Recommended bowl: O.G. Tokyo spot

Tucked down a narrow alleyway in the historic district of Asakusa, the shop entrance to Raishuken is easy to overlook, but step inside and you’re instantly transported to another era. Raishuken began as a noodle company back in 1910. In the 1920s, the company branched out to open its first Chinese restaurant and over time the lineage extended into other restaurants around Tokyo. In 1952, the Asakusa branch specializing in ramen opened it’s doors, and not much has changed since — a rustic kitchen, funky old decor and the walls lined with autographs from the countless Japanese celebrities who have visited over the years. The house specialty is the Tokyo classic dark shoyu ramen, served with yellow, curly chijirimen noodles, thin slices of chashu and a traditional naruto fish cake. Wontonmen, yakisoba, and Chinese-style shumai (steamed pork dumplings) flesh out the menu.