Ichran Japanese Ramen

So much to say about this little hole in the wall. First, let me start with the service. The waitress, who is always there, is an amazingly adorable woman, she’s always so sweet and kind. Second, the ramen is delicious and generous. But don’t forget to try their other various entrees, their curry is pretty dang good as well. Great service, delicious food, nothing to lose by giving them a shot.

Tonight we had the red miso ramen and the chicken ramen. The red miso ramen was delicious. It was a little on the spicy side but very fulfilling. The chicken ramen is the reason for the small markdown. It was fulfilling but lacked flavor. It was very bland and felt like it was missing something. The staff is very pleasant and the environment was comfortable.

Flavor is awesome to me :) !! I’m at kappo Nara ramen right now and it’s making me want to write a review for ichran it’s way better flavor

I’m giving them a 3 star rating because of the staff’s friendliness and attentiveness. But based upon the Ramen bowl I had it would be 2.5 stars. The soup itself was luke warm, the noodles could have been cooked longer, and the flavor of the broth didn’t make me want to make love to my food. When I’m eating ramen at a restaurant I want fresh made noodles and they should be cooked perfectly. Sorry but I’m a tough critic, especially after eating ramen in NYC AND D.C.

Stopped in for a late dinner. Place is kinda hidden but not hard to get to.
Restaurant was quiet with some Japanese pop playing. Good amount of room inside. The staff was kind and welcoming which is always nice. After the meal they left us a little coupon too, bonus.
Menu was simple to read and the prices were more than fair especially after seeing portion sizes and the quality of the food. I ordered the milk based ramen which was really great with some hidden spice to it. There was a good helping of sprouts/​corn/​shoots and the pork was tender. My favorite was the egg and the noodles– good size, not overly thin but not udon size either. Also ordered a side of gyoza– fantastic and very fresh and not under filled like some restaurants.
Will definitely be back, after trying here as well as the other popular ramen spot in VB I prefer Ichran as it tastes more authentic and flavorful :)

The staff is very friendly! The food is delicious and the prices are great too. The atmosphere is very nice too, I would definitely recommend.

Here comes another picky ramen review from me!
This would be the second ramen location I’ve tried in this area, my first being KappoNara, so I wanted to give this one a try. Was quite excited due to the fact that the average ratings at this one are significantly higher. However…
Let cut to the point: The Ramen.
I chose the Tonkotsu Ramen.
The menu has quite a variety to choose from, not too descriptive though… All the details are rather similar, they just list the add-​ons in the soup. But not much information for someone if they did not know what Miso or Tonkotsu or Katsu was. At least they have pictures for them.
This Ramen was supposed to be spicy too (so beware).
First off, the broth was rather disappointing. Pretty bland in flavor and not very spicy at all. The broth alone you could taste a little bit of flavor but still not very much. So when you take a big slurp of it with the noodles… nothing. This is very unfortunately because the noodle texture was great, the egg was made perfect, and the Katsu was really good. The Katsu had great flavor and not too dry!
Girlfriend was wise and ordered the Pork Katsu Curry w/​Rice.
THIS might solely be the reason why I’m rating this a 4 and not a 3!
If you like Curry… this is the spot.
Thought this might be a Ramen House, this curry was phenomenal. (Don’t know if it was because I had bland Ramen first that skewed my taste buds for this)
The Pork Katsu is near perfect! Not bone dry or over fried. Perfect crisp and juicy center! That and the creamy Curry… saved the day!
We also tried the Gyoza for appetizer.
It was nothing impressive, the center is filled with a mushy… something. It’s supposed to be pork. Just wasn’t what I’ve ever had before in Gyoza.
Might try something else next time.
The pricing is very fair, nearly all the main dishes including the Ramen are roughly $ 10.95. So if you’re not a super picky Ramen eater, this might be right for you. I’m not a fan of paying $ 14+ for a bowl of Ramen so this is a great deal.
The staff is very friendly. The chef asked if everything was okay which was
was 2:00 on a Sunday and they were pretty busy so come early.
I will definitely return, just maybe not for the Ramen. Debating on whether or not to give the Ramen another try. However, I am excited on trying some of their other dishes or even just that Curry again!

Yummy and quick. The broth is a bit strong but I like my food strongly flavored. It was served quickly and the staff is nice. This is an economic and tasty place, especially when you want something warm during a cold or rainy night.

I go here once a week now. So good! Red Miso Ramen is my go-​to but everything is great.

I was delighted to find this place (thanks to Unilocal). The menu was diverse enough that a non-​seafood eater (myself) had plenty of choices. The quality and presentation was fantastic, the sizes were quite filling and the price was reasonable. To top it off, the staff was professional, helpful and friendly. We will absolutely be going back.
note: many items come with the choice of spicy or no spice– this is not like a Thai or Indian spice scale, unless you are very spice sensitive, the spicy should be safe.

This will be the first review I’m writing in at least a month-​and-​a-​half (shame on me), so I’m a little rusty.
*Stretches hands and cracks knuckles as I prepare to assault my keyboard*
I first visited this place a couple of months ago. I’ve been at least three or four times since then (two dine-​in experiences and two carryout experiences). The first time I went, I was alone and wanted to dine-​in. I normally don’t eat at restaurants alone because I’m awkward, I end up playing on my phone 50% of the time, and my phone is always dying… leaving me… dare I say it… alone with my thoughts, and my food. Anyway, I walked into this restaurant and couldn’t bring myself to leave because it’s so welcoming (both the atmosphere and the employees).
I opened the door, walked through the curtains hanging up at the entrance, and immediately noticed the dark, reddish lighting in the restaurant, which was oddly soothing in my opinion. I was the only customer there, and I was quickly greeted by a woman who told me I could sit anywhere I’d like to. She smiled quite a bit and was very sweet, and those who are familiar with me and my reviews know this is a huge plus.
I chose a table, and she brought me a menu and asked what I would like to drink. I ordered water with lemon. I looked over the menu a bit. I was able to review the different types of ramen on the menu and eliminate those containing ingredients I either wasn’t a fan of or didn’t feel like trying. The first to go was the Seafood ramen because I wasn’t in the mood for it. I quickly dismissed the Vegetable ramen as well (I saw «mushrooms» and gagged), and all the other types that contained mushrooms, and while I was too lazy to google «red ginger» or «red miso,» I assumed anything including the word «red» is going to have a kick or a little spice to it, which is a no-​go for me, thus placing anything containing them on the chopping block as well. In retrospect, I think I may actually be a picky eater (go figure). I also think I’ll consider using my words and asking one of their servers or waitresses about the red miso and red ginger next time, because it may be something I end up liking.
Anyway, I decided to go with the Snow ramen. I had never had fish cakes, and I couldn’t imagine them burning the taste buds off of my tongue, so I figured it was worth a try. Once the waitress came back, I relayed this information to her (save for the taste buds part), and goofed around on my phone. I remember my food coming out pretty quickly, and it being extremely hot.
I often underestimate how filling ramen, phở, and foods with other noodle-​soup consistencies can be. I always think I’ll be able to finish the broth, noodles, and everything else that is included in each bowl of heavenly deliciousness, but I never do. I usually finish the noodles first, and then spend the remaining dining experience attempting to slurp up the rest of the broth and everything else while not keeling over due to the massive food baby I am carrying.
Oh yeah, those eggs… can we take a moment to appreciate how yummy they are? I will admit that at Ichran, they aren’t the best I’ve ever had (I’ve had much more flavorful ones at other restaurants, but I suppose that has to do with the broth as well). Still, they are pretty good. So my eggs are gone, and now it’s time to devour the noodles and bean sprouts. I usually don’t just pick up bean sprouts by themselves and eat them. They’re best enjoyed mixed in with the noodles.
I continued eating the noodles and then I decided to try the fish cakes. I think there were only a few of them mixed in, so I picked one up and bit into it. It had a rubbery feel to it, which I don’t like, so I picked the rest of them out and decided against eating them. If my taste buds were little factory workers, I can imagine them angrily yelling «Too much rubber! Get them out of here!» as I swallowed what small part of the fish cake I was able to bite off. I continued eating what was left: the corn, the bean sprouts and noodles, the broth, and the pork.
While the pork was good, the fat around the edges was getting in the way. I was able to eat around it, but it would’ve been nice not to have to do that. Maybe I should’ve just scarfed the pork down so I couldn’t taste it?
Anyway, I continued eating until I was pretty much in a coma. I imagine myself succumbing to my fullness as the end of a boxing match. It’s not over until you push the bowl away, or you hear that dinging or bell noise. The waitress quickly walked over and asked if I was done, and if I wanted my check. I said yes, and she took my bowl, and brought me the check.
She thanked me many, many times, I gave her my card, and she brought it, along with a 10% off coupon, back to me. Clearly I liked the service (A+ from me) and food enough to go back, and will continue to. However, I’ll ask questions and be more open-​minded next time.

Delicious ramen duh and very friendly staff the place probably seem quite on a slow day but hey I’m here for the good ramen

I’m going to have to give Ichran a solid 4.
Location: 5
It was off military highway, easy to find, and not too far from VB
Service: 5
Our sever was adorable, I forget her name but she was attentive and warm hearted.
Menu: 5
I prefer small and simple menus. Everything’s straightforward plus it has pictures!
Music: 5
Japanese music is my jam.
The red interior lighting is questionable.
My tonkatsu ramen (butter based) with pork was okay. For me, it lacked much flavor. I’m used to eating Phở and other soups that are seasoned plenty. And when I had my first sip… It was just ehh. No fireworks sadly. It missing something for me. The pork was on point (but they only give you two slices). Medium boiled egg hits home for me. But that was it. I’m going to have to try the other noodles on the menu bc my fellow Unilocalers are raving about this place.

The Best Ramen!
That’s what their take-​out menu says, and I’m inclined to agree. After seeing a friend post a picture of some awesome looking ramen on Facebook, I became obsessed with going to a noodle shop myself. I’ve only ever had the «college special» ramen, you know, 10 for $ 1.00 from the grocery store. So, I Unilocaled my way over to Ichran because it was close to work and had great reviews.
It’s a little spot in a strip mall. I liked the red, Asian styled lighting and the waving Fortune Cat in the back was too cute. (I’m a sap for things like that, having played a LOT of modern Japanese RPGs and watched a lot of animé.) I liked being able to see over the counter into the kitchen where the two chefs/​cooks were busily chopping and sizzling away. The hostess/​server was very polite and made sure that drinks were refilled and that the food was to our liking.
I had the Kotomi Ramen (spicy) which had beef, a soft boiled egg, bean sprouts, red ginger, bamboo slices, scallions and nori. It was delicious. The ginger added a very unexpected bite that was very pleasant and aromatic. Since it was lunch and the portion was huge, I took the rest to go and had it later on that evening.
I also ordered some for take-​out this last Monday. They put all the goodies in a separate container from the broth so everything doesn’t get soggy. I got the Kotomi ramen again, along with the pork dumplings. They were super yummy, better than any dumplings I’ve gotten at a Chinese joint. I did get some strange «salmon and wasabi rice ball» that I could find neither salmon nor wasabi in, but hey, maybe it’s a culture thing– there were strange colorful sprinkles on a triangle of sticky rice. I’m going to consider this part of the charm or trying new things. :)

Thank you! You’re Welcome! Thank you! — Basically all the words you will hear from the awesome wait staff/​owner? The place is small but spacious. Pretty sure it’s a family business and they make you feel like family if you happen to frequent this restaurant as much as we do. Lets talk about the atmosphere for a second before we get to the good stuff. Yes, it’s RED. But I’m fairly certain they wanted to go for an ambient lighting (that just fell short of what its suppose to look like). Don’t think they were too concerned about the décor, and for the right reasons, because the food and service should carry more weight. So long as the facility as a whole is clean, the utensils and cups are thoroughly washed, no crumbs on the table and the floors, then we’re solid. Need I mention that a clean bathroom is always a must (checked!).
Lets get to the goodies! I know everyone has a different palette, but quite frankly, I would favor the ramen here than anywhere else. We tried a couple of the appetizers here before, and yes, I’ll admit, they were bland and could definitely use more flavor. Even more upsetting was the fact that there was no real salmon on the Onigiri. The corrokke was alright, but nothing exciting. The shumai is your standard unfrozen kind you would find everywhere.
Here’s why I gave them a 5 instead of a 4. The ramen noodles were pure perfection. It’s the right balance between firm and soft. The broth, depending on what you get, was just the right amount of sodium intake for a single bowl of ramen. So for me personally, the broth was perfect, especially if you tell them to make it a little spicy. The best part, it’s not primarily pork base, so it doesn’t leave me with a porky after taste. The toppings are interchangeable. You can tell them to substitute things, add things, etc etc. Did I also mention that they treat you like family here? All that would keep me coming back whenever I crave ramen.

I had ramen for lunch with my friend.
We had Ika Sugatayaki (BBQ Squid) as appetizer, I had Ichiran ramen and she had Red Miso ramen.
The BBQ Squid was good. If they had Japanese Mayo, it would be way better!
We are from Japan so we expected JAPANESE RAMEN taste. I guess Ichiran ramen was pretty similar to Japanese miso ramen. I loved it!
But Red Miso ramen was totally different taste compare to Japanese ramen. It was like Chinese spice taste which I don’t like… and it was really oily.
I think I will come back for Ichiran ramen but not for Red miso ramen!

Ramen was good. People were kind. The only thing I didn’t like was the restaurant’s light was so dark… it was too red.
That’s all!

Got some delicious ramen and sake. I ordered the seafood ramen (3) and my husband ordered the spicy ramen and added chicken katsu (5)
Overall great service felt very welcomed. The food came out super quick and was amazing. Huge portions and cheap prices. Was told by my hubbys friend to try it and definitely will recommend to others and will make it out here again.

Awesome Ramen! Authentic and traditional broth! This restaurant is a hidden gem and a little taste of Nippon. Worth the drive from Ghent.
I lived in Japan for 5 years and traveled extensively through the main islands. I went to many exclusively Ramen establishments and I went to the Ramen museum several times. This Ramen has the taste of the best ramen stands in Japan.
I ordered both the Vegetable Ramen and the Miso/​Pork Ramen; Both were very good! The vegetable ramen actually had mushroom broth and was vegetarian. I decided to take the vegetarian bowl to go and I ordered the traditional miso/​pork broth. You could almost chew on the broth; it was so thick and creamy. The noodles were perfectly cooked.
I am excited to go back!

Of course I went ahead and ordered 4 appetizers for the table with the expectation that I would be able to snag a bite of the entrees ordered by my friends. It’s just what I do… I’m a brat. So I have the apps, the complementary miso soup, and a few bites of katsu to judge off of. And as a whole, meh.
Notice that I did not order the ramen, and probably won’t be back to try it in large part due to the miso soup. It tasted like water. And that was really the trend of the evening, lack of flavor. Someone had to make a break for the salt shaker because it was all just lacking. That is up until the katsu. A very respectable, and very authentic version. It paired with the incredibly friendly service brought this review up to 3 stars.