Ryuken Ramen

Slide open the door to Ryuken Ramen on an Akihabara street, and you are greeted by an intimate counter that fills up with just a handful of diners. With its unpretentious, slightly nostalgic Showa-era atmosphere, it is the sort of place where solo eaters can casually drop in for a quick, comforting bowl of noodles.

The menu covers plenty of everyday favourites: miso ramen, shio chashu, tonkotsu ramen, and vegetable-packed tanmen. Noodle portions are thoughtfully tiered into regular, medium, large, and extra-large, making it easy to tailor the meal to how hungry you happen to be. In particular, the miso ramen varieties and the negi-miso ramen with fragrant scallions remain reliable choices for anyone craving hearty, old-school flavours.

Diners can also personalise their bowls with classic toppings such as seasoned soft-boiled egg, seasoned bamboo shoots (menma), bean sprouts, and butter, or round out the meal with a bowl of rice. Regulars can occasionally be seen sipping a medium bottle of beer while waiting for their noodles, adding to the easygoing warmth reminiscent of Tokyo's traditional working-class neighbourhoods.

Payment is cash-only. Whether squeezing in a quick lunch between errands or winding down after work, the appeal lies in the effortless ease of slurping down a freshly made bowl and heading on your way.