The history of Taishoken (大勝軒) is deeply intertwined with the history of Japanese ramen, particularly its role as the birthplace of tsukemen (dipping noodles). It's not the story of a single shop, but a vast lineage of independent franchises and two entirely separate founding families.
1. The Maruchō Lineage (The Birth of Tsukemen)
This lineage is widely recognized as the origin of tsukemen, called Tokusei Morishoba (Specialty Dipping Soba).
2. The Eifukuchō Lineage (The Giant Chūka Soba)
This is a completely separate and unrelated branch that also uses the Taishoken name.
In Summary: When referring to Taishoken, you are usually talking about one of two distinct, unrelated brands: the Maruchō/Higashi-Ikebukuro lineage (the inventors of tsukemen) or the Eifukuchō lineage (the masters of massive, hot niboshi ramen).
🍜The definitive Maruchō, Higashi-Ikebukuro lineage shops in West Tokyo
・Koganei Taishoken (closest to JR Chuo Line Musashi-Koganei Station).
・Sunny (closest to Seibu Ikebukuro Line Hibarigaoka Station).
・Musashimurayama Taisyouken (closest to Tama Monorail Line Kamikitadai Station).
🍜The definitive Eifukucho lineage shops in West Tokyo
・Eifukucho Taishoken (closest to Keio Inokashira Line Eifukucho Station).
・Hitotsubashi Taishoken (closest to Seibu Tamako Line Hitotsubashi-Gakuen Station).
・Akishima Taishoken (closest to JR Chuo Line Tachikawa Station).
