Once again, I visited Gyoran-tei, a popular spot known for its delicious ramen. I waited for the evening opening and was the first one in line. I ordered without hesitation, the rich and creamy soup that I had been craving. The soup was surprisingly smooth and had a clean taste, making it hard to believe it was made with 100% tonkotsu broth. I loved the abundance of jellyfish in the soup. The flavor was on the sweeter side, but when you add some spicy pickled mustard greens halfway through, the taste transforms completely. I highly recommend trying this combination.

Visit at 12:15 on September 16, 2023. "Gyorantei" in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, is a famous pork bone ramen shop that has been selected as one of the top 100 ramen shops twice in the past. Today, I am traveling from Nakatsu City, Oita Prefecture to Iizuka City, Fukuoka Prefecture for an overnight stay, but it was too early for hotel check-in, so I made a detour to Kitakyushu City. I searched for "Kitakyushu City ramen" on Tabelog and found that "Gyorantei" was the top choice, so I decided to try authentic pork bone ramen. When I arrived, the parking lot around the shop was empty and there was no wait. I took a photo of the exterior and entered the shop, which was half full. The shop offers four types of soup: "Tonkotsu 100%," "Tonkotsu 28," "Tonkotsu 36," and the shop's original rich pork bone soup called "Doro." I purchased my meal ticket at the entrance ticket machine. Today, I chose the "Doro Ramen (firm noodles) ¥880" and "B Set (half-fried rice + fried chicken) ¥350" that cannot be eaten at other shops. I helped myself to pickled mustard greens, pickled ginger, and water, and my ramen was ready in less than 10 minutes. When I took a sip of the soup, it was rich and flavorful with no unpleasant smell, delicious! I haven't had authentic pork bone ramen in a while. I got addicted to it in my 30s and gained 20kg, so I know I shouldn't eat it too often, but it's dangerously delicious! Even though I had just eaten, I found myself eating the fried chicken as well. The fried rice was a bit oily and salty. Before I knew it, I had finished the noodles first out of habit? I reluctantly ordered a "kaedama (extra noodles) ¥180." At ¥180, you can have two bowls, that's the most dangerous thing about pork bone ramen. I couldn't finish the soup completely. It was truly a popular shop. Thank you for the meal.

I had the opportunity to visit Gyorantei in Kokura. I was happy to see that they have continuous service. I arrived around 5:30 and was seated right away. The system is to purchase a meal ticket and then be shown to your seat. I ordered the Doro Ramen, Jyuwari Ramen, and half Cha-han. The Doro Ramen had a creamy foam cappuccino soup that was quite sweet and mellow, more like chicken white broth than pork bone. It was delicious. The Jyuwari Ramen had a soy sauce-based pork bone soup that was quite rich in flavor. It was my first time trying this type of soup, but it was also delicious. The restaurant quickly filled up after I arrived, with people lining up outside. It's a popular place, for sure.

When you hear "100% pork bone! Thick and creamy!" you might imagine a strong and smelly pork bone broth, but surprisingly, the soup is creamy and rich in flavor. Once you start drinking it, you won't be able to stop. This ramen has a delicious taste that is addictive. It was so delicious. I would like to explore other flavors of ramen from Gyorantei, a restaurant established in Showa 21 in Kitakyushu, when I visit Kitakyushu.

Creamy tonkotsu ramen with plenty of wood ear mushrooms is a must-try in Fukuoka. Surprisingly easy to eat with a slurp, and you'll definitely want a second helping. The chashu is also delicious and satisfying. The only downside is that it's a bit difficult to access.

"Doro" "B Set" after a long time. The person who likes Jumok and still orders Doro... The Jumok has a Kurume ramen-like quality, but the creamy coating is described as... The lard-coated, gooey texture is already overwhelming. Above all, the slightly hard, medium-thick noodles are delicious. The feeling of slipping in while being wrapped in a slightly salty coating is irresistible. The soup that follows is heavyweight. Was it always like this... haha, it's amazing. Personally, I like the easy-to-eat and rich feeling of Jumok. Doro might be the best when you're exhausted... Gyorantei is amazing.

I had a late lunch around 1:30 pm, so I was able to sit down right away without waiting. I ordered the Doro Nibuta Ramen (1,030 yen) with an extra serving of noodles (180 yen). The tonkotsu broth was creamy and not too strong, but the sweetness in the aftertaste might be a hit or miss for some people. Personally, I didn't like it very much. I usually like my noodles firm, but for this ramen, I think normal or soft would be better to balance with the soup. This was my fourth ramen shop since coming to Fukuoka in January, and finally I found a place that I would consider revisiting. While I think it's great that tonkotsu ramen has become a popular brand, it's a shame that the cost performance has been lost. I will visit again when I'm in the mood for ramen. Thank you for the meal.

Day trip to Kitakyushu for a business meeting. The only thing I was looking forward to was lunch. I took an early flight and headed straight to the restaurant I had in mind, only to find out that it was closed due to the recent heavy rain and flooding. My thoughts are with everyone affected by the disaster. I decided to try Gyorantei instead. When I arrived, the place was almost full, but I managed to get a seat at the counter by the wall. First, I bought meal tickets from the machine - I chose the creamy egg ramen and half fried rice. I remembered how delicious it looked when someone next to me had it last time! I handed the tickets to the staff and requested firm noodles. In no time, the dishes were served! The ramen had a creamy and sweet soup with a rich pork bone flavor. The noodles had a good texture and paired perfectly with the soup. The toppings like wood ear mushrooms and green onions added a nice touch. The fried rice was simple yet delicious, with a crispy texture. I finished the meal in no time and it was truly satisfying. The food was so good! I hope everyone in Kyushu stays safe, especially with the approaching typhoon. I will definitely visit again.

The only ramen shop in Kitakyushu, which is ranked number one on Tabelog and selected as one of the top 100 restaurants by west. Established in 1946, Gyoran Tei offers a unique tonkotsu ramen made from 100% domestically produced pork bones. The rich and creamy soup is delicious, not too heavy or overpowering. You can choose between the full tonkotsu ramen and the 80% tonkotsu ramen with chicken broth. Both options come with generous slices of pork and a delicious seasoned egg topping. I visited right at noon on a weekday, and the place was almost full. You can enjoy free refills of spicy pickled vegetables. I ordered the "Dorora-men" for 850 yen, with extra green onions for 150 yen and an extra serving of noodles for 180 yen. Spending over 1000 yen for lunch felt a bit luxurious. Next time, I want to try adding the limited edition set of two pieces of fried chicken and mini rice for 150 yen into my soup to finish off the meal. Gyoran Tei has recently opened a branch in Fukuoka's Yakuin area, and it's always crowded. It's a popular spot from Kitakyushu to Fukuoka. Thank you for the delicious meal.

One of my favorite ramen restaurants in Kitakyushu is Gyorantei! When you think of Gyorantei, you think of their unique Doro Ramen. I had tried Doro Ramen at their Karita branch a long time ago, but I vowed never to eat it again because the oil was floating on top and the taste was off. However, when I tried the Doro Ramen at the main branch, I became addicted. Despite the increase in prices due to the high cost of ingredients, the deliciousness of the ramen is worth every penny. The rich, not too oily, and easy-to-drink soup guarantees that you will finish every last drop. I highly recommend everyone to visit this restaurant at least once.

Today, I visited this shop alone at 12:45. Surprisingly, the parking lot was empty. Upon entering, the shop was not as crowded as I expected for this time. I ordered the Doro Ramen for 880 yen with normal hardness. The staff was average. As for the taste, it was indeed thick. The soup was a bit on the lighter side and not too hot. I noticed the homemade spicy pickles halfway through, maybe I didn't need to add them. The pork was tender, and the noodles were thick. Overall, I might have had too high expectations. I didn't feel anything particularly special about it (just my personal opinion). The soup cooled down towards the end. The price of 880 yen was a bit high, but I guess it can't be helped. Thank you for the meal.