Basso Drill-Man

Take a cool 15-minute walk from Ikebukuro Station through residential areas and you'll find this ramen shop disguising as a wooden 'western' cottage. The suspiciously named Drill-Man's slick homemade noodles, made with domestic flour, draw a steady stream of customers. We recommend going for the tsukemen (‘Tsukesoba’, ¥800), which can be upgraded to a larger size at no extra cost. The MSG-free soup is made from seafood and pork broth, offering a moderately rich flavour, while the tender chashu pork adds depth to the taste. Other popular alternatives include the regular 'Chuka Soba' ramen (¥750) and the spicy Hot Basso (¥850) with onion and garlic.