The Soup Nazi of Tokyo or the Story of Ramen Jiro

A few weeks before we left for Tokyo, my nephew Rusty, who had just come back from Tokyo, sent me a Facebook message, saying we had to go to Ramen Jiro, which is now his favorite ramen place in Tokyo.

So when we got back to Tokyo, we decided we just had to make the pilgrimage. During dinner with the cousins, we asked the about Ramen Jiro. Hiroko was surprised that we even knew about Ramen Jiro; she said she didn't like the place. But Fumihiko and Koji both gave Ramen Jiro the thumbs up.

On Saturday morning, we arranged to have dinner with one of Maki's aunts, an aunt we were close to since both of her sons had spent summers with us to improve their English before going off to boarding school. When we told Michiko that we wanted to go to Ramen Jiro, her reaction was the same as Hiroko's: she said the food was too heavy and greasy. But her son, Takuma, said he really wanted to go.

Maki's parents decided to come to dinner with us. Maki's dad was eager to visit Ramen Jiro, but Maki's mom, being gluten-intolerant, was not.

So at 5:30pm, we met Maki's parents, Michiko and Takuma at the Meguro subway station and then trekked up and down Meguro hills for about 20 hills to get to Ramen Jiro.

Here's Tak, Linda, Michiko, Takuma and Maki at the metro station.

 

Here's a photo of the restaurant with the line of people. The restaurant is just opening up.

Ramen Jiro is a rather nondescript, almost divey, tiny restaurant. It was still closed when we got there before 6pm but there was already a line of all young men waiting to get in. I wanted to try this famous Ramen Jiro but the restaurant doesn't allow babies, so I agreed to diner with Michiko and Maki's mom.

Michiko called us into a huddle and said, "listen, there are rules at Ramen Jiro." Rules? Apparently, they are:

• There were only a few stools in the restaurant. One person comes out, another person in line goes in. No going in as a group.
• You pay outside and then order quickly once you get inside.
• You must know exactly what you want.
• You must eat fast.
• No talking.
• You must finish all of your food.
• You must wipe up the counter when you're done.
• You must bow on your way out and you must say thank you for the food in Japanese.

Armed with that knowledge, Maki, Tak, CJ, Alex, Christine and Takuma got in line and I left with the ladies. Mom, Michiko and I found a wonderful chicken bowl restaurant. The place was tiny and empty and the chef kindly made a bowl of chicken and porridge for MJ.

The moms and I had just finished our soup (we hadn't gotten our main courses yet) when Takuma called Michiko. They were done, he announced! Done? Really? They were on their way to see us at our restaurant.

Apparently, the line had moved along very quickly, the food came fast and they were done right away. But here's the funny part. Maki's dad finished in about 10 minutes, Maki in about 12 and Alex a few minutes after Maki.

But Christine and CJ were slooooowww.  Christine is a notoriously slow eater and CJ is just getting good at chopsticks. On top of that, they are both very chatty. They were also sitting next to each other, so they were doubly chatty with each other.

Apparently, after Tak, Maki and Alex left the restaurant, Christine and CJ sat there eating and talking, while the chef glared at them. After a few more minutes of just watching them eat slowly and talk, the chef yelled, "Stop talking, eat faster!" At which point, Christine and CJ gulped their food and just ran out. The soup nazi strikes again!

Even though they were practically run out of Ramen Jiro, Christine and CJ loved Ramen Jiro and of course raved and laughed about their experience to everyone else.

Maki said it wasn't the best ramen he'd ever had, it was definitely a different style of ramen, but it was worth the experience. There are Ramen Jiro restaurant all over Tokyo.

Note how Alex's back is right up to the wall.

CJ and Christine are the last of the group to finish their food. CJ did a great job with his chopsticks!