A few minutes’ walk from Takeshita-dori, you’ll find the Harajuku branch of Afuri, the internationally-renowned ramen shop serving light chicken and dashi broth that’s a hit with everyone – including the fashionable young teens shopping in Harajuku. This is one of Afuri’s most popular locations, so there’s almost always a line out the door, but it tends to move quickly.
If you’re looking to stay traditional, try the shop’s standard yuzu shio or yuzu shoyu ramen with either tanrei (simple) or maro (with added chicken fat) broth, and topped with chashu pork (or swap it for chicken at no extra cost), seaweed, menma bamboo, mizuna greens, half a soft-boiled egg and shredded yuzu, a bitter Japanese citrus that adds a tangy kick to the broth. For something a bit different, opt for the tsukemen (dipping ramen) versions of the standards, or test your tastebuds against the spicy yuzu ratan ramen. For something lighter, Afuri’s vegan ramen is one of the best in Tokyo.