Ichiran - Hakata Ramen

Tell a Japanese person you've visited Fukuoka and they will invariably ask you if you've eaten two things: mentaiko (明太子 marinated fish roe, typically spicy) and/or ramen (ラーメン hot noodles).  These are the two delicacies Fukuoka is known for, and while most foreigners might pass on the fish eggs, no visitor should pass on Hakata ramen (博多ラーメン).

Hakata ramen is characterized by its white, almost milky soup made from pork bones, or tonkotsu (豚骨), and thin noodles, topped with green scallions and thin-sliced pork, or cha-shu (チャーシュー).  And my favorite restaurant for Hakata ramen would easily be Ichiran (一蘭) (www.ichiran.co.jp/english/).

What separates Ichiran from other ramen places is the unique experience.

Some shops serve you in a standard round bowl, others in a rectangular box.

Unlike most ramen shops, each seat is an individual booth, so that every customer can focus solely upon his/her bowl of noodles. There is a call button for when you want to give your order tickets to the attendant or when you're ready for a second bowl of noodles.  You have your own cups and water dispenser.  Everything is set up so that you have no distractions, no outside influence on your enjoyment of your ramen.

Also unlike most ramen shops, Ichiran hands out a form that allows patrons to customize their ramen.  Pictured above is an English version (available upon request) and it shows how much thought goes into personalizing your dining experience.  Ichiran's recommendation for first-timers is "medium" and "regular" for most options.

My wife's recommendation is their soft-boiled egg.

After all the build-up leading to your ramen, Ichiran does not disappoint.  The first time I visited one of their locations, I thought I had eaten ramen before, but this just blew my mind.  The broth is rich and garlicky and the noodles, firm and chewy.  I had been shoyu ramen lover all my life, but Ichiran converted me to tonkotsu.

Ichiran may be a restaurant chain, but there is a reason why it's consistently ranked as one of the best ramen shops in Japan.  And don't fret if you're not visiting Fukuoka, they have locations across Japan, so if you're in Tokyo, you can stop over their Ueno shop for some hot, steamy, heaven in a bowl.

Masa's tip:  Order an extra bowl or half-bowl of noodles so you can enjoy your leftover broth.  When you do, they give you a little metal plate (pictured in the collage) for your seconds (kaedama (替玉), in ramen-shop-speak).  When you're ready, ring the bell and place the metal plate on the button.  The attendant will take the plate and bring you back a fresh, hot bowl of noodles!