Hakata Ippudo Ramen in Asakusa

Asakusa is known for the sweets and senbei sold near Senso-ji temple, but there are also quite a few ramen shops in this area. There must be at least 20. The newest one is Hakata Ippudo Ramen's new Asakusa store. It just opened this March in the new ROX 3G building near the TX Asakusa station.

Ippudo is a very successful Japanese ramen chain with over 40 stores throughout Japan. I think that Ippudo is so popular because it does not feel like a cheap chain. The stores are decorated with Japanese textiles and wood, the staff is friendly and the ramen is tasty!

The Asakusa store has an English menu available and the staff is used to see foreign customers. If you are not sure what to order in a ramen shop, this is a good place to come for a first time experience. Many people come by themselves, making ramen a good choice for solo travellers.

Ramen plus extra noodles called "kaedama" if you are very hungry will be about 1000 Yen. Some toppings and condiments are provided free of charge. You can also order extra eggs, rice, or gyoza. The gyoza here are bite-sized and crispy. The staff recommends to try them with soy sauce and vinegar. There is free tea or you can order a beer with your noodles.

Hakata Ippudo - Asakusa ROX・3G

Address: 1F Asakusa ROX・3G , 1-26-5 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo
(東京都台東区浅草1-26-5　浅草ROX・3G 1F)

http://www.ippudo.com/store/tokyo/asakusarox3g.html

If you want to read more in English about the company and its take on Japanese style ramen, see the Ippudo New York site http://www.ippudony.com