Fukuoka Prefecture, Iizuka City, "Rairai". It is located about 1.1km west of JR Fukukita Gakuen Line Shin-Iizuka Station West Exit. ・The store opens around 4:30 am, and is open on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays only (irregular holidays). ・There is no phone or SNS for the store, so you won't know if it's open until you go there late at night on the day. ・The number of servings is around 25 bowls (varies depending on the quality of the soup). ・When a friend visited, there were already 6 people waiting at 1:00 am. For travelers, this high hurdle is like a high jump bar (scary). On December 23, a fierce cold air flowed into the Japanese archipelago. I arrived at the site in a rental car borrowed in Yakuin, parked the car at "Times Yoshiharacho" about 400m south of the store, and used this as a base camp (17-9: 300 yen, public toilets are available nearby facing south). It was already past 8 pm, but I headed to the store for a preview and headed to the intersection of Katajima 1-chome. The goal of this time, "Rairai", a small store with no sign next to "A Girl Beauty Salon". I found a small sign hanging next to the entrance door and approached it, finding the words "Closed Store" on it. At that moment, a shiver like a lightning bolt ran through my whole body. "Huh!? Is it temporarily closed because no one eats ramen on Christmas Eve? Or is it because of the freezing cold due to a severe cold wave?" While being overwhelmed by a feeling of despair, I returned to the car and took a nap with a bath towel I brought as a makeshift futon. I woke up as the day turned into Christmas Eve. I got up with a folding chair in hand and a prayer-like feeling and headed back to the store. From a distance, no one was lining up, and I felt a sense of despair, but as I approached the store, light leaked from the small window above the door (*⁰▿⁰*)!! The sign "Closed Store" had changed to "Preparing" (super happy). The temperature was 1°C. I arrived at 12:30 am and got a pole. In the quiet snow, I started a 4-hour endurance wait while sitting on a folding chair. My hands were already numb, so I gave up on killing time with my smartphone. I regretted the lack of preparation for the cold, so I draped the bath towel I had as a knee blanket. The disposable kairo hidden in both socks was almost out of breath. I quickly walked on the spot because I couldn't feel my toes. How many times did the traffic light at the intersection in front of me change? Facing the cold, fatigue, and drowsiness, 3 hours and a half passed. Around 3:50 am, the second and third customers joined the line, and the store opened at 4:30 am. The moment the entrance door opened was indescribably relieving. A small store with 6 L-shaped counter seats. The wall menu with a font full of taste and the objects full of Showa atmosphere, such as the chopstick holder, were so attractive. Immediately after opening, there were only 3 people, but it quickly became full with 6 people. The menu is ・Chuka Soba (Regular and Large) ・Only rice with a simple configuration. I ordered "Chuka Soba Large" for 800 yen and "rice" for 100 yen. "It's so cold today, there will probably be few customers. Would you like a chashu ramen?" So, I also received a meat extra service like a regular customer. A clear soup that looks like the one served at the end of a Kyoto Gion ryotei meal made with [pork]. The beautiful noodle line and the bare chashu. The visual of the "wabi-sabi" aesthetic of this ramen, where even the garnish green onions are left out. The round salty taste of the delicate clear soup, like if the dashi made with pork at a Kyoto Gion ryotei was made into a ramen. The soft, smooth medium-thin straight noodles, with a soft touch and a good taste of the soup, are impressive. The highlight of this ramen is when you slurp the soft and chewy noodles, take a bite of chashu, and then chase it with the soup using a spoon. The rich sweetness of wheat, the unadorned richness of the meat, and the pure pork umami brought together, making you involuntarily smile.

"The taste is no longer distinguishable. A satisfying bowl filled with a sense of accomplishment. The noodles are as generous as ever. And there seems to be a lot of rice too... Light-hearted conversation. A strange world. Ramen that makes you feel like you're climbing a mountain. Still beautiful as always. Full stomach from morning."

I am grateful for the invitation to Kairai, a place I have wanted to visit for many years. We left Kurume at 1 am and arrived at 2 am. Already, there were four people waiting in line. Since the store opens at 4:30 am, we had to wait for 2 and a half hours. Thanks to the expert from Kairai who was with us, they had prepared chairs for us, making the wait comfortable. I recommend bringing your own chair. I ordered the regular Chinese noodles for 700 yen and added rice for 100 yen. It felt like meeting the person I had a crush on for a long time. The noodles were amazing, with a clear soup that didn't make me feel bloated. The owner's stories were interesting, and before I knew it, an hour had passed. I left the shop feeling refreshed. It was truly a valuable experience and a special meal. Thank you for the meal.

Arrived at 1:38 on Saturday. Second in line for connection. Second visit in about 2 years. The opening time is now 4 o'clock. Ordered the large ramen (¥800) and a small rice (¥100) right at 4 o'clock. The subtle soup and firm texture of the noodles are truly unique and can only be found here. It's easy to see why ramen lovers from all over the country gather here late at night. Due to the difficulty of visiting, it's uncertain when I'll be back, but I definitely want to visit this place again.

Visited the popular restaurant "Rairai" in Iizuka City for the first time. The menu consists of three options: regular (700 yen), large (800 yen), and rice (100 yen). There are only 6 counter seats with a total replacement system. The restaurant is open three days a week (starting August 28th, it will be open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays). The opening time is around 4:30 in the morning, and the owner carefully prepares the ramen and values conversations, so it takes about 1 hour for one round. I arrived at 3:20 thinking that if I lined up 1 hour before opening, I would be able to get in for the first round, but there was already a line of 12 people (for the third round). The estimated time to enter was 6:30! Since I didn't prepare for the queue, I was worried about getting thirsty or needing to use the restroom, but it turned out not to be a problem. The restaurant opened a little after 4 am. The first round took 1 hour, with a 5-minute turnover, and I left after the second round, being called around 5:50. Orders were confirmed in the order of arrival. They make two bowls at a time, so there are also changes in order. I ordered the regular ramen and rice. The ramen was beautifully presented in a white bowl. The noodles were neatly arranged, thin and straight. The soup was a clear pork bone broth, almost transparent like a white soup. The only topping was chashu. When I tasted the soup with a spoon, I didn't feel any unpleasant smell or impurities, just a gentle taste of pure pork bone soup. The slightly soft noodles paired well with it, creating a delicious combination. The chashu had a light taste, but it was a bit fatty for a morning meal. The rice was limited in quantity. The bottom of the bowl was hiding two small pieces of chashu. It had a slightly stronger salty taste than the ramen, but it went well with the rice. The owner cooked and chatted with regular customers. After finishing my meal, he spoke to me. The owner was familiar with ramen shops from various places and we talked about "Menya Michi" in Munakata and "Gankomon Ramen" in Onga. The turnover took about 40 minutes. Before leaving, he offered me some vegetables to take home, and I received bitter gourd and Chinese cabbage. Tastes may vary, but if you love ramen, it's worth visiting at least once. Thank you for the meal.

For the past 5 years, I have known about Ramen Kikai and decided to take on the challenge of trying it for the first time. It took me 4 hours of waiting before I could finally enter the restaurant. The first time I attempted the challenge, I was confident of winning because the lights were on and a sign indicating that they were preparing was displayed. I recommend bringing an outdoor chair because without one, you might feel like you're going to die. Also, be cautious when going to the nearby convenience store as the Seven Eleven closes at midnight. I ordered the regular soup ramen which was a clear tonkotsu broth. Lately, it seems to be popular to call it a clear tonkotsu instead of a regular tonkotsu. The broth seemed to be made from pork bones that were simmered gently to avoid cloudiness. I wondered if they also simmered the chashu pork in the broth because there was a strong pork aroma when slurping the noodles. The broth had great clarity and didn't have a strong pork smell, indicating that they might have done a good job of removing the blood from the bones. The noodles had a firm texture and paired well with the broth. The table condiment of seven-spice powder was quite potent, and I accidentally choked on it. I believe it contains high Scoville scale chili peppers. Sprinkling a bit on rice and dipping it into the soup made for a delicious combination, but be careful if you're not used to spicy food. In terms of transparent tonkotsu broths, there are others in Tokyo as well, but they tend to have a heavier makeup. Like how natural beauty is better than heavy makeup, Ramen Kikai's ramen has a convincing appeal with its light and clear broth. Eating ramen late at night is a common desire for people who work long hours or stay up late. The brain can mistake the pleasure of eating late-night ramen as a defense mechanism against fatigue. Despite various opinions and biases, I found Ramen Kikai's ramen to be delicious and a true masterpiece. I highly recommend attempting the Ramen Kikai challenge as it feels like a form of training and discipline.

The business days during Obon will change, so I am posting it on Tabelog. Normally, we are open on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but during Obon, we will be open on the 12th, 13th, and 14th, and closed on the 15th, which is a Tuesday. Please refer to the photo for details. Also, during Obon, there will be long lines, so it is recommended to arrive around 2 PM. Of course, the food is consistently delicious.

It had been quite a while since I last had "ramen". It didn't feel like it had been that long though... The ramen came with 3 slices of chashu, a light soup, and plenty of noodles. The conversation was lively. I left feeling full from the meal. Gotta be careful of getting mosquito bites in the summer, so precautions are necessary.

Fukuoka Prefecture, Iizuka City, Katashima 1-3-38, there is a quiet shop called "Rairai" at the Katashima 1-chome intersection, with no signboard, curtain, or lantern. Without any information, it may be difficult to tell which one is the shop (unless there is a long line). The ramen shop "Hakata Genki Ippai!!" in Fukuoka, which also has no signboard, is still more recognizable. This shop is known for its extremely high difficulty level in getting in. It opens around 4:00 in the early morning and by around 7:00 it is already closed. It is also unclear which days it is open. It seems like it is open 3 days a week. This shop is really something else. I have never heard of any other shop like this. I will describe the process of getting into the shop for your reference. Last time I visited, I arrived at the shop around 6:30 am and miraculously managed to get in, but such miracles don't happen often. They don't just let anyone in. On July 16th (Sunday) at 2:30 am, I departed and drove through the Kitakyushu Urban Expressway, exiting at the Kongou IC. With the sound of insects as background music, I headed to Iizuka. At 3:30 am, I arrived at the shop to find about 10 people in line. As expected. I parked my car at a nearby coin parking lot and walked to the shop, which had one of the most crazy lines in the prefecture. The summer night breeze was pleasant. At 4:00 am, the shop opened for the first round. The 6 people who were in line first got in. I was confident that I could get in within an hour from this point. This shop has a unique style, where they let in customers equal to the number of seats available all at once. The duration of one group's stay is about 1 hour. Basically, everyone leaves together, and once everyone is done, the next group comes in. This style continues until the ramen runs out, usually by the fourth round. At 5:00 am, I managed to get in during the second round. This is Rairai. I don't know how long the person at the front of the line had been waiting, but some people start lining up as early as 10:00 pm the previous day. I was shown to a seat and ordered the Chuka Soba (large) and rice. I waited with excitement for about 20 minutes. The shop owner values conversations with customers, so the service is slow and deliberate. Let's wait leisurely. Finally, the moment arrived. It's a clear tonkotsu soup, the original form of tonkotsu ramen. The soup has a very high level of transparency. It's based on tonkotsu, but it's quite light. However, it has a good dashi flavor and a gentle aroma. There is no smell or roughness. The straight, medium-thin noodles are neatly folded. They have a soft texture. The soup coats them well. The only topping is the chashu. It seems like there used to be green onions as well, but through a selective process of eliminating unnecessary elements, this form was achieved. Not everything needs to be added. I sense a commitment to simplicity. Perhaps because it's ramen eaten in the morning, it's quite light Chuka Soba (tonkotsu ramen). After leaving the shop, a pleasant aftertaste lingers. I was filled not only by the kind shop owner but also by the enjoyable conversations with other customers. I recommend gathering information in advance from the internet or other sources, and making thorough preparations before visiting.

I lined up just after 5 am, but made it in just in time. The atmosphere of the shop was quiet, and the friendly chef welcomed us. We chatted about ramen and had a great time. The soup had a really clear and beautiful color. It was light and gentle in taste, without any strong flavors. I think it's a taste that most people would enjoy. There were even customers who came from outside the prefecture. Thank you for the meal.

"Chuka soba (medium)" ¥700 "Gohan" ¥100 Rice is limited in quantity. A simple, clear tonkotsu ramen with a sparkling, translucent appearance that looks like it has been pulled back repeatedly. When you drink the soup, it does have a light taste, but surprisingly it has a strong pork umami and thick richness that you wouldn't expect from its appearance. The saltiness is also just right, and this rounded deliciousness is irresistible once you try it. It's too delicious. A unique taste that I have never experienced elsewhere."

"Finally went back to this place after a while. I woke up at night and decided to go, but it was quite crowded. The bowl of ramen I had after a long time was a bit stronger than before, with a generous amount of noodles as usual. And there was an extra slice of chashu. Maybe the chef was in a good mood... There were even people from Tokyo discussing ramen, making the breakfast even more enjoyable."

I have become accustomed to lining up late at night and eating ramen early in the morning. Delicious food is worth waiting in line for. I have tried the clear tonkotsu ramen at other restaurants, but it's completely different from Komeda, and I still think Komeda is the best.

It's not clear if it's early morning or late at night, but this is my favorite ramen shop. On this day, I left Hakata at 1:30 am, arrived at 2:20, the shop opened at 4:10, I entered for the second round at 5:20, left at 6:30, and got back home at 8:00. The shop used to open around 4:40, but it seems to have opened a bit earlier this time. They sold out of ramen after around 23 bowls, and many people were turned away. If you arrive after 3 am, there's a high chance you won't be able to eat. I was 14th in line at 2:20. They didn't have white rice available. It's a bit of a challenge to eat at such odd times, but I keep coming back. The shop is open on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, so make sure you go on the right days.

This is a time-shifted post. I lined up at 2 o'clock, and the store opened at 4:10. It used to open at 4:40, but it seems like the opening time has been moved up a bit. The taste of the ramen is excellent, it's my top favorite without a doubt. I will definitely go back again. Thank you for the meal.

Located in Fukuoka Prefecture, the super challenging ramen shop "Rairai". Despite the rain, we arrived at 3:40 in the morning and there were already 3 people waiting. We waited together until the 4:30 opening time. Around 4 o'clock, the shop owner came out and opened the shop early? This shop doesn't have a sign, phone, or even social media presence, and it's only open about 3 days a week. You won't know if it's open or not until you actually go there. The clear tonkotsu soup was light but full of flavor. The presentation was simple and beautiful. I would love to visit this shop again if I have the chance. I am satisfied after conquering this super challenging shop.

The season was supposed to be spring-like, but it was still cold. In such weather, a bowl of noodles was just the right amount of deliciousness. The noodles were plentiful and satisfying. It was a mysterious space. The leftover soup and rice went well together. The two types of chashu were still as good as ever. A lovely morning meal.

I visited "Rairai," located in Iizuka City, about a 1-hour drive from Hakata Station, known for its legendary transparent tonkotsu ramen that opens at 4:30 in the morning. The restaurant is open three days a week, with the possibility of being closed. With an opening time of 4:30 and serving only about 25 bowls before closing, it is a challenging place to visit. I started lining up around 3:30 on this day and just made it in for the first round of customers. It takes about an hour for 6 seats to rotate due to chatting with the owner. The ramen costs 700 yen and it's easy to see why it's so popular. It was a simple yet delicious tonkotsu ramen with no unpleasant odor, just as it looks. The soup brings out the richness and saltiness of the meat, and the thin wheat noodles complement it perfectly. Since it is a light tonkotsu broth, even those who are not fans of tonkotsu ramen can enjoy it. It's like an event to line up and enjoy eating late at night (similar to going to Disneyland). Thank you for the meal.

I left Nakasu at 3 am in a rental car and arrived a little after 4 am to line up. Luckily, the store opened about 10 minutes later and we were able to enter. Just the day before, I tried the same thing but the store was closed. They only operate 3 days a week, so it's all up to luck whether they are open or not. Their clear broth tonkotsu ramen is their specialty and it was really delicious.

★ Greedy Lawyer's Food Diary ★ [Instagram] joy_sound [Tabelog] _Chrome_----- Open at 4:30 in the morning, serving around 20 bowls a day, with 6 people per round (each round takes about 1 hour)! Intrigued by the transparent visuals, I decided to visit this place. Reading reviews, I found out that some people start lining up before 3 am... What is this madness. Despite my initial doubts, I was determined to visit since I had the chance to be in Fukuoka. This visit took place in January. I arrived around 2:00 am. Surprisingly, there were already 10 people in line... And almost everyone had brought chairs and foot warmers... I underestimated the situation. I was wearing a thin sweater over a T-shirt, holding a hand warmer, enduring the extreme cold. The rumors were true, the place opened around 4:30. By then, there were about 20 people in line. The first group entered, and we continued to wait. This is where it gets long. The owner is very talkative, so when the first 6 people enter, a networking session begins. The owner goes around talking to everyone. This took about an hour. Around 5:30, the first group finished, and we entered. I ordered a large portion of ramen (800 yen) and rice (100 yen). The bowl arrived at 5:40. I had been waiting for this beautiful presentation. The clear soup with perfectly aligned noodles. The noodles were thin but had a good texture and were delicious. The soup was gentle yet flavorful, very tasty. There was a hidden slice of pork in the rice. I finished it quickly, then the networking continued. We chatted, some received chocolate or vegetables as gifts. We left around 6:30, all 6 of us at once. It's hard to leave during the networking session. Thank you for the meal! ----- Likes, saves, comments are very encouraging!! Check out my Instagram here → https://instagram.com/joy_sound?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y

"Rai Rai" in 2023. Extremely cold. There was nothing else. It was the coldest ever, almost giving up... but not really. The bowl I finally reached was shaking with cold, but its warmth seeped into me. I couldn't even taste the flavor anymore. The sense of accomplishment was overwhelming. It was a crazy ramen. The slightly thick chashu was delicious. And after finishing the extremely cold "Rai Rai" and going outside, there was no line. Went back in. One more bowl. I was already numb and couldn't get full, is that the kind of ramen it is? The second bowl had a slightly different color on the plate. The ramen was a bit richer and sharper than the first. That's when I first added some pepper. Dramatic flavor change. It was interesting, but the default might be the most enjoyable. However, the power of the pepper was amazing until I finished it. The gratitude for being able to eat two bowls of "Rai Rai" in a day. And the coffee I had afterwards was unbelievably delicious as always.