Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

  • Food Tours
  • Ramen Schools
    • Tokyo School!
    • Osaka School!
  • More
    • The Best Ramen!
    • What’s New?
    • Print and Media
    • Merch!
  • Ramen Map
Primary
  • Food Tours
  • Ramen Schools
    • Tokyo School!
    • Osaka School!
  • More
    • The Best Ramen!
    • What’s New?
    • Print and Media
    • Merch!
  • Ramen Map

煮干中華ソバ イチカワ (Ichikawa in Tsukuba, Ibaraki)

Rating5 Star
0 Reviews
Add Photos
Write a Review

煮干中華ソバ イチカワ

DSCF3864.jpg

The weather for late October was surprisingly warm and clear. The perfect riding weather. I put out a quick call for a ramen ride, but with short notice no one had the time. A solo ride out to Tsukuba was no problem, especially for the bowl at Ichikawa.

DSCF3859.jpg

The line at 11am, 30 minutes before the shop opens, was almost 40 deep. What is even more impressive is that Ichikawa only serves 80 bowls a day before they close.

DSCF3868.jpg

This is what they came for. One of the most sought after bowls of niboshi ramen in Japan. The master wore a shirt proclaiming the addictive quality of niboshi, and I agree. Soups made with copious amounts of dried sardines have an almost drug-like umami effect.

DSCF3862.jpg

If you don’t absolutely love these flavors, you might want to reconsider. Even the vinegar is spiked with the good stuff.

DSCF3872.jpg

And the egg. I watched as the only other employee – I’m assuming it was the master’s wife – used a syringe to inject the shop’s tare seasoning liquid directly into the yolk before serving.

DSCF3876.jpg

Wow. I used to say that high quality eggs were hard to give any sort of ranking to. Good was good. But now I have a number one.

DSCF3881.jpg

Tsukuba isn’t considered much of a rider’s hangout. Regardless, the ride over the mountain was nice, and a quick dip into a local onsen hot spring was a necessity.

DSCF3887.jpg

By the way, for those who are concerned about the line. In line at 11am, the shop opened at 11:30, sat down at around 12:30, and was out the door just before 1pm. Good luck.

DSCF3890.jpg

Official blog here.

DSCF3860.jpg

 

茨城県つくば市天久保2-9-2
Ibaraki-ken, Tsukuba-shi, Amakubo 2-9-2
Closest station: Tsukuba

Open 11:30 until they run out
Closed Sundays

 

Rate & Write a Review

Sort By

  1. East Japan – The 百名店 Best 100 Ramen Shops in 2025 – Ramen Adventures
    Log in to Reply

    […] 煮干中華ソバ イチカワ (Ichikawa in Tsukuba, Ibaraki) […]

    4 weeks ago
  2. East Japan – The 百名店 Best 100 Ramen Shops in 2024 – Ramen Adventures
    Log in to Reply

    […] 煮干中華ソバ イチカワ (Ichikawa in Tsukuba, Ibaraki) […]

    1 year ago
  3. The Best 100 Ramen Shops in Japan East According to Tabelog 2022 – Ramen Adventures
    Log in to Reply

    […] 煮干中華ソバ イチカワ (Ichikawa in Tsukuba, Ibaraki) […]

    2 years ago
  4. The 100 Best Ramen Shops in East Japan 2023 – Ramen Adventures
    Log in to Reply

    […] 煮干中華ソバ イチカワ (Ichikawa in Tsukuba, Ibaraki) […]

    2 years ago
  5. The Top 100 Ramen Shops in Japan East According to Tabelog 2022 (食べログラーメン EAST 百名店２０２２) – Ramen Adventures
    Log in to Reply

    […] 煮干中華ソバ イチカワ (Ichikawa in Tsukuba, Ibaraki) […]

    2 years ago

Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

ramendb.supleks.jp
Get Directions

Support Ramen Adventures on Patreon.

Login

Lost your password?

Next
らーめん大 (Ramen Dai in Sumida)

らーめん大 Ramen Dai is a chain of Jiro-kei shops that I would probably never have gone to. I tend to…
Previous
塩つけ麺 灯花 (Toka in Yotsuya)

塩つけ麺 灯花 Toka came highly recommended by some of my ramen hunter friends, and I can see why. This is…
Random
支那そばや (Shinasobaya at the Yokohama Raumen Museum)

支那そばや I had the honor of meeting Sano-san at last year's Grand Tsukemen Fest. Who is Sano-san, you ask? Minoru…