Ramen Gūtara is a small, independently run noodle counter on Higashi-Hachi Road in Osawa, Mitaka, just outside the back Eneos gate of International Christian University (ICU). For years it has functioned as something close to a campus canteen, drawing a steady stream of ICU students for a cheap, filling bowl between classes, and it remains one of the few genuinely student-oriented spots in an area with few university hangouts nearby.
The menu centers on the signature “Gūtara men” alongside a rich pork-and-garlic “butaba shoyu,” a lighter “honki shoyu,” a miso ramen, and tsukemen dipping noodles, all served in generous portions with noticeably bold seasoning. On weekdays the shop offers free rice refills, and ramen kaedama noodle refills are free for students and about 100 yen for everyone else. Staff are known for calling out cheerfully to people passing by outside, part of the shop’s informal, high-energy atmosphere.
Ramen Gūtara is open for lunch from 11:00 to 14:30 and dinner from 17:30 to 21:30, though it can close early when the soup runs out; closures are announced irregularly via the shop’s social media. The restaurant accepts cash only, and there is a small parking area with four spaces behind the building for visitors arriving by car.
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