Chabuton

Rating: OK
Meal: Dinner
Price: 750 yen
Payment: Cash only
Dishes:  Vegetarian ramen
English Menu: No
Smoking: No

Chabuton is a ramen shop in a basement food area near Yokohama Station.  I found it because I was looking for some vegetarian ramen (don't ask) and it was one of a couple near the station that serves one.  I met my friend and we walked over to it, though it is a bit tricky to find, as it's underground, beneath the Yodobashi Camera building.  But to enter it you have to go underground first, then find the Yodobashi entrance, then take an escalator down below.  Once down there you'll find quite a few interesting restaurants.  I reviewed one down here before (Xian) but it doesn't appear to be there anymore.

Forgot to take a picture before I messed it up...

Anyway, we ordered our ramen from the ticket vending machine and sat down.  They came to get our tickets and asked the usual question (firmness of the noodles).  They serve tonkotsu (pork broth) ramen primarily, so the vegetarian version uses an onion based broth.  All ramen come with one extra helping of noodles if you want it, and the noodles resemble a more hakata style (thin).

Overall I didn't love the vegetarian ramen, which should come as no surprise since I'm not a vegetarian.  But honestly, if you're going to go full veggie on the ramen, you should take some extra care with the broth and make sure it is super flavorful.  Maybe I'll come back some day and try their real ramen.  For what it's worth, my friend thought his tonkotsu was really good.