【Ramen Travelogue】The "Negi Toro Chashu Ramen" from Ippatsu Ramen, overflowing from the bowl, blooms like a flower.

After strolling through Fujimori Park, the famous "Ippatsu Ramen" main store in Hachioji, Tokyo, is where I stopped by. Here, the ramen blooms like a flower. What will its taste be like for the first time?

After seeing the cherry blossoms falling at Fuji Mori Park in Hachioji

invited by the spring weather, I arrived at Fuji Mori Park in Hachioji, Tokyo. Known as a cherry blossom viewing spot, it is lined with many food stalls, allowing visitors to enjoy a festive atmosphere. With free parking available, it’s a convenient place to stop by, and I find myself visiting every year around this time.

I had thought, “Maybe it’s a little late for cherry blossom viewing…” but once I got there, I was pleasantly surprised! On the day I visited, the blossoms were still in their beautiful falling phase, and I was able to fully appreciate their beauty.

After nibbling on some fries from a food stall, my appetite was unexpectedly sparked, leading me to head to a ramen shop just a 5-minute drive away.

Char siu in full bloom! I headed to that “Ippatsu Ramen” I saw on TV

the destination was "Ippatsu Ramen" located in Hachioji. It’s a restaurant I had been curious about since I first saw it on TV. In fact, there’s a location near my home in Sagamihara, but I really wanted to experience the original store for my ceremonial first bowl, so I decided to make the trip that day.

The inside of the restaurant was crowded, but fortunately, I was able to slip into a parking space next to the store. Upon entering, the staff welcomed me with lively greetings.

Ippatsu Ramen
Location: 19-1 Manmachi, Hachioji City, Tokyo
Business hours: Sunday to Thursday 10:00～24:00, Friday, Saturday, and the day before holidays 10:00～24:00

What I ordered was the “Negi Toro Chashu Ramen” (1300 yen), which caught my attention when I first discovered it on the official website as the "number one recommendation of our shop." After purchasing a ticket from the vending machine and waiting at my seat, I heard shouts that you wouldn’t hear at other ramen shops, like "It's encouraging!" and "Please come again and let's be friends!" Not only was it just the voices, but there was also a moment when the staff posed for the customers. This truly is the ultimate entertainment that can only be experienced here.

As I sat somewhat leisurely, my ramen arrived in no time with a shout of "A single flower blooming in the bowl. Chashu is in full bloom!" I mean, it really looked like a flower; the chashu was beautifully arranged. Moreover, on top of the tororo was a cute heart-shaped kombu. There is just so much information packed in here!

As for the appearance, it's a perfect score of 100 points; but what about the important taste? Taking the first sip of the soup... delicious! The richness and umami of the pork bone broth and the sharpness of the soy sauce are in exquisite harmony. I was taken aback by the refined finish that left no trace of any off-flavors. I thought it would be a punchy flavor, but it turned out to be a ramen that's more delicate than I had imagined.

Next, I took a bite of the noodles with the negi. The fragrance of sesame oil in the negi was doing an excellent job. I could also feel the crunchy texture, making it hard to put down my chopsticks. When I tried mixing it with the tororo that I had been curious about, it was a whole new sensation. Since the tororo also has flavor, the mellow richness was delicious. There’s a fun element where the expression changes dramatically depending on where you pick up your chopsticks.

The chashu is tender, and you can taste the richness of the meat. When you add grated garlic as a topping, it adds a robust depth, increasing the richness even more. Since it was my first time, I was very curious and tried changing up the flavors, but of course, it is already delicious as it is. I encountered a ramen that made my heart flutter after a long time.

If you go near Hachioji, I want to look forward to visiting Ippatsu Ramen.

As I was about to leave the restaurant, I was energetically seen off with a cheerful voice from behind. Somehow, both my stomach and heart feel full, and I am in a cheerful mood. By the way, if you achieve "kanmaku," finishing the soup, you will receive shouts of "Great eating! That's encouraging!" Next time, I want to challenge myself without snacking at the stalls.

By the way, around "Ippatsu Ramen," there are many tourist spots like Fujimori Park and the ruins of Hachioji Castle, so I also recommend taking your time to enjoy sightseeing after satisfying your hunger. This time, I stopped by while viewing the cherry blossoms, but next time, I plan to drive to Hachioji again looking forward to enjoying this one bowl.

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