Taipei ICHIRAN Ramen Guide | Queues, Ordering, and Which Branch to Choose
If you are out late in Xinyi District and craving a hot bowl of ramen, ICHIRAN’s biggest practical advantage is not its famous name but its exceptionally long opening hours. Taipei currently has two branches: the Taipei Main Store on Songren Road and the Taipei Main Store Annex on B1 of Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11. The menu and Focus Booth experience are much the same at both, so first-time visitors need not make a detour just for the words “Main Store.” Choose whichever is closer to your plans and has the shorter queue.
For this visit, I went to the Taipei Main Store on Songren Road. Here is the full experience in order, from joining the outdoor queue and paying at the entrance to completing the order form, requesting a noodle refill, and leaving after the meal.
How to choose between Taipei Main Store and A11 Main Store Annex?
According to ICHIRAN’s official store information, neither Taipei branch accepts reservations or offers takeout. Both are open until 5 a.m. from Monday to Thursday and operate 24 hours from Friday to Sunday and on national holidays. The main differences are their locations, seating capacity, and parking arrangements.
| Comparison items | Taipei main store | Taipei main store annex |
|---|---|---|
| Address | 1F, No. 97, Songren Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City | B1, No. 11, Songshou Road, Xinyi District, Taipei City (Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11) |
| Seats | 54 seats in a Focus Booth area | 52 seats in a Focus Booth area |
| MRT | It takes about 5 minutes to walk from Exit 1 of Xiangshan Station; about 10 minutes to Exit 3 of Taipei City Hall Station | It takes about 5 minutes to walk to Exit 1 of Xiangshan Station; about 10 minutes to Exit 3 of Taipei City Hall Station |
| Parking | There is no parking lot in the store | You can use the A11 parking lot, subject to the department store announcement |
| Suitable for the itinerary | Taipei 101, Xiangshan, and Xinyi business district outskirts | Shin Kong Mitsukoshi, Vieshow Cinemas, and Xinyi business district shopping |
The table above reflects official information checked in August 2026. Both branches apply a late-night surcharge from 22:00 to 06:00 the following day; check the latest store notice before visiting. Long hours do not guarantee a short wait: crowds can surge after concerts, New Year’s Eve events, weekend dinner service, or department-store closing time.
Queuing method: Wait for a seat on site, and numbered tickets will be issued if necessary
Both branches normally use an on-site queue. ICHIRAN explains that when a line becomes long enough to affect neighboring businesses, staff may issue numbered tickets instead. After receiving one, scan its QR Code to follow the queue on your phone. This is not an online reservation system, and you cannot join from home; you must visit the restaurant first.
The best way to reduce your wait is to avoid predictable peaks rather than chase a supposedly perfect time: around 12 o’clock at lunch, 18 to 20 o’clock at dinner, weekend department-store closing time, and the end of major events. The street-level Taipei Main Store remains directly accessible late at night. The A11 Annex is in the department store’s basement, so follow the access routes open at the time of your visit.
How to order when entering the store for the first time: check out first, then fill in the flavors
The Taipei ordering process differs slightly from the ticket-machine system familiar from many ICHIRAN branches in Japan. The posted instructions are clear: pay at the entrance before entering the dining area. Once seated, complete the preference form and pass it to the staff behind the curtain. To add toppings or drinks later, scan the QR Code at your seat, place the order, and press the service bell.
Just remember four steps for the first time:
- After queuing, order the main meal, toppings and drinks at the entrance according to the instructions of the clerk and pay the bill.
- Enter the Focus Booth area according to the seat status and seat instructions.
- Select the soup thickness, oil, minced garlic, green onions, chashu, red secret sauce and noodle hardness in the order form.
- If you want to add noodles or toppings during your meal, scan the QR Code on your seat; you can also use the noodle refill plate to order noodles.
How to fill in the order form without overdoing it
On a first visit, resist the urge to turn every setting up to its strongest level. ICHIRAN’s tonkotsu broth is relatively nuanced; choosing extra garlic, maximum richness, and plenty of spicy sauce at once can leave the bowl tasting only rich, hot, and salty, masking the balance between the broth and thin noodles.
| Preference | First-time pick | How to adjust |
|---|---|---|
| Flavor strength | Basic | If you usually eat light, choose light flavor; if you eat heavy flavor, choose strong flavor |
| Richness | Basic | If you prefer a lighter broth, choose Light. For a richer broth, move up one level. |
| Minced garlic | 1/2 or 1 part | Garlic can quickly overpower the soup, so if you are not sure, use a little less |
| Green onions | Green or white scallions, depending on preference | The main difference is the aroma and taste, either works |
| Barbecued pork | Yes | Choose “No” if you do not eat pork or prefer the bowl without meat |
| Red secret sauce | Standard or 1/2 portion | If you are afraid of spicy, choose not to add it; you can drink the original soup first and then slowly mix it up |
| Noodle hardness | Firm | Thin noodles will continue to soften when soaked in soup. Harder is more suitable for eating slowly or pausing to take photos |
I leave the red sauce in the center at first, taste the broth from the edge, and then stir the sauce outward a little at a time. That gives the bowl two distinct stages and makes it easier to decide on a spice level next time. ICHIRAN likewise recommends tasting the original broth before mixing in its Original Spicy Red Sauce.
How does it actually feel to sit in the Focus Booth?
The appeal of the Focus Booth is straightforward: solo dining feels natural, and once staff serve the meal and lower the bamboo curtain, interruptions are minimal. The counter is smaller than it appears in photos; a phone, side dishes, beer, and a ramen bowl nearly fill it. Follow staff instructions when storing large luggage, strollers, or multiple shopping bags.
Friends can sit in adjacent booths, but the layout is not designed for conversation or sharing dishes. Older travelers, young children, and anyone who prefers a communal meal should know that everyone faces forward and eats separately. ICHIRAN provides children’s tableware and children’s ramen, but there are no conventional table seats; consider both points before bringing a family.
How to budget for toppings and noodle refills
ICHIRAN keeps the core menu focused; toppings, noodle refills, desserts, and drinks are what raise the final bill. The prices below were shown on the photographed in-seat menu. Items and prices can change, so the current screen or in-store menu takes precedence.
| Item | Reference price shown in the photos |
|---|---|
| 3-item topping set: soft-boiled salted egg, 3 slices of chashu, and 2 sheets of nori | NT$142 |
| 5-item topping set: the 3 items above, plus scallions and wood ear mushrooms | NT$222 |
| 2 portions of minced garlic / extra scallions / 2 sheets of nori / wood ear mushrooms / ICHIRAN special vinegar | NT$40 each |
| Add 3 slices of chashu | NT$65 |
| Noodle refill | NT$60 |
| Half noodle refill | NT$50 |
| Soft-boiled salted egg | NT$40 |
| Matcha Almond Pudding | NT$145 |
For a well-rounded bowl, the three-item set of egg, chashu, and nori is the simplest add-on. If you have a bigger appetite, saving room and budget for a noodle refill is usually more satisfying than ordering many toppings at once. Do not wait until the broth is gone: the in-store guide recommends requesting the refill when you are halfway through and keeping enough tonkotsu broth for the fresh noodles.
How to eat ramen: drink the original soup first, then mix with the red sauce
The first aroma from the bowl is savory tonkotsu rather than an aggressive pork-bone smell. The broth is rich without becoming as dense as dipping-noodle sauce. Thin, straight noodles absorb it quickly, so your firmness choice matters more in the second half of the meal than it would with thicker noodles. The chashu is thin and tender, while the Original Spicy Red Sauce sits in the center and adds heat, salt, and spice as it is mixed through.
This is a bowl best adjusted as you eat, not stirred together immediately. Take a few bites before spreading the red sauce through the broth. If you ordered egg, nori, or extra chashu, add them in stages as well; each component remains more distinct than when everything goes in at once.
Finish enough broth and ICHIRAN’s message appears at the bottom of the bowl. Whether to drink that far is entirely personal: the broth is rich and salty, so there is no reason to force yourself simply to reveal the lettering.
What else can I buy after eating?
Near the exit, ICHIRAN sells souvenirs and ramen kits for home cooking, including thin noodles, wavy noodles, spicy varieties, and products made without animal-derived ingredients. Stock, limited items, and prices can change. Before taking anything on a flight, check the package size, storage instructions, and your destination’s entry rules rather than buying in bulk from the display alone.
How to fit ICHIRAN into a Xinyi District itinerary
Crossing Taipei solely for one bowl of ramen makes the uncertain wait difficult to justify. ICHIRAN works better as part of an existing Xinyi District itinerary: visit Taipei 101, 44 South Village, and Xiangshan during the day, then shop or see a movie before choosing the Songren Road Main Store or A11 Annex according to the queues. If you are arriving from outside Taipei or staying elsewhere, see the Taipei private charter departure page for transfer options.
If Jiufen, Shifen, or the North Coast is also on the day’s schedule, do not force ramen into a fixed lunchtime slot. Eating after returning to Taipei keeps a queue from disrupting the sightseeing day. The Taipei & Yilan Family 2-Day Tour and Northeast Coast Photo-Spot 2-Day Tour show how to leave the city meal until your timing is more flexible. For a longer trip, read Taiwan Round-Island Private Charter: 6 or 7 Days to compare the overall pace.
The simplest rule is: choose the Annex when you are shopping at A11, and choose the Main Store when you are visiting Xiangshan or Songren Road. If both queues are long, finish your nearby plans and return later. ICHIRAN stays open late enough that one bowl of ramen does not need to dictate your entire day in Taipei.
FAQ
Do I need a reservation for ICHIRAN Ramen in Taipei?
No. Reservations are neither required nor accepted. Both the Taipei Main Store and A11 Annex use an on-site queue; when crowds are heavy, the restaurant may issue numbered tickets. Scan the QR Code on your ticket to check the queue.
Is ICHIRAN Ramen in Taipei open 24 hours?
According to ICHIRAN's official information published in August 2026, both Taipei branches are open 24 hours from Friday to Sunday and on national holidays. From Monday to Thursday, they open from 10:00 to 05:00 the next day. Hours may change for special holidays or maintenance, so check the store notice before visiting.
Can I pay by credit card or mobile payment at ICHIRAN Taipei?
The official store pages list QR Code, credit card, and electronic payment options. The Taipei Main Store also lists Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Payment equipment may occasionally be unavailable, so carry a backup payment method.
What spice level and noodle firmness should a first-time visitor choose?
To taste the original tonkotsu broth first, start with the standard or 1/2 portion of Original Spicy Red Sauce, and choose firm or medium noodles. Choose none if you avoid spice. If you plan to order a refill, avoid very soft noodles in the first bowl because their texture changes quickly.
Is ICHIRAN Taipei suitable for children?
Both Taipei branches use individual Focus Booth seating, with no conventional tables or private rooms. ICHIRAN provides children's tableware and children's ramen, but the seating may be inconvenient if your child needs a larger table or your family wants to dine face to face.
