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Japan Debates Popular Ramen Spot’s Strict New Rule
There are many unspoken rules at Ramen Jirō. One store in the chain added one more to the list, sparking an intense debate online.
By Jay Andrew Allen
In Japan, there’s one ramen chain known for its vast portions. It’s also known for its long list of unspoken rules. Now, one shop in the chain is adding another gut-busting rule that some Japanese Internet users say is impossible to obey.
Busting guts since 1970
Ramen Jirō is known for its super-sized portions with plenty of garlic, chashu (pork belly), and sprouts. A “small” bowl at Jirō is larger than many “regular” bowls at other joints, while a “large” is twice as large as a large elsewhere. Jirō is so (in)famous that many “Jirō-style” (二郎系; jirou-kei) imitators have sprung up over the years.
Jirō started in 1968 in Tokyo’s Mita. It’s expanded since then by utilizing the noren-wake (のれん分け) system, in which an apprentice employee learns the secrets of making Jirō ramen to earn permission to use the store’s trademark.
Jirō has a devoted fan following. (I live not too far from the original Mita store…
