Beginner Guide: Your First Shop Day

1. Prep before you open

Broth takes real time on the stove. Start soup first, then cut toppings while it heats. Service is a speed game, so anything you can prepare before customers arrive saves you later.

2. Learn the four quality signals

The official Steam page says bowls are judged on noodle texture, soup temperature, the aroma and umami of your ingredients, and how long the order takes. Exact cook times and ratios are not officially published, so learn from customer comments. Since v0.1.57 those comments explain topping mismatches in more detail.

3. Match the order exactly

Check the toppings and quantities on each ticket. Plating is physics-based, so place toppings carefully. Note that v0.1.57 split “chopped onions” into two toppings: Chopped Green Onion and Chopped Leek.

4. Keep dishes moving

Dirty bowls back up the whole line. Since v0.1.57 you can carry up to 10 trays and 6 rice bowls or gyoza plates at once, and dirty tableware can go on trays.

5. Watch for thieves and events

Random events, including thieves and fires, can happen during service. If thieves frustrate you, v0.1.57 added a World Settings toggle to turn them off (see difficulty settings).

6. Playing solo? Hire staff

You can run the shop alone with NPC part-timers. See the staff guide for every role and when it unlocks.

Day 1 checklist

Tick these off during your first shift. Your progress is saved in this browser only.

• Pick a difficulty you're comfortable with (Easy/Normal pay more since Day 1: Easy ×1.4, Normal ×1.2)
• Put the soup on before opening
• Cut toppings on a cutting board (right-click a placed board to secure it)
• Store deliveries in the refrigerator (items stay inside even if the door is left open overnight)
• Check each order's toppings and quantities before serving
• Pour beer to more than 70% of the mug (beer + foam) to avoid the penalty
• Clear trays and dirty dishes between rushes
• Watch the register for thieves
• Close with the shop sign to end the day

Difficulty and pay

The Day 1 update raised customer payments for the same order and rating: Easy ×1.4, Normal ×1.2, and no change on Hard or Very Hard. On Easy, customers don't leave because of waiting time, so the Order Monitor shows no countdown (v0.1.57). If you want finer control, the Custom difficulty in World Settings lets you set customer traffic, waiting times and the bill multiplier.

Beer, gyoza and sides

• Beer: if beer plus foam is 70% or less of the mug's capacity, you lose points. Beer without foam gets a warning comment but no deduction (Day 1 notes).
• Gyoza: since v0.1.57 burnt gyoza can be served, but burning affects the rating.
• Tantan Tare: ramen made with Tantan Tare alone gets its own comment, so pair it with a broth.

Critics and boss customers

The store page says a demanding ramen critic may visit, and you can win them over by tuning aroma, umami and toppings. Critics can only be invited before you open for business. Boss customers pay a one-time cash reward the first time you clear each one (Day 1). If a boss leaves before finishing, you can still close with the shop sign, but that challenge counts as not cleared (v0.1.57).

Useful item facts

• You can carry up to 5 tare bottles, but hold only 1 when pouring.
• Egg cartons are limited to 6 per purchase, and you can reorder after completing a purchase.
• Stockpots, simmering pots, knives and cutting boards can't be thrown in the trash.
• Kunai and shuriken arrive in supply boxes. The store page mentions shuriken and fire extinguishers for dealing with thieves and fires.
• Food left on the food sample shelf now stays there overnight.

Frequently asked questions