“Butayama,” a “Jiro-style” ramen shop with a long line at Tokyo Ramen Street—I went to check out its flavor.

“Butayama,” a famous ramen shop even in Tokyo, is located in the basement of Tokyo Station, in an area known as “Ramen Street,” where famous ramen shops from all over Japan are lined up side by side. Among them, “this is the only place that serves Jiro-style ramen.”

Jiro-kei Ramen
“Butayama”

• Ramen noodles
• How to Line Up
• How to eat
• Japanese Consumer Reviews
• Store Information

For several years now, there has been a restaurant district called Tokyo Ramen Street in the basement of Tokyo Station. Although the restaurants come and go, it’s an area where you can try a variety of ramen.

As you can see, everyone is quietly eating their ramen.

We primarily offer counter seating. Tokyo Station is a hub for a wide variety of people, from business travelers to tourists, so we generally offer counter seating for solo diners rather than table seating.

How to Line Up

Select your ramen from the menu board. English is available.

A ticket like this will appear.

I realized partway through that you’re supposed to buy your ticket before getting in line. Since I’d made a mistake, I quietly bought a ticket while I was waiting. There’s a huge line. To explain, the menu is divided into three sections based on noodle size: mini, small, and large. The vertical columns indicate the number of slices of chashu and whether you want additional toppings. There are also sections for different types of ramen.

How to Eat

Even Japanese people get nervous about this. Let’s all learn the “Jiro-style” ordering incantation. Now that I think about it, I wonder why they don’t provide multilingual instructions for how to order. I’ll explain. The number “12” is my seat number, so at this restaurant, I’m referred to as “Number 12.”

The options are: garlic, vegetables, pork back fat, and flavor intensity. That’s four options. The standard is a three-level scale. This is about getting extra portions. And it’s free.

Add this in a separate column. Step 1: This is for weight loss. The ingredients are vegetables and garlic. That much is clear. If you’re concerned about the smell, use a small amount of garlic. If you find there are too many vegetables, use a small amount of vegetables. The leftmost column. This column is for reducing portion sizes. If you’re concerned about the smell, use a small amount of garlic. If you feel there are too many vegetables, use a small amount of vegetables.
This is the “Increase” category. It’s divided into three levels: Standard, Extra, and Extra-Extra.　
Now, here’s the magic phrase. At this shop, a machine takes your order. When it’s your turn, someone will come to confirm your toppings. That’s when you recite this magic phrase.

The magic phrase for cutting back: Say “sukuname.” “Yasaisukuname,” “Ninnikusukuname.”

This is when you want to add more. “Yasai” means vegetables, ‘abura’ means pork back fat, and “karame” means extra flavor—it’s not the same as asking for less.

For the maximum increase, say “yasaimashimashi” for vegetables, “aburamashimashi” for pork back fat, and “karakara” for extra-rich flavor.

We have an automated system. If you don’t specify anything, everything will be set to standard. To set everything to maximum, please say “zenmashi.” This will set all items to the maximum amount.

I ordered a small bowl of ramen with an extra serving of vegetables and garlic.

That looks delicious. But where should I start? I always struggle with this. Where to take the first bite.

I eat in silence.

All-You-Can-Drink Water

All the people sitting next to me were okay. I took a sneaky photo.

Japanese Consumer Reviews

Google Maps Reviews

I stopped by because I was craving Jiro-style ramen.
The broth is rich, full-bodied, and packs a punch—it gives off the classic Jiro-style vibe. Rather than having a standout personality, it’s a consistently “properly delicious” bowl. The noodles are chewy and substantial, and the portion size is impressive, as you’d expect. I recommend going on an empty stomach.
As for ordering extra toppings like vegetables and garlic, there are clear instructions posted inside the restaurant, so you don’t have to worry. There’s less of that “tension” often associated with Jiro-style ramen, so I felt the atmosphere was welcoming even for first-timers.
Most of the staff were foreign nationals, but they provided cheerful, clear, and pleasant service. The restaurant was lively, and I felt quite comfortable there.
I think this is a great spot for days when you want a hearty meal, or for anyone looking to try Jiro-style ramen for the first time.
Googlemap

I was very satisfied again today.

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Store Information