Chuka Soba Tomita Ramen

The title of “best ramen shop in Japan” has the same ring of impossibility as “best pizzeria in Italy,” or “best curry shop in India.” However, someone has to hold the crown, and there's a solid case to be made for placing it upon the head of Chuka Soba Tomita Ramen in Chiba. Just a short walk from Matsudo Station, this restaurant is so popular that they’ve had to introduce a ticketing system. When you arrive, you’ll be given a numbered slip of paper with a time to return for your spot. Be warned: the tickets are distributed from 7:00 am onwards, so if you come at midday, there’s a good chance you’ll be waiting upwards of three hours. If you are savvy and arrive at 7:00 am on the dot, you’ll see the staff begin making the fresh noodles that you’ll be served later that day. What’s all the fuss about exactly? Well, this shop is rated number one in the country on one of the leading ramen ranking websites, and it has a reputation as the best tsukemen ramen shop in the world. This style of ramen is served with the noodles separate from the hot soupy broth, dipped in as you eat them. It was invented in the 60s by the legendary Kazuo Yamagishi, and this place is run by one of his disciples. Once you’re finally seated at one of the most in-demand seats in the world of ramen, you’ll be able to choose the portion of noodles you want, as well as the toppings, which include mouthwatering slices of pork belly. The real danger of a visit to Chuka Soba Tomita Ramen is that no other tsukemen ramen will ever seem the same again. Once you’ve had the best, how can you return to the rest?