London’s Ivan Ramen is giving its Farringdon restaurant a distinctly Japanese refresh, introducing a traditional tachigui service style alongside a launch weekend of two-for-one ramen.
Since arriving in Farringdon last autumn, Ivan Ramen has built a loyal following for bowls that don’t hold back on flavour. Now, the restaurant is doubling down on the experience that made ramen bars an everyday institution in Japan.
From 19 June, the restaurant will adopt a tachigui-style operation, streamlining the ordering process so guests order, pay and collect in one seamless interaction. The system is found in countless ramen shops across Japan, designed for people grabbing lunch between meetings, or a quick solo dinner.
The change is a natural fit for the space. Bright cartoon murals splash across the walls, while simple wooden tables and benches keep the focus on the food.
To celebrate the relaunch, Ivan Ramen will offer two-for-one on selected ramen bowls between 12pm and 4pm from 19-21 June, making it an ideal excuse to sample more than one signature dish.
One of the standouts is the Spicy Miso Red Chilli ramen. Rich with minced pork and carrying serious heat, its deeply savoury broth has enough body to coat every strand of noodle with spicy flavour. A soft marinated egg adds extra richness, while slices of braised pork bring another layer of depth. It’s unapologetically bold in a slurp-worthy way that demands plenty of napkins.
The Roasted Garlic Tonkotsu heads in a different direction but is just as satisfying. Built around a creamy pork broth infused with eight different elements of garlic, it balances richness with surprising freshness, thanks to a subtle tomato note that lifts the stock.
Braised pork chashu, marinated wood ear mushrooms and a perfectly jammy egg complete a bowl that feels comforting and complex.
The small plates deserve attention too. The fried aubergine arrives impossibly crisp on the outside while remaining silky within, its sweetness offset by the fragrant tingle of Sichuan peppercorns. Meanwhile, the karaage is everything good fried chicken should be: crunchy and juicy with a pungent pop of garlic. It is finished with spring onion and paired with a dip you’ll find yourself scraping from the bottom of the dish.
The London restaurant is the latest chapter for founder Ivan Orkin, the internationally acclaimed ramen chef whose unlikely journey from New York to becoming one of Japan’s best-known foreign ramen masters was chronicled on Netflix’s Chef’s Table. After establishing Ivan Ramen in Tokyo before expanding to New York and Las Vegas, the Farringdon opening marked his first venture into the UK.
For those planning to become regulars, there’s another incentive. During the first six weeks following the relaunch, diners who visit once a week can earn an Ivan Ramen Black Card, unlocking 20% off for the remainder of the year.
The new service model may be built around speed, but nothing feels rushed where it matters. If anything, the streamlined approach allows the kitchen’s richly layered broths and carefully balanced toppings to take centre stage. It’s a thoughtful evolution that brings Ivan Ramen a little closer to the ramen shops that inspired it in the first place.