01 / ABOUT THE PLACE
About this place
A rich scent of simmering pork bone broth greets visitors entering Wakura Itabashi, where the house specialty pairs a deeply cooked tonkotsu broth with ultra-thin noodles. Mainstays like the signature Waku Ramen and the lavishly topped Tokusen Ramen feature a velvety animal-stock richness balanced by a sharp kaeshi tare seasoning that finishes smoothly on the palate. Made with a proprietary blend of Hokkaido wheat flour, the straight, ultra-thin noodles offer a crisp, satisfying bite while clinging tightly to the savory soup.
After polishing off the initial serving of noodles, ordering a kaedama refill for 100 yen is the standard house ritual. Scooped with a flat sieve and transferred straight into the bowl, the fresh portion can be adjusted to personal taste with the ramen tare and condiments kept right at the table. Diners can also stretch their meal with hearty sides: kaemeshi rice, dropped into remaining broth to create a spicy porridge-style finish; Ton-chan Curry simmered directly in tonkotsu soup; Hakata bite-sized gyoza; and sliced chashu over rice.
Both counter seats and tables are available inside, fitting quick solo lunches over a bowl of noodles just as naturally as casual evening dinners. Because the shop stays open until 2:00 late at night on most days of the week, it makes a reliable stop when cravings strike well after typical dining hours.
