Legendary Tsukemen Noodles in Ueno Are a Tokyo Delicacy Worth the Wait

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

“Rokurinsha” is a well-known name among ramen enthusiasts in Japan.

With five locations in Tokyo, the popular restaurant often has customers lining up out the door. Such popularity can be attributed to its rich broths made from ingredients like pork and chicken bones.

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

“特製つけめん,” Special Dip noodles 1,150 JPY (tax included)

Rokurinsha’s richly flavored broth captivates the crowd

The Ueno branch of Rokurinsha, located right near Ueno Station, is consistently bustling with customers.

The restaurant’s signature dish is tsukemen, a style of ramen where the broth and noodles are served separately. The noodles are then dipped into the broth before eating. Because of this, in English they are sometimes called “dip noodles” or “dipping noodles.”

Variations of tsukemen offered at Rokurinsha include “Dip Noodles with Soft-boiled Egg,” “Dip Noodles with Fresh-SHICHIMI,” and “Special Dip noodles,” each with different toppings.

The Special Dip noodles are a luxurious option that boasts all the popular toppings the restaurant offers, and even comes with a soft-boiled seasoned egg in the bowl with the noodles.

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno
photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

One of the toppings that particularly stands out at Rokurinsha is the buta-hogushi. This minced and shredded mound of pork (listed as “Small pieces of pork” on the menu) is a topping unique to Rokurinsha.

The topping not only enhances the richness of the soup, but also adds a level of heartiness to it.

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

“豚ほぐし,” Small pieces of pork à la carte 180 JPY (tax included)

A distinctive feature of Rokurinsha is their savory soup, which strikes a perfect balance between sweetness and saltiness. Ingredients such as bonito flakes add another layer of depth to its flavor.

The harmonious blend of various ingredients in the soup is undeniably captivating, with a taste that satisfies many!

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

On top of the nori seaweed, you’ll find fish powder. Dissolving it in the soup creates a subtle change in flavor. There’s also small packets of fish powder provided at the table, allowing you to adjust according to your preference.

Whether you choose to mix the fish powder in from the start or gradually dissolve it to experience the changing flavors, how you enjoy the soup is completely up to you.

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

Fish powder

Not to be outdone by the soup, the noodles are just as super thick

To match their incredibly rich soup, Rokurinsha uses thick noodles with quite an impact. Not only do they have a smooth surface, when bitten into, they offer a chewy and substantial texture.

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

The restaurant uses noodles with a pronounced twist to ensure the soup clings to them. Thanks to their density, you can thoroughly savor both their flavor and that of the soup in the dish.

Rokurinsha’s “Ramen” is a bowl where the noodles and soup are completely unique

At Rokushina, the “Ramen” offers a different flavor experience compared to its tsukemen counterpart for you to enjoy.

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

“中華そば,” Ramen 790 JPY (tax included)

While the shop’s tsukemen features thick noodles, the ramen boasts medium-thin noodles that blend exceptionally well with the rich and creamy tonkotsu soup. Taking a sip reveals a flavor distinctly different from the tsukemen, providing a pleasantly surprising twist!

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

The flagship dish at Rokurinsha is the tsukemen but the excellence of the ramen makes it worth visiting specifically for this delightful alternative.

The shop’s ramen lives up to the expectations of veteran noodle enthusiasts, leaving many saying “as expected of Rokurinsha!”

Rokurinsha is stocked with many recommended seasonings and toppings

When visiting Rokurinsha, there’s a seasoning for your noodles that’s an absolute must-try.

That seasoning is called “Fresh-SHICHIMI.” Shichimi is Japanese seven-flavor chili pepper. Rokurinsha, however, offers a fresh and flavorful ten-ingredient version of it to use as a condiment for your ramen or tsukemen.

Rokurinsha’s “Dip Noodles with Fresh-SHICHIMI” is topped with this special seasoning, and is hailed as the greatest invention in the restaurant’s history!

The topping is available to order à la carte, so you can enjoy trying it out with other menu items such as the the restaurant’s classic tsukemen.

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

“生七味,” Fresh-SHICHIMI à la carte 100 JPY (tax included)

Typically, shichimi is known for its spiciness from red peppers, but Rokurinsha’s take on it prioritizes its full flavor.

When paired with the hearty soup, it releases a refreshing aroma that lingers.

If you want to savor the full flavor of this fresh shichimi, dipping your noodles into it by adding a spoonful in your soup is the way to go!

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

In addition, by using the seasonings available at the table, such as vinegar and yuzu powder, along with the store’s original “Rokurinsha Special Select Roasted Shichimi Black,” you can create a variety of flavor combinations.

The latter, a roasted blend of various spices, including red peppers and sanshō (Japanese pepper), is highly recommended.

It offers a more robust spiciness compared to the Fresh Shichimi, with a pleasant tingling sensation from the sansho’s distinctive flavor.

Since it complements every dish, be sure to give it a try when you visit Rokurinsha!

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

Rokurinsha Special Select Roasted Shichimi Black

The ever-changing flavor of Rokurinsha

At Rokurinsha, continuous adjustments to the soup and noodles are made on a daily basis, incorporating customer feedback.

One might think that if the restaurant already has a substantial fan base, there might be no need for significant changes. Additionally, altering the taste could potentially risk customers disliking the new flavors.

However, Rokurinsha holds the belief that they must continue to evolve, seeking improvements even if it means a 180-degree shift from their initial opening. They view this as essential to providing customers with the best bowl of ramen.

The fact that this evolution has been a positive for the restaurant is evident in its enduring popularity. This is why Rokurinsha continues to receive praise as “a legend in the world of tsukemen” and as having “built a new era for tsukemen.”

photo of Rokurinsha Ueno

Rokurinsha’s exterior

Information

Store name 六厘舎 上野店
Rokurinsha Ueno
Address Atre Ueno 1F, 7-1-1 Ueno, Taito-ku, Tokyo
Access Ueno Station(UEN) 1-minute walk from Ueno Station Yamashita Exit
  • JR Yamanote Line(JY05)
  • JR Ueno-Tokyo Line(JJ01・JU02)
  • JR Utsunomiya Line(JU02)
  • JR Keihin-Tōhoku Line(JK30)
  • JR Joban Line(JJ01)
  • JR Takasaki Line(JU02)
  • JR Narita Line
  • Tokyo Metro Ginza Line(G16)
  • Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line(H18)
  • Akita Shinkansen
  • Jōetsu Shinkansen
  • Tohoku Shinkansen
  • Hokuriku-Shinkansen
  • Hokkaido Shinkansen
  • Yamagata Shinkansen

Keisei Ueno Station 2-minute walk from Keisei Ueno Station Main Exit
  • Keisei Line(KS01)
  • Hokusō Line
  • Keisei Narita Skyaccess
Phone number 03-5826-5776
Reservations Not accepted
Payment
  • Cash
  • Credit cards not accepted
  • Transportation-related electronic money(Suica, etc.)
  • Electronic money not accepted
  • QR code payment not accepted
Hours 10:00-23:00(last order 22:30)
Closed No holidays
excluding atre Ueno holidays
Seating 24 seats
14 counter seats, 10 table seats
Smoking All seats are non-smoking
Official website https://www.rokurinsha.com/
Other information
  • A ticket vending machine system is available with Japanese, English, and Chinese language only
  • Please ask staff about allergy-friendly menus; no vegan, vegetarian, or halal menus
  • Wheelchair-accessible (there are steps at the entrance)
  • Take-out service is not available; delivery service is available
  • Luggage storage space is available
  • Wi-Fi is not available
  • Posting of food photos and videos on customers’ personal SNS accounts is allowed
  • Separate billing is allowed

※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of February 2024.