Tabelog ratingThis is the walk-in outpost of Iida Shoten, the Yugawara ramen shop known for how hard it is to get into. The same ideas are served here from a counter in a shopping-mall food court. The broths are clear, additive-free shoyu and shio, built on chicken. The noodles are made in-house from a blend of Japanese wheat, each bowl is finished with chicken oil, and it arrives in Arita porcelain. The shop was selected for Tabelog's Ramen EAST "Tabelog 100" in 2024 and 2025.
Most reviewers say the quality is far beyond what they expect from a food court. The shoyu ramen is the clear favourite and is usually rated above the shio. The silky, sōmen-like noodles have many fans. The large tori wantan (chicken dumplings, three to a bowl) are repeatedly called essential. Guests also praise the thin, low-temperature chāshū and the fluffy handmade shūmai.
The noodles are very soft by design, and a steady minority find them limp or overcooked; some leave their bowl unfinished. Others find the broth too light. Portions are small and prices are high for a food court, the sides especially. Several reviewers feel this branch falls short of the main shop.
Reviewers in 2024–2026 paid around ¥1,200–1,300 for shoyu or shio ramen and ¥1,570 for the chicken-wonton shoyu ramen. Chāshū-men cost ¥1,500–1,620 and the wonton-and-chāshū bowl ¥1,890. Two shūmai came to about ¥400, and okuni gohan (pork over rice) to ¥620. Expect to spend ¥1,300–2,000 per person, the same at lunch and dinner.
Value is fair rather than cheap. For fans, a no-booking taste of Iida Shoten justifies the price. Sceptics find the small bowls and pricey sides hard to justify in a food court.
- Getting there: take a local bus from Numazu Station (about 15 minutes) or from Katahama Station on the JR Tokaido Main Line. Buses can be infrequent; a taxi from Numazu Station takes 7–8 minutes. The mall is on National Route 1, next to the Higashi-Shijiro Higashi intersection, about 1.9 km from Katahama Station.
- Booking: no reservations, walk in. Order at the counter and collect your bowl when the buzzer sounds. Weekdays usually mean no wait. At weekends, expect a queue of around 20 people and up to 30 minutes.
- Payment: credit cards (Mastercard). Electronic money is accepted: transport IC cards such as Suica, Rakuten Edy, iD and QUICPay. QR payments are accepted too: PayPay, d Barai, Rakuten Pay and au PAY.
- Seating: plenty of shared food-court seating; no private rooms. Non-smoking. Free Wi-Fi and power outlets are available.
- Parking: the mall's own car park.
- Timing: shūmai can take 15–25 minutes. Mazesoba (soupless noodles) is served from 15:00.
- Take-out: available, including frozen ramen to take home.