The ramen restaurant where everyone eats alone
Slurp in silence at this Japanese chain
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FOOD Ramen
Does talking get in the way of you enjoying your food? The Japanese ramen house, Ichiran, encourages patrons to dine solo. The restaurant is lined with individual booths dubbed "flavor concentration booths," where individuals can focus on their noodle soup.
The restaurant completely cuts out any form of human interaction by having waiters out of view and orders submitted through a form.
Established in 1993, Ichiran has become one of the most popular ramen spots in Japan for their unique dining etiquette. Recently, an Ichiran location opened in Brooklyn, NY, and Americans have struggled to adapt to the silent atmosphere.
"Sometimes it catches me off guard, I'm trying to serve them, and they're trying to have a conversation," Ichiran waitress, Qierra Peoples, told Quartzy.
While it may take a minute for chatty Americans to get in line with traditional Japanese culture, the love for a good bowl of ramen has no borders.