Intro – This is a ramen shop that is relatively popular in Japan. They have many locations but they are not nearly as popular worldwide as Ichiran. We wanted to give them a shot and see how they hold up to their more famous competitor. We went to the Shinsaibashi location in Osaka

Ambiance – Casual but crowded sit-down restaurant with both bar and table seating

What we Ordered 

• Lemon Sour – This was nice and refreshing but not as sour or as sweet as I would have liked. It tasted a little watered down but the level of fizz was great. Rating 7.1/10

• Chicken Karaage – This was served with mayo and salt and pepper, which I appreciated so you can adjust the level of salt. It was really juicy and well-seasoned. It was also decently crispy but nothing mind-blowing or special. It was a slightly better-than-average chicken karaage. Rating 7.6/10

• Original Flavor Ramen – We both got this bowl because it probably was what it was most known for. Off the bat, it had way more toppings than Ichiran. The bean sprouts, wood ear mushrooms, sesame seeds, and corn are toppings that Ichiran didn’t have. However, in the context of ramen, I think less is more. All of these toppings took away from fully experiencing the broth. They were nice to introduce different textures to the ramen but I don’t think they made the bowl better. The egg was peeled and seasoned better than Ichiran though. The noodles were not as satisfyingly chewy as Ichiran and the spice mix in the broth didn’t provide as much depth of flavor. It also was a little too rich compared to Ichiran, even when I got the extra rich at Ichiciran. The meat was more fatty and tender though. I think the bowl as a whole was just a conglomeration of decent ingredients and technique but the flavors were just not as harmonious as Ichiran. Rating 7.7/10

Conclusion – There was a small wait at this location and I don’t think it was worth it at all. It just falls short of Ichiran at every turn. It might have a livelier atmosphere and would be a nice place to have a drink and some ramen. However, the ramen cannot be compared to Ichiran. I would recommend just going to Ichiran if you have one nearby. Some ramen Zundo-Ya’s are 24/7 so I can only see it worth going too if Ichiran wasn’t open when you were craving late-night ramen. 

Overall Rating 7.4/10