A SALARYMAN's Meal in Tokyo - What do they Eat? 🍜 | Cheap Ramen in Ikebukuro

If you’re wandering through Ikebukuro after a long day in Tokyo, Chukashokudo Ichibankan 60 feels like the perfect salaryman meal spot — warm lights, fast service, affordable prices, and the comforting aroma of soy sauce ramen filling the air. Located in one of Tokyo’s busiest commuter districts, Ikebukuro is packed with office workers, students, late-night diners, and tiny restaurants built around quick, satisfying meals. As the trains slow down and the neon signs glow brighter, places like Chukashokudo Ichibankan 60 become gathering spots for salarymen looking for an inexpensive bowl of ramen before heading home. What makes this restaurant special is its classic “chuka shokudo” atmosphere — Japanese-style Chinese diners that became popular during Japan’s postwar economic boom. While inspired by Chinese cooking techniques and noodle dishes, these restaurants evolved into something uniquely Japanese over decades of adaptation. Dishes like ramen, fried rice, and gyoza became everyday comfort foods for workers across Tokyo. Originally influenced by Chinese wheat noodle soups introduced in the late 1800s, ramen transformed in Japan into its own culinary culture. Tokyo-style shoyu ramen became especially popular among office workers because it was fast, filling, affordable, and deeply satisfying after long workdays. The aged Soy sauce broth is built around aged shoyu tare — soy sauce matured to develop deeper umami, roasted aromas, and a mellow richness that lingers on the palate. It’s lighter than creamy tonkotsu ramen, but incredibly flavorful, delivering that comforting, savory taste that keeps salarymen coming back night after night. The noodles soak up the soy-based broth perfectly, while toppings like chashu pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, and seasoned egg bring classic old-school ramen shop energy to the bowl. Nothing feels overdesigned or trendy — just honest comfort food made for everyday Tokyo life. What stands out most is the atmosphere. You’ll see businessmen quietly eating alone after work, coworkers stopping in for a quick cheap dinner, and locals slurping ramen between train rides. In a city known for expensive sushi and luxury dining, spots like this represent the real everyday food culture of Tokyo. Cheap, quick, comforting, and full of history — this is the kind of meal that has fueled Tokyo’s workers for generations. Whether you’re searching for authentic Tokyo ramen, salaryman meals in Japan, affordable ramen in Ikebukuro, aged soy sauce ramen, Japanese Chinese diners, or nostalgic late-night Tokyo food, Chukashokudo Ichibankan 60 delivers a classic slice of everyday Japanese life. Perfect for ramen lovers, Tokyo street food fans, Japan travel videos, late-night food culture, and anyone chasing the authentic atmosphere of a real Tokyo salaryman dinner. 📌Turn on CC for Subtitles. ----------------------------------------------------------- 🥚Timestamps 00:00 Intro 00:11 Location 00:53 Menu 01:41 Condiments 02:13 Aged Soy Sauce Ramen 06:09 Outro ----------------------------------------------------------- 🥚Locations ⦁ Chukashokudo Ichibankan 60, Ikebukuro, Tokyo, Japan 中華食堂 一番館 サンシャイン60通り店, 池袋, 東京都, 日本 ----------------------------------------------------------- 🥚Tamago's Gear ⦁ DJI Osmo Pocket 3 ⦁ Canon EOS D Mark II ⦁ Sony FDR-AX700 ----------------------------------------------------------- 🥚 Disclaimers ⦁ Prices are calculated on date of publishing. ⦁ Prices can vary based on the seasons. ----------------------------------------------------------- #japan #japanesefood #food #ramen #asianfood