Ide Shoten (Wakayama Ramen)
The legendary birthplace of Wakayama ramen, founded in 1953 when Tsuyako Ide started with a food stall. The signature pork bone soy sauce broth is rich yet surprisingly clean-finishing — the 'Ide style.' After winning Japan's best ramen on TV in 1998, queues became a permanent fixture. A record 210-minute wait at Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum. Tabelog Ramen WEST 100 Selected 2025. Tabelog 3.71 / 3,040 reviews.
Reviewers from all over Japan say visiting Wakayama without Ide Shoten is unthinkable. 3,040 Tabelog reviews and 300+ TripAdvisor reviews support the acclaim. Broth praised as rich yet refreshingly clean. Lines even on weekday afternoons. Regulars recommend pairing with hayazushi. Some say it has become more tourist-oriented, but no serious complaints about the actual taste.