Store Information
Monday - Thursday 11:00 - 5:00 the next day (Lo 4:30)
Fri 11:00-0:00
Saturday Open 24 hours
Sun 0:00-23:00 (Lo 22:30)
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Visit and Queue Information
Date of visit: A certain Sunday in May
Visiting time: Around 15:00
Queue: none
We are open all day with no breaks, so we aim to be open between 2:00pm and 5:00pm.
How to Order
Payment methods: cash, credit card, various electronic money
Although it is a meal ticket system, I appreciate that you can use credit cards and electronic money in addition to cash.
Chinese noodles + white rice
This time, “Chinese noodles (950 yen)” and “White rice (150 yen)” and the total cost was 1,100 yen.
The rice bowl was served in about 5 minutes after handing over the ticket.
Let's get it then.
Chuka Soba (Chinese-Style Ramen)
Recently talked about “Chan-kei” has characteristics such as an average-sized soup and a good amount of chashu even in ordinary Chinese noodles, and it satisfies these characteristics.
There is also a separate menu of char siu noodles, but I think the actual Chinese noodles can be said to be the char siu noodles from other restaurants.
You can eat it for 950 yen, which I think is a bargain considering its location in the middle of Ikebukuro's bar district.
Soup
This soup has the flavor of pork and the richness and sharpness of soy sauce.
It is characterized by the strong soy sauce effect.
Some Chan-style restaurants say they use soy sauce, but the soy sauce isn't very strong, giving the impression that it's more like salt ramen.
It's a matter of taste, but personally, I prefer chankei with a strong soy sauce.
Noodles
Chan-style restaurants use noodles made by Daruma Seimen.
I think there may be slight differences between stores, but basically all stores serve slightly flat noodles.
It has a smooth slurping sensation, and when you bite into it, it has just the right amount of firmness and chewy texture.
I think the degree of boiling may vary depending on the person who cooks it, but this time I boiled it a little harder, which I like.
Chashu (Braised Pork)
The char siu is a little thickly cut and a little dry, but you can really feel the flavor of the meat.
Above all, I'm glad that the quantity is large.
Shiro Meshi (White Rice)
When ordering Chan-kei Chinese noodles, this combination of carbohydrates and carbohydrates is a must.
It is served with kappa (pickled cucumber) on top.
I think it varies depending on the day, but on this day I cooked it a little harder, which is also my preference.
green onion + rice
You can eat Shiromeshi as it is or with chashu, but you can eat it however you like.
Personally, the way I like to eat it these days is to eat it with green onions and a little soup.
The green onions are sprinkled raw on top of the soup, and if you eat them as is, they will smell like green onions and you will probably have bad breath after eating.
Continue eating the noodles and chashu while avoiding the green onions, and towards the end, the heat of the soup will cook the green onions and you can eat them without smelling like green onions.
It is best to transfer the green onions in this state to white rice and stir in the soup.
I think you can sprinkle garlic and pepper if you like.
Impressions + evaluation
Ikebukuro Hirochan ramen! It was delicious.
I go to a lot of Chan-style restaurants, but personally, this one is one of my favorites because the soy sauce is really effective.
In terms of business hours, you can eat at any time for lunch, dinner, after a drink, or even in the morning on Saturdays and Sundays.
The ramen itself is lighter compared to Jiro-kei and Iekei, so you can really enjoy it at any time of the day.
Recommended when visiting Ikebukuro.
Taste: ★★★★☆(4)
Cost performance: ★★★★☆(4)
Revisit: ★★★★☆ (4)
Summary
- Chan-kei with a strong soy sauce flavor
- Lots of chashu
- White rice must
- It is not as chunky as Jiro-kei and Iekei-kei, but it has a lot of volume due to the chashu and white rice.
- Ikebukuro West Exit Area/Late-night hours
- Credit card/electronic money available
