Ramen Kan 2 Ya: Iekei Ramen from a Yoshimuraya Direct Branch

Ramen Kan 2 Ya (ラーメン 環2家) is a chokkei, an officially sanctioned direct branch of Yoshimuraya, the shop that created Yokohama iekei ramen. That style pairs a pork-bone and soy broth with a layer of chicken fat. Here the soy tare is notably sharp and salty. It is poured over short, thick noodles from Sakai Seimen and finished with thin smoked chashu, whose aroma seeps into the soup. The shop has been selected for Tabelog's "Tabelog 100" ramen list every year from 2018 to 2025.

Most reviewers praise the punchy broth, the chewy noodles and the smoky pork. Many note that the soup stays piping hot to the last sip. Spinach and nori come in generous heaps. The table condiments are a highlight: special garlic, ginger, doubanjiang and ramen vinegar let you change the flavour halfway through. Reviewers also mention fast turnover and pleasant staff.

A sizeable minority find the soup too salty or soy-heavy, and a few report that it varies between visits. Some reviewers dislike staff asking men to pass hot bowls to their female companions. Others mention order mix-ups, a bowl cleared too early, a confusing split between ticket and cash payments, and a messy toilet. One serious older complaint dates from earlier management.

Expect to spend under about ¥1,000 at lunch or dinner, or up to around ¥1,500 with extra pork and sides. Between 2024 and 2026, reviewers paid around ¥900 for standard ramen and ¥1,100–1,150 for chashumen (extra pork), or ¥1,350 for a medium chashumen. Ajitama (seasoned egg) cost about ¥100 and rice ¥150–180. Tamago mabushi-don, an egg-salad rice bowl, cost about ¥200 and is paid in cash. Portions are large, and reviewers consider it excellent value for a reference bowl of the style.

• Getting there: about 15 minutes on foot from Kaminagaya Station (Yokohama Municipal Subway Blue Line), partly uphill. Shimonagaya Station is about 780 m away. Alternatively, take a Kanachu bus from Kaminagaya Station or JR Higashi-Totsuka Station to the Mizuta stop, then walk 2 minutes.
• Payment: cash only. Credit cards, electronic money and QR payments are not accepted, and the new banknotes issued in 2024 cannot be used, so bring older notes.
• Ordering: buy a ticket from the machine inside before joining the queue. Some toppings and sides are paid in cash at your seat; the list is posted by the machine. Staff ask for noodle firmness, flavour strength and amount of oil, and "futsuu" (normal) for all three is safe. No English menu is mentioned.
• Booking: no reservations; walk in and queue. Lines of 10–30 people and waits of 15–60 minutes are typical, but batch seating keeps them moving.
• Seats: 19 counter and table seats; no private rooms or private hire. Water is self-service.
• Children: welcome, and strollers are allowed.
• Smoking: non-smoking inside; there is an ashtray outside.
• Parking: 9 spaces (5 next to the shop, 4 nearby). It is largely a drive-in spot.