Recommended bowl: Ramen from Tochigi

Takesue made its name in Tochigi prefecture and opened its first Tokyo branch in 2014. Their shoyu ramen (chuka soba) comes highly recommended. A delicious layer of chiyu (chicken oil) floats atop the soup, and the toppings are extravagant. The bowl comes with chunks and slabs of pork shoulder, beef belly and rare roast beef. The menma is house-made and wonderful. The master boils the bowls before pouring in the ingredients, so it's all served piping hot. They also serve a shio ramen, but we strongly recommend the shoyu.

The shop has a 90s Japanese rock concept and the chef occasionally wears badass sunglasses while he cooks. The shop's counter seating is arranged closely around the open ramen kitchen, so customers are given a clear view of every step in the preparation process – it's almost as if the master is performing on stage. The shop is a short walk from Tokyo Sky Tree, the world's second-tallest manmade structure, and there's a comfortable indoor waiting area. A convenient top-level ramen option for tourists.