Ichiran Booth: Is It a Punishment?
No. Ichiran, a ramen chain, calls its booth seating a ramen focus system: an environment where you can concentrate on enjoying your food without worrying about your surroundings. You circle your preferences on an order sheet, so there is no need to speak, and for extra noodles a metal plate set on the booth's sensor plays a melody that tells the staff.
Video out Oct 30The 22-second video, with Hako. Follow on YouTube to catch it.
The 4 things to know
The booth is for the taste
Ichiran says its ramen focus system lets you concentrate on enjoying your food without worrying about your surroundings. The founder wanted a setup that excludes the cook, so that only a bowl of ramen faces you.
Circle your choices
On the order sheet, you circle your preferences, from flavor strength to noodle texture. Ichiran says this makes zero-interaction dining possible.
Call button and order sheet
At the counter there is a button in front of you. Press it to call the staff and hand in your order sheet with your meal tickets. Layouts differ by shop.
Extra noodles without a word
If you order extra noodles (kaedama), you get a metal plate. Set it on the sensor at your booth and Ichiran's Charumela Melody plays, so the staff know you are ready for more noodles. At some shops, the plate goes on a button near the bamboo curtain.
Quick answers
Is the Ichiran booth a punishment?
No. Ichiran says the booth lets you concentrate on enjoying your ramen without worrying about your surroundings.
Do I need to speak to order at Ichiran?
No. You circle your choices on the order sheet; Ichiran says this makes zero-interaction dining possible.
How do I ask for extra noodles at Ichiran?
Once you have the metal kaedama plate, set it on the sensor at your booth (at some shops, on the button near the bamboo curtain). A melody plays and the staff come for it.
Read the video transcript
You're boxed in, and you can't see the cook. Did you do something wrong?
No. Ichiran, a ramen chain, says the booth helps you focus on the taste.
No need to speak. Circle your choices on the order sheet.
More noodles? Set the metal plate on the sensor at your seat. A melody tells the staff.
More Ramen Rules on the way.
Sources & how we checked
The tips on this page were checked against these official pages:
- en.ichiran.comIchiran - System Guide
- en.ichiran.comIchiran - Ganso (the five originals)
- en.ichiran.comIchiran - column on the Flavor Concentration Booth
- Updated
- Video
- 22 seconds, made by Ready in Japan
- Good to know
- Rules can vary by place. Follow local signs and staff.
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