BEST Ramen in Japan - Impossible to Book [Iida Shoten]

Ramen shop Iida Shoten sits at the VERY TOP of Japan's ramen rankings. Reservation ONLY, it's so popular that seats sell out within 5 minutes of being available online. Consider Iida Shoten the ramen holy grail. After weeks of multiple booking attempts, I finally get a reservation!
As someone that eats ramen every day, I let you know whether I think they're worth the hype (and time commitment)! I order 2 of their award-winning ramen:
1. Shio Tsukemen (Dipping Ramen)
- Multiple salt-seasoning, two types of noodles, two types of soup
2. Shoyu Ramen (their most popular)
- Multiple soy sauce-seasoning, 7+ types of chicken in the soup
More on Iida Shoten:
www.5amramen.c...
We're selling Iida Shoten's official premium instant ramen (as 1 of 5 in a pack).
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About Me:
I'm Frank from 5 AM Ramen. Born in Tokyo and raised on ramen, I eat over 350 bowls a year. To me, ramen is the ULTIMATE SOUL FOOD.
#ramennoodles #ramen #Japanesefood #5amRamen

[@5AMRamen]

Would you make the trek here??

[@uncommonramenchannel7495]

Absolutely

[@zebrajenks]

God I love ramen. I live in OKC, not from here, and there are a two great local places here and one great chain. two locals are Goro and Tamashii and the chain is Jinya. I just stocked up on NongShim Red and Black and Ottogi cheese ramen.

[@uncommonramenchannel7495]

@@zebrajenks I’ve made the trek to Goro a couple of times and I enjoyed it immensely

[@zebrajenks]

@@uncommonramenchannel7495 No kidding? thats crazy!

[@VirtualJapanity]

HAI!

[@BuddhaKING86]

Thank you for highlighting this establishment!

[@5AMRamen]

Thank you for watching!

[@NamaJapan]

You did it! Man, I have been wanting to go there forever. I guess it is finally time to set the clock every week to try to get a reservation. By the way, very interesting to see that you enjoyed the tsukemen a bit more than their famous shoyu. Maybe it is the famous refined shoyu fatigue setting in?

[@5AMRamen]

Yes, do it! As you were saying, it was just about committing every week to getting that reso. Right - while the shoyu ramen was superb I do think that familiar story fatigue kicked in. Maybe you'll feel the same way.

[@Redyf]

Amazing video, the quality is impressive!

[@5AMRamen]

Thanks for watching and saying that!

[@jyeo5556]

So not only am I impressed with the quality review and you got a photo with the owner but that you also got to film inside an onsen haha The tsukemen definitely looks like a unique experience, and overall it's nice to see how humble iida ramen actually was in terms of the building and facade for best rated in Japan!

[@5AMRamen]

Haha, I was quite stealthy inside the onsen (making sure to avoid compromising shots too 😅) Despite the modern approach, ridiculously long list of ingredients, etc. the building and the overall experience was indeed rooted in this sort of humility

[@jacobbyers7914]

Did not think it was physically possible to break the 4-star barrier on 食べログ but here we are.

[@5AMRamen]

Haha, I know right. Iida Shoten defied the laws of Tabelog physics.

[@james-bx4wr]

Damn is that really how high tabelog's standards are? Even tomita (rank 1 in ramendb) is 3.95

[@shanecrixus5381]

Holy crap, this looks amazing!

[@5AMRamen]

It is!!

[@bobbicatton]

Your description alone make me want to eat there! Looks fantastic too👍😊

[@5AMRamen]

Glad the description added to that visual awesomeness 😊

[@nakennille127]

It looks so delicous :D

[@brucewayne2773]

Priced very fairly for what you get. It's the reservation and to get there is what I am concerened about. Thank you for sharing 🍜. Would love to have the same experience you described👍

[@5AMRamen]

I think so too...especially considering how expensive ramen can be outside of Japan. Yes, getting that reso is challenging...the weekly window is only for the following week too, which makes it harder when you don't live in Japan. But it's not impossible! Despite the video title 😅

[@uncommonramenchannel7495]

This looks outstanding!!! So much attention in a bowl!

[@5AMRamen]

Yes! Really a work of art.

[@janettanaka2894]

Hi Frank…..the pure joy in your face was something to behold lol. Interesting how the tsukemen edged out the shoyu ramen for you. I guess like you said there are so many delicious shoyu ramens that you’ve tried but the tsukemen was presented beautifully with two types of noodles and a gentle dipping sauce. I have to say you eat deliciously Frank. Can’t wait for your next video. Kio tsukete 😊🇨🇦

[@5AMRamen]

Haha, when you're eating only the best ramen it's sometimes hard to get super excited after a bowl (they all so good). But this one stood out like no other! Yes, that tsukemen was incredible..and unlike a lot of other tsukemen out there. Would happily go back for it. I just edit out the messy eating scenes 😅. Thanks for watching!

[@Leonardo-cs9ij]

Hey Frank!! Love the video and how you respond to comments, might I ask the day of the week and time you need to be on omakase to battle at war for a table? Excited for my trip to japan in early November!!

[@5AMRamen]

Thanks for watching! It's every Tuesday on Omakase at 12 pm Japan time: omakase.in/en/r/ic136332 Hope you can book a seat there! You'll have a wonderful time here regardless 😃

[@SavannahVu1985]

Hi Frank, thank you for all your amazing recommendations. You always explain everything perfectly. Makes my mouth water and my jealousy go through the roof lol! Wish I lived in Japan! ❤. I hope everyone appreciates all the hard work and dedication you put into all your videos so that we may have a glimpse of how delicious the food is in Japan.

[@5AMRamen]

Thanks so much for saying that and watching! I'm finally going to uploading videos again...after a long hiatus 😊

[@5AMRamen]

Thanks so much for saying that and watching! I'm finally going to uploading videos again...after a long hiatus 😊

[@5AMRamen]

Thanks so much for saying that and watching! I'm finally going to uploading videos again...after a long hiatus 😊

[@MarkMugen]

You made it there!! Nice 🙌

[@5AMRamen]

Yes!! Finally 😊

[@mattdubas6786]

Great video as always! I think I would love the tsukemen more between the two ramen choices. Something about tsukemen just calls to me. I just wish there was more places serving it where I live.

[@5AMRamen]

Tsukemen is under appreciated (I'm eating mostly ramen myself) and this was a wonderful reminder of how amazing it can be when done right...and they did it oh so right. Hopefully sole places near you end up offering it later down the road.

[@nakennille127]

I love u frank ur cool and u can handle ur spices

[@5AMRamen]

Cool I don't know but I do love my ramen 😎

[@themysterytraveler6536]

Looks great and unique. Almost like a bucket list type of place with their reservation system. There are some place like that in the US. One of the hardest places to get a reservation is at a kaiseki restaurant that only has 7 seats

[@5AMRamen]

This definitely felt like a kaiseki restaurant on the inside! You'd love this spot.

[@themysterytraveler6536]

@@5AMRamen would love to give it a try

[@isaacplaysbass8568]

It all looked absolutely delectable. I think that I'd go with tsukemen; the mixed noodles and the broth all looked lush.

[@5AMRamen]

I'm sure you'd feel the same way I did about that tsukemen!

[@kefumna]

The dipping soup looks amazing.

[@5AMRamen]

That was spectacular...

[@shantidutbansode2]

Your channel will explode one day with subscribers....nice video 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@5AMRamen]

Thanks for the kind words and for watching!

[@RandomUserX99]

you are just about the only English speaking youtuber who went to IIda Shoten... lol

[@5AMRamen]

Haha might be the case. Thanks for watching!

[@AnimeMemesz]

I have to get some ramen, after watching this video. Definitely looks like ramen that is worth a trip if you can get a reservation even if you only have it once.

[@5AMRamen]

One of those once in a lifetime things! Hopefully you were able to grab some ramen 😊

[@Kogami]

They look delicious, and I love the concept of different soups, condiments and noodles for the tsukemen, its definitely encouragingpeople to try it over and over again for different combinations of flavors lol. Do you by any chance prefer this over Tomita's? (It almost feels like yesterday when Tomita was no.1, gosh) The onsen place looks really nice too!

[@5AMRamen]

Yes, it was like a full course meal in that sense! I think both Tomita and Iida are amazing, similar in their desire and ability to create a very Japanese, sort of fine dining ramen experience. Their ramen / tsukemen are so wildly different that it's really hard to say which one is better than the other....it just comes down to preferences...furthermore, with those rankings the gap between them is so razor-thin 🍜

[@electronsauce]

I just subbed to your channel! I found you awhile back on The Best Ever Food Review Show and looked you up. I'm moving to Sapporo soon. I saw your Sapporo ramen video and definitely going to try out the places you did. I've had つけめん in the states once and didn't like it. I want to get the real Japanese experience! Love your videos man!

[@5AMRamen]

Thanks for subbing! It's very exciting that you're moving to Sapporo. Hopefully the tsukemen in Japan changes that 😊 You might have seen this spot from one of the Sapporo videos: www.5amramen.com/post/menya-takahashi-sapporo-tsukemen It's soooo good. Still have yet to try a few other famous tsukemen spots in Sapporo!

[@SeoulMan2020]

Awesome vid!! Looked amazing…. Super excited to try Warito next week based on your recommendation 😁😁

[@5AMRamen]

Was amazing!! I'm sure you're happy to be back here and enjoy Warito!

[@SeoulMan2020]

@@5AMRamen Thank you! Can't wait to see if Warito nudges Fuunji or Tomita for me:)

[@SeoulMan2020]

@@5AMRamen Thank you for putting Warito on my radar.. just had it and it was EXCELLENT!! Man… it may take a spot above Fuunji for me.. back to Tomita tomorrow 😁. Any recently tsukemen places you’ve tried that you would put high on your list? Thank you again!!

[@fumeokid]

That Tsukemen looked the business! 🍜 👍I’ll travel for Ramen!

[@5AMRamen]

It is! One of the best in the business for tsukemen. Def worth the travel down there.

[@michl8379]

Oh that tsukemen looks amazing!! Hope I can go there someday

[@5AMRamen]

I'm sure you will! They'll be waiting for you.

[@henrychew235]

Thanks for another great ramen video! The tsukemen definitely looks superb and complex too. If I have to pick one , i would definitely go with that as too many similar versions in japan. Would probably go if i can get a reservation and make it to like an onsen trip! Can you reveal the places you went for onsen ? Good day out of tokyo!

[@5AMRamen]

Thanks for watching! For sure...that tsukemen was a shining star, something really special. If you're going all the way down there definitely worth making an onsen trip out of it 👍 The onsen that I went to was this one: goo.gl/maps/f6CLE5Cw2hvBLKyx8

[@etherdog]

Frank, how did you get permission to shoot in the Iida Shoten? Great review and I really felt your enthusiasm! I'll bet that onsen experience was the cherry on top. Oh, I recognize that funny clip of the vlogger and businessman but don't remember where it is from.

[@5AMRamen]

Filming the ramen and yourself is ok, so long as other customers don't get into the shots. So I was just careful! The onsen indeed was a nice cherry on top of it all. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYC9mpasmt-Xe7c

[@istarbuxs]

For us tourists, would you be able to provide instructions on how book reservations, like the website, how to get there from tokyo, and I’ve seen how you clicked the menu, so that helped. Also is there any english instructions? This is for future reference once Japan opens up fully :) thanks Frank appreciate your vids!

[@5AMRamen]

I didn't realize it when I made the video...but the reservation website (Omakase) is in English too! With that out of the way, it should be smooth sailing, ticket machine included. The staff I'm sure will be happy to lend a hand as well. For reference, I'm currently putting together a number of area based ramen guides...including one for Kanagawa. Iida Shoten will definitely be in that one and I'll make sure instructions are included. Thanks for watching!

[@brewstergallery]

Yes I would. The tsukemen would be my choice.

[@5AMRamen]

Was hard to contain my excitement after that tsukemen 😅. Hope you get to go in the future!

[@Ra-Ram3n]

I follow you for a long time now and i just started wandering if you ever been at Ivan Ramen shop? Thnks for your content!

[@5AMRamen]

Thanks for following from early on! I visited Ivan's Tokyo shop when it was still here...but that was ages ago. Have yet to try it in NY 👍

[@ec6596]

Is there any place in Tokyo that you think has a Tsukemen that is comparable? That looked beyond phenomenal.

[@5AMRamen]

Michi, for example, is AMAZING: www.5amramen.com/post/tsukemen-michi-ramen Quite different from Iida's tsukemen though.

[@b1uemchen]

Cant wait until Japan open up for tourists

[@5AMRamen]

Me too! Miss doing ramen tours regularly.

[@C.u.d.s]

It always amuses me how the Japanese 5 star rating system is so different from anywhere else I’ve been to

[@5AMRamen]

Yes, they really do it differently here don't they. On Google, the best places are 3.7 - 4.1 or so 🤔

[@ShaneNixonFamily]

So what you're saying it is difficult to get a reservation but not impossible? 😂 Although from experience navigating Japanese reservation sites without speaking Japanese can be challenging. But so far we've managed to get by (thanks Google Translate 😂) so we will definitely add this one to the list when Japan finally opens up again. When it is truly impossible to get a reservation is when the restaurant has rules that must be followed to get a booking. After 3 attempts over 3 visits to Japan we finally were able to reserve a seat at Jiro. He had rules like you had to be in Japan to make the booking and if you were a foreigner you had to have a Japanese person make the booking for you. Hotel concierges were okay to make the booking but we found the hard way that the hotel we were staying had been banned by Jiro. Finally we booked a hotel in Tokyo that was allowed to make the reservation for us and we got in. Yeah, it was pretty fabulous and worth the effort.

[@5AMRamen]

Yes, exactly - the title is more clickbaity with the word "impossible" 😅. I was actually on the Omakase reservation site the other day and found out they have English too! Didn't realize it when I booked Iida Shoten...just did everything in Japanese at the time. So no need to ask Google for help there. Def add to the list! Sounds like Jiro has a crazy amount of rules, more than normal even at that lofty level. I suppose they can get away with it after the documentary came out and raised their profile. Happy to hear it was worth it in the end!

[@cashorwood2152]

Last time i was in Japan Brian McDuckson offered little tasting tours of shops on an afternoon excursion ( for a fee!) have you ever considered doing something like that when Japan opens up proper?

[@5AMRamen]

Brian is the man! Did a video with him a few months ago...both of us just uploaded it yet. For reference: www.tokyoramentours.com

[@myronyoshioka8742]

Tsukeman....mmmmmmmmmm

[@5AMRamen]

Top of the charts for good reason 😊

[@liviasinopoli2068]

Frank, what is your favorite Tsukemen in Tokyo?

[@5AMRamen]

Hmmm...maybe Michi or Oborozuki!

[@williamneidecker-gonzales]

I just got a reservation for this coming Monday! So you got しょうゆらぁ麺 (shoyu) and つけ麵しお味 (Tsukemen salt flavor)? And what was the onsen in Yugawara you went to?

[@williamneidecker-gonzales]

ah the onsen place looks like いずみの湯 in yugawara?

[@5AMRamen]

That was the one! The onsen, that is...sorry for the delayed reply. How was it??

[@williamneidecker-gonzales]

@@5AMRamen the ramen was pretty good! Not the best I’ve had. I really liked the shoyu, the tsukemen had a lot of noodle and I tend to prefer a fishier broth with tsukemen.

[@williamneidecker-gonzales]

And the onsen was amazing! Super cool experience 😎

[@martenlundin]

Like a kid in a candy store :)

[@5AMRamen]

Haha, well said.

[@jacobson_]

is there an english option available when ordering?

[@5AMRamen]

I didn't see it on the ticket machine but I'm sure the staff will be happy to help!

[@yvonnebb961]

so Tomita or Lida shoten??? which one?

[@5AMRamen]

They're so different but I personally am more about lighter ramen and therefore like Iida. But Tomita is amazing too...

[@yvonnebb961]

@@5AMRamen Thank you for answering🍜 I do prefer shio ramen however googlemap said Lida shoten is 90min from shinjuku...hiks! That's a long way! I will only be in Tokyo for only 4 days then off to Kyoto....however my trip is in July so I have sometime to reconsider and let's see how desperate I am to try by then 🤣

[@TheDrakulie]

how much did the ramen cost ?

[@5AMRamen]

Prices have gone up recently...now both bowls are closer to 2,000 Yen each.

[@TheDrakulie]

@@5AMRamen wow. that's almost as much as here in the states. here at Kitakata ramen banai, good bowl is 14-15 dollors

[@iuxbkman]

Wow did Tomita Ramen get dethroned?

[@5AMRamen]

Yes, at least on Tabelog and Ramen DB. But it's razor thin at the top in terms of the review scores. Furthermore, the ramen is just so different at somewhere like Tomita that I think it really just comes down to preferences. If anything, there are hundreds of kings in Tokyo 😃

[@MerkabaEye]

Watch this video in 1.25 or 1.5 speed. Thank me later

[@lyndonglasgow3176]

ρяσмσѕм

[@garou12]

i thought tomita ramen was ranked the #1 ramen in japan?

[@5AMRamen]

Not anymore! At least according to websites Tabelog and Ramen DB. But at this level, it's just comes down to preference.

[@garou12]

@@5AMRamen wow that's stunning to hear!