It was time for Ippudo for dinner. I hadn’t originally planned to eat elsewhere, but I was tired and really couldn’t be bothered waiting in line. Since it was a Sunday, I decided to head closer to the hotel, knowing most restaurants in the area would be quieter.

When I arrived, it was surprisingly busy, with quite a few people enjoying bowls of ramen. I ordered the Akamaru ramen along with a small fried rice.

The ramen was easily the best Ippudo ramen I’ve had. The flavours were fantastic, and I loved the seasoning in the soup. I asked for the noodles to be cooked firm, and they were done perfectly. The chashu pork was tender, not overly salty, and had nice streaks of fat running through it. I also really enjoyed the combination of spring onions, finely diced onions, nori, and wood ear fungus.

The fried rice was also delicious. The rice wasn’t overcooked and still had a bit of bite. It was made with short-grain rice, which was different for me, and included egg, spring onions, and some chicken. It was delicious, and I especially loved the cold, slightly pickled peppers served on the side. On a whim, I added some fried rice into the ramen soup—and honestly, it turned out to be one of the best combinations I’ve ever had.

I really rate this Ippudo branch. I suspect the standard is exceptionally high due to its location, catering to many office workers who want a solid, satisfying meal before heading home. The service was excellent, and the overall dining experience was genuinely great.

I enjoyed this place so much that I decided to return the following day. The main reason was convenience—I needed something to eat in the area, and after spending the entire day at Universal Studios Japan, I didn’t want to spend more money on food there. I got back to my accommodation around 8:30 pm and decided that ramen was the perfect choice.

This time, I ordered the Kiwami Karaka (main photo) with firm noodles. I also added boiled dumplings topped with spicy meat miso. While ordering, I noticed they offered free spicy bean sprouts, so, of course, I grabbed some.

The spicy bean sprouts arrived first, served on a shared dish with tongs. I helped myself to a portion and put it on a side plate. They were phenomenal—almost like kimchi, but made with bean sprouts, finished with a lovely sesame oil aroma. They paired perfectly with both the dumplings and the ramen.

The boiled dumplings were excellent. The spicy meat miso on top added an extra layer of flavour, and the dumplings themselves were juicy and satisfying. As expected, they went exceptionally well with the spicy bean sprouts.

The ramen was just as delicious as I remembered. I loved the heat of the broth and the added pork mince, which gave it even more depth. It was spicy, rich, and even better when combined with the bean sprouts. The chashu was once again very good, and everything in the bowl worked together beautifully. I was genuinely tempted to pick up the bowl and drink every last drop of the soup.

Overall, it was another very satisfying meal.

Website: Ippudo

Address: 〒541-0047 Osaka, Chuo Ward, Awajimachi, 4 Chome−2−13 アーバンネット御堂筋ビル 1F 区画番号：2