Want to eat Ippudo ramen without waiting too long? The least crowded time is after 6 AM in the early morning.

▲ The queue on the morning of the opening day. (Photo / Reporter Huang Shiyuan)

Reported by Reporter Huang Shiyuan / Taipei

Ippudo ramen officially opened on June 15. Even though it was raining non-stop, people started lining up as early as 2 AM on opening day to be the first, and the queue never dissipated. Some netizens passing by at 2 AM found the entrance still packed with people. But if you want to be among the first to try it without waiting too long, consider visiting between 6 AM and 10 AM — the least busy time slots.

When Ippudo Hong Kong opened, it set a record of seven consecutive days of non-stop queuing. After Ippudo Taipei’s main store opened on the 15th, which was followed by weekends, even more people showed up eager to be the first, with the restaurant staying fully booked all day Saturday and requiring a 2–3 hour wait to get a seat. If you don’t want to wait that long, how about having Ippudo for breakfast? During Ippudo Hong Kong’s early days, the least crowded times were between 5 AM and 6 AM. Meanwhile, Ippudo Taipei’s store manager Yao Xuan-yi revealed that the current least busy period is from 6 AM to 10 AM.

Ippudo’s arrival in Taiwan continues to stir discussion. Aside from being slightly pricier, the introduction of the “Ippudo Fast Entry” priority seating service has also been quite controversial. Although Ippudo has not yet canceled this service, overseas PR head Hanai Iori also stated that they may adjust it in the future based on market feedback.

Additionally, regarding the widely disliked practice of “queue decompression” (where one person queues while others arrive later), Ippudo’s rule is that one person can queue for up to two additional guests — meaning one queuer can bring in a maximum of three people total (themselves plus two others), and two queuers can bring in up to six people total. However, meeting up with friends must be done outside the store; you may only enter once your entire group has arrived. If the group isn’t complete, you must wait outside until everyone is present before entering.