just to find out I can't eat their ramen. I have two questions. 1) Does Tomita Ramen contain shellfish? (From your video and other resources it seems like it doesn't) 2) what's a good resource to find if ramen shops use shellfish or not (or listing of general ingredients)?
Hey hey! Sorry for the delayed reply. I indeed don't believe Tomita uses any shellfish but it's hard to 100% confirm. For reference, I'm working on a Tokyo Ramen Guide that includes the ingredients for some of the more popular Tokyo ramen shops. Generally speaking, most are shellfish free!
I've been there.
Absolutely amazing.
But I made a big mistake.
I ordered the larger noodle portion, not knowing just how much there was.
I know it's considered rude to not finish your ramen, so I forced myself to eat all of the noodles.
After finishing the noodles, I could only get one spoonful of the soup after they added the hot water.
If I ever get a chance to return, I'll order the small noodle portion.
Awesome you've been! Hats off for finishing the bigger portion of noodles too...no easy feat, with tsukemen noldles noodles being so thick. Next time you can grab the small portion and enjoy more of the soup wari (the hot water added). I need to make a trip back myself - they've changed a few things and I believe you now have to make reservations online.
Thanks so much, have been enjoying your Ramen videos! Could you please put the Japanese up as well as the English name? It would help me find them much more easily.
Thanks for watching! In the description I usually put a link to my blog, with the Japanese name of the ramen shop too: www.5amramen.com/post/tomita-ramen
But sometimes there isn't a blog link...in these cases I'll try and add the Japanese name too 😃
Great tips!
Thanks and thanks for watching!
You're my fucking hero man. This place is first and last on my list to hit when I get to go to Japan after watching Ramen Heads ( 7 times), but was wondering how the ordering and timing worked. Totally saving this video for reference for that trip!
Also I don't suppose there's a way to buy these kits to be shipped to the US in like ultra cold pack because mannnnnnnnnn I have a serious fucking need right now....
Glad the video was helpful! It's going to be a magical visit once the borders are open again. Awesome you've watched it 7 times 😊
Yes, I think it's hard to send those frozen kits outside of Japan unfortunately. I'll keep an eye out if they release again a dry noodle instant ramen version: www.instantramen.jp
Great video!
Thanks for watching and glad you liked it!
5 AM Ramen I loved that you did an honest review and made the kit at home! One of the best food review videos. xo
So happy to hear that, thank you 😊
Yes, tried to go all out for this one!
It looks so good!! And your slurping makes me crave it! 😆
I’ve tried ramen with fish broth and didn’t like it. Does this have a strong fish taste or can you mostly taste the pork?
Glad the slurping added to it, haha! Do you remember the bowl of fish ramen you had? At Tomita the fish takes more of the backseat to the pork and chicken richness. It's there, but more of an accent.
5 AM Ramen It was the one in the Ramen museum. I think it was tuna...? (Everything else that we ate there were really good though!)
This was very informative. Thanks for the step by step order instructions. I'm open to trying more tsukemen as I favour ramen with broth. Have you tried their ramen?
I have tried their ramen but like most, prefer their tsukemen. The ramen is excellent but the tsukemen is most magical 😍
In my opinion, it taste spectacularly good at first but since I've been there so many times, the taste grew on me and I don't appreciate it as much as I did the first time I tried.
To go to Tomita's shop is a ramen pilgrimage.
It is indeed! A ramen pilgrimage.
@@5AMRamen damn we saved money for that trip in Japan, it was money well spent, as Tomita was part of our itinerary. Our trip to Japan was last 2019, just before the lockdown.
Thanks for the review. Really miss japan during this covid19 pandemic. I have tried ittaou, fuunji, do you think it is good idea to try tomita in my next trip?
Tomita is a similar experience in terms of tsukemen style as those 2, but with a more fishy and grainy soup. So I think it would depend on how much you love tsukemen and the time you have here when travel is back!
Great ramen! 😊🇯🇵🌸
Yes indeed!
I will make time just for Tomita. 24 hour Tomita window lol
Haha, love the willingness. Ramen dedication!
just subscribed, so i'm late posting. I wanted to go to the original shop but wound up getting some at their airport location. It was good but I probably wouldn't say its the Best in japan either.
Right on - the airport bowl is good, albeit a bit more manufactured. That best in Japan title is always tricky - comes down to personal taste, amount of hype, etc. Thanks for subbing and welcome aboard!
Hey Frank, thank you for the wonderfully detailed video! Have you tried the branch in Kitte by any chance? It was so good I ate there twice (not sure if it has the same quality as the original in Chiba). Tomita also has an instant ramen cup that sells at 7-eleven. Although good, definitely not as great as the one at the shop. Would love to hear your take on it.
Thank you for watching! I haven't tried the Kitte branch but that's awesome you were able to eat there...twice too, haha. I'm sure they maintain the quality there. Many put the main shop in Chiba on this pedestal because Tomita himself is there. For some, that's worth the commitment and wait...the magic there. I haven't tried their instant ramen actually! I did have a Tomita cold summer ramen from 7-Eleven tho - put it in a video too - feel free to check out 😊.
Hey man just found your channel and love the content! For the Tsukuba trip you did, if you go again there is a ramen spot where they serve kara miso ramen and it's across the street from a Lawson or FamilyMart (I forget haven't been to Tsukuba in a while), and their kara miso ramen with gyoza on the side is phenomenal. I definitely recommend it.
Thanks for watching! I need to do a Part 2 for Tsukuba ramen...so much ramen ground there to still cover 😃. Do you remember the name of that ramen shop or what part of Tsukuba it might be in? Sounds like a great bowl!
@@5AMRamen Broo so i can't read Japanese, and was interning and staying at the facility right by where you filmed earlier near the space shuttle etc. I know the 1 way to get there, is to go down this 1 road from Sakura-kan(leads past a yakitori spot run by a guy named Hiroshi san - phenomenal yakitori here too )- where there is traffic on either side, and once you pass by a starbucks on your right hand side, its 1 or 2 stoplights north of that in a complex on its own. There should be ample parking, and they have a very distinctive doubanjiou that smells very strongly!
Thanks for the detailed instructions! Will have to check it out when I'm back there - hopefully they're still there and slinging ramen. It's cool that you were there for that too (in Tsukuba). Ramen and science, what a city 😊
Awesome vid! I was wondering, Do they ship the Tsukemen kits to the US?
Not directly and not the frozen type but someone shared this with me before! www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/dp/B00KYOI400
Hopefully they can send to where you are. Thanks for watching!!
@@5AMRamen thank you very much ill give it a go👍
Oh gosh 🤦🏻♂️🤤 watching this video while dieting was not the right choice. I know how I’m celebrating after I meet my goals.
Haha, happy dieting (and celebrating when you meet your goals)!
@@5AMRamen thanks man
😊
Curious what your top 3 tsukemen places would be (no particular order). I’d definitely put Fuunji in my top 3 (probably #1). Tomita definitely has a place in my top 5.
Ooo...tough one! I think my Top 3 (in no particular order) would be Michi, Tomita, and Menya Itto. Oh boy, but then again there's also places like Fuunji (which you mentioned and is excellent), Katsumoto, Oborozuki, or even Toshioka. Can we stretch it to top 10? 😅
@@5AMRamen great great list! I agree with your assessment in your video... when you get to the top of the top, it really does become splitting hairs between which is the best. Thank you for a great and thorough breakdown 🍜!
You said it well - it really is splitting hairs when it comes to this level of tsukemen! It's therefore tough to come up with that definitive top 3 or 5...maybe we can stretch it to top 20 😅. Thanks for watching and awesome that you're a huge tsukemen / ramen fan as it is!
@@5AMRamen Haha even a top 20 would be tough. Definitely a huge fan of tsukemen... I fly out to Tokyo just to grab a few bowls... luckily it's a short flight from Seoul. Just read flights are resuming from Korea to Japan... hopefully I'll be there soon (the tsukemen in Korea is worse than an average place in Japan)!! Thanks for the vid! Love how thorough and informative it is!
@@SeoulMan2020 Thanks for that! I'm happy to hear you found the video was informative. I miss going to Seoul myself - I squeezed in a quick trip before the pandemic. Are there any good ramen shops in Seoul you'd recommend? Although every time I visit eat Korean food 90% of the time 😃
Of course I would go.
A worthy pilgimmage!
yes the time is not worth it, you rock with solid review!
Thanks, and thanks for watching!
Is this frozen or is it suitable as souveneir? Is it still available?
Another great video! Too bad they can’t send overseas!
Glad you enjoyed it! Would be nice if they set up shop overseas one day...I would imagine they've thought about it.
Wish you’d do a money conversion
Thanks for watching. I also want to consider currency fluctuations, with people watching a year from now, for example.
For reference, ramen in Tokyo costs normally 7.50 to 10 USD (800 Yen to 1,100 Yen). This is a rare time where you would pay more (with all toppings at Tomita is about 18 USD, or 16 Euros).
yum
Yes!!
What we really need here is a copycat recipe, so that everyone can recreate this and enjoy this regardless of where in the world they live. 🙂 Nice video though.
There are some proper ramen cooking channels out there with recipes for this style (modern tsukemen)!
YEAH I GET IT. YOU SLURP
As we do locally 😊
I did a double day with Tomita at lunch and Menya Itto in the evening. Note to fat guys like me: the stools at Tomita are fastened to the floor, and it was a tight fit to the counter. Sort of like eating from a tray on an economy fare airline seat.
You're a beast, back to back tsukemen! The analogy makes sense - forgot myself that the stools can't be moved there 👍
so... itto or tomita? who wins?
@@mm-sp4pr Tomita
Is there any way to ship Tomita's tsukemen kit to international locations like Canada???
Not yet but hopefully in the future!
Wow, they look so nice and make me mouth watering and craving them, of course!! I also like eating Ramen, and the Best Ramen restaurant that I’ve ever been is Kadue Syokudou part of Shinshirakawa city in Fukushima pref. Their noodle is so unique that curly and chewy texture like Udon noodle and they make it from scratch by hands. Check this out, if you have time!!
I'm actually planning to visit Shirakawa this year - will add that place to the list! Those noodles sound amazing. Thanks for the heads up and for watching too 😀
Wow, that’s awesome! Even though I don’t know much about city which is famous for Ramen, these Ramen are one of the specialties of that area. surprisingly, there’re a lots of Ramen shops in front of the station. I hope that you can find your most favorite and please give me some comments how it was, for sure!! Thank you for replying comments and enjoy your Ramen trip & take care
Do they also sell the frozen/instant version at the airport?
I don't think they'd sell the frozen versions at the airport but they might sell the instant ones!
How can you get those noodles in the US? Who sells it frozen? Or did you buy it in Japan?
Unfortunately I don't think Tomita sells them outside of Japan directly. Bought and eaten here in Japan.
I've had alot of ramen but never had dipping ramen before. Why is the dipping sauce separated from noodles and can you just pour the sauce over noodles and eat it like a bowl of normal ramen?
Tsukemen (dipping ramen) is inspired by dipping soba. It's a different experience - when the noodles are separate, you get to appreciate their flavor and smell more, along with their chewiness (since they're not cooking in the soup). Furthermore, dipping ramen soup these days is very thick and potent...too potent and strongly flavored if you drink it by itself. However, in dipping form, it works better - the noodles only pick up a little bit of that potent soup.
@@5AMRamen thanks for the explanation! Can't wait to can't back to Japan.
Thanks for a great question! I know - can't wait for these borders to open myself!
Docu-RAMEN-tory? I'm sold. I'm adding this one to the next trip.
Haha, that sounds so much better than my attempt. Tomita will be waiting for you!
Can you drop the link to order the kit
Unfortunately they don't send the kit overseas, as least not yet, it's frozen.
With all this amazing ramen you eat, do you even bother with instant? What is your go to ramen if you could only get your fix at home?
I do love my instant ramen! The ones in Japan are next level too. Here are some of my local favorites for the "bowl style": www.instantramen.jp/post/best-instant-ramen-japan
For the packet style, "Sapporo Ichiban" is something I grew up with. I haven't had it outside of Japan tho.
@@5AMRamen Thank you for the reply. I do see Sapporo Ichiban here at the Asian grocers sometimes. I'll have to be sure to have that link open next time I'm at Uwajimaya and see if I can find any of those to try!
Someone who lives near Tomita should put up a foot massage business or a manga cafe (with manga in several languages including English) so tourists have a place to kill time (and spend money) while waiting for their time slot.
BRILLIANT IDEA! Haha, I (or someone) should get on that. Will send you a ramen commission if it takes off 😅
Ive never been to Japan but ive tried most of the Ramen shops in LA and we have a lot of excellent Ramen here, i can only imagine how good it must be in Japan. Love your videos man, saw you on BestFoodReviewShow
Thanks for watching - cool how you found me from BFRS! Some would say LA has the best ramen scene outside of Japan. I gotta grab some bowls there when travel has resumed 😊
ラーメン富田のつけ麺は最高に美味しいよね！店が小さいから並ぶけどw皆さんお試しあれ
最高ですね！！本店なので、冨田さんが作っています。
Are the noodles made of Buckwheat?? I’m allergic
Most ramen noodles aren't (wheat flour). These with the brown color do look like soba though.
@@5AMRamen thanks 😊
If I get the opportunity for sure!
You won't regret it!
Are there any Ramen shops that cater to Muslim in Japan?
Yes, there are! Feel free to check out this Tokyo Halal Ramen list: 5amramen.com/ramen/tokyo-halal-ramen-best-5
@@5AMRamen The webpage doesn't exist.....
"skemen"🤣🤣🤣✌️ i just heard it weird
Haha, you heard right 😊. It's pronounced with less emphasis on the “tsu" - more "tske".
FRANK IS THE BEST!
😅
can help us eat and review ice cream ramen?
You talking about the one in Osaka that's been trending recently? I do need to do a Osaka ramen trip and visit.
@@5AMRamen yes!
Ok but why do you keep saying "skemin".
Tsukemen = suu-key-men
That's how it's pronounced 😊
Or I should say think of the "tsuke" as said much quicker, instead of all the syllables being dragged out.
But this is no broth ist a Sauce.
One really thick broth (a lot of chicken bones and pork bones too) with the appearance of a sauce.