Gaijin Gourmet – By Far the Best Ramen in Futakotamagawa: Kokumaro!

I found the best tasting ramen for the best price in Futakotamagawa. It’s a shop called Kokumaro and it is the most delicious and reasonably priced ramen in town.

Hello! My name is Mike (in Tokyo) Rogers and I am the Gaijin Gourmet!

Futakotamagawa’s ONLY ¥600 ramen shop! This is the regular ramen for ¥600 yen (tax included.) includes two slices of pork in Tonkotsu (Kyushu-style pork based soup). In this photo and egg is included at an extra ¥100. Best ramen deal around!…. And, of course, there’s no tipping in Japan!

Futakotamagawa is about 10 ~ 15 minutes from Shibuya station on the Den-en-toshi line. It is famous for Takashimaya department store and a bunch of other high class shopping establishments as well as the headquarters of online shopping giant, Rakuten.

Since this is a high class shopping area, nearly all of the restaurants are expensive; and filled with rich housewives. That’s why a find like Kokumaro is a lifesaver for the Gaijin Gourmet who is always watching for ¥1 coins on the ground at the train stations! Nearly all of the local ramen shops sell their lowest priced ramen for at least ¥760. There’s a few places that sell so-called “Gourmet ramen” that goes for ¥1000 ~ ¥1200 a bowl.

Kokumaro starts at ¥600. By far the best tasting ramen for the price in this town.

Outside of Kokumaro. This place gets packed and there’s a line of people there waiting to get in at all hours of the day. Kokumaro is a chain of restaurants and they have shops in Futakotamagawa, Shibuya, Kabukiocho and a bunch of shops in their homeland of Kyushu. See their homepage here: http://www.kokumaro.com/

This is what it looks like at night. The one to the right. The shop to the left is some high-falutin’ dinery. Never been there… It is expensive. Of course expensive restaurants are supposed to taste delicious. The problem is that many of them are just expenisve and not so delicious. It is a fine art for the Gaijin Gourmet to find the Holy Grail! I like cheap and delicious establishments!

And speaking of cheap and delicious, when you go into Kokumaro at Futakotamagawa, you will be immediately confronted by Mr. Meal Ticket-Machine. Not to worry. Follow the easy instructions: Look at picture. Insert money. Press button. Take ticket. give ticket to shop staff. Sit down. Eat.
It’s so simple a chimpanzee was able to complete the task in 6 seconds.
If you want a beer to drink, just say, “Beer?” the staff and they will help you press the correct button.

Like I said, Kokumaro in Futakotamagawa is always packed and, there is almost always a line of at least 3 ~ 10 people waiting to get in. The place is cozy and clean.

Here is what I always have. It’s the regular ramen with extra mountains of sliced green onions. Cost? ¥800! (with tax!) Wow! At the top left is Beni-shoga (pickled ginger root). Top right is Takana (hot & spicy leafy vegetables that originally came from China). And now we get to why Kokumaro is always packed and there’s always a line outside: Not only is it cheap and delicious, but you can add the condiments like Beni-shoga or Takana all you want…. And!….

The plat de résistance! The deal clincher! Fresh garlic and a garlic press at the counter that you can add as much healthy and fresh, raw and delicious garlic as you want. Oh my god! I am in heaven! Usually ramen shops have already crushed garlic in small bins, but those have preservatives in them. This is the real (raw) deal!

Of course, the Gaijin Gourmet insists upon a spic and span, clean kitchen. Kokumaro in Futakotamagawa has it as well as friendly staff. On the right is the manager of the Futakotamagawa branch, Morita san! (If you go there, tell him Mike sent you!) This guy is great. He and his staff work hard to make sure that you get the best ramen in town… And they do it with a smile and they do it every night! Bravo! Well done Morita san!

Even the ladies love Kokumaro Futakotamagawa. All the locals know this ramen shop and it has the reputation for the best ramen and best ramen deal in town! Here’s Ayako giving rave reviews for the taste!

I think Kokumaro is the best place to eat ramen in Futakotamagawa. Inside the place is packed and, like I said, there are always people waiting to get in - Seeing is believing.... Oh, by the way, even if you have to wait, it’s only a few minutes and well worth it.

Kokumaro Ramen at Futakotamagawa? 5 + Stars for value, volume of servings, service, friendly staff and great taste!

Futakotamagawa Kokumaro Ramen  3-14-6 Tamagawa, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo 158-0094

Tel 03-3708-2790

Business Hours: 11:00 am ~ 2 am.

〒１５８−００９４東京都世田谷区玉川３−１４−６

I like this place so much I even made a map for you!

Map to Kokumaro Ramen. From Futakotamagawa station, take a left out the ticket gates toward the big street. Walk between the two Takashimaya buildings straight for about 3 minutes.

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