Located in Takahama, Kokura Kita-ku, Kitakyushu City. A Kagoshima ramen shop that has won the NY Ramen Contest two years in a row, with its main store in Kagoshima. The first store outside Kagoshima in Kyushu is the Kokura store. The basic ramen comes in three types: light tonkotsu ramen, layered tonkotsu ramen, and spicy layered ramen. These three types of ramen also come with options for extra toppings like chashu, seasoned egg, and special (with all toppings). Side menu items include gyoza, fried chicken, white rice, and extra noodles. Toppings and drinks are also available. Orders are placed through a ticket vending machine system. This time, I ordered the light tonkotsu ramen (780 yen) and gyoza (320 yen). The light tonkotsu ramen features a double soup of tonkotsu and chicken broth, with thin noodles similar to medium-thick noodles. The chashu is tender, and there is plenty of fried green onions and bean sprouts on top. The flavor is on the rich side, typical of Kagoshima ramen, but personally, I think this level of richness is just right. The use of Kagoshima soy sauce gives it a strong sweetness. The noodles have a good chewy texture. The green onions are great, but the bean sprouts can be skipped as they tend to get watery. The pickles unique to Kagoshima ramen are provided on the table. The gyoza are bite-sized and have a crispy yet chewy skin, with a meaty filling that is delicious even without dipping sauce. The staff seemed a bit unorganized, possibly due to the recent opening, and the menu was not fully available. Overall, the taste is good, so there is potential for improvement. Thank you for the meal.

There are a lot of congratulatory flowers displayed at the storefront, so it seems like a new shop. It's called Jiro, but it's not the Jiro-style ramen. It's a tonkotsu ramen from Kagoshima, Ibusuki. When you enter, you buy a meal ticket at the ticket machine on the right side. The noodles are great. My hometown of Miyazaki also mainly uses medium-thick noodles, which seem to be the same here. The texture of the noodles is very familiar. The wheat aroma of the noodles and the salty taste of the pork bone soup are very delicious. It has a lot of bean sprouts, and the chashu is tender with a rich flavor. Kagoshima ramen is also unique. It has a light tonkotsu taste but with a deep flavor. It is different from Miyazaki and Kumamoto ramen. This time, I had it with curry. It's a Western-style spiced curry. You can smell the garlic. The spiciness is like black pepper or red hot chili, with a sharp kick. Since it's rich in flavor, I don't recommend eating it before the ramen. I also like the Hakata-style ramen with thin noodles, but I really enjoy the ramen with medium-thick noodles. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the meal.

◉Genre: Ramen, Fried Chicken, Gyoza ◉Area: Takahama, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City ◉Access: About 5 minutes by car from JR Kokura Station ◉Parking: Available ◉Credit Card Payment: Not available ◉Number of Visits: First time ◉Number of Reviews: 1st review On this day, I casually visited "Menya Jiro Kitakyushu Kokura Store." ◇Exterior and Interior This ramen shop is located in Takahama, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu City. It is a branch that originated from Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, and opened in August last year (2022). The shop has a spacious parking lot and a conventional yet spacious interior. ◇Seating This ramen shop in Kokurakita-ku has a higher seating capacity than usual. ◇Menu Structure They use a ticket vending machine system. I will skip the details on ramen, but the side menu includes fried chicken, gyoza, and more. I ordered the following: - Fried Chicken (440 yen) → Tax-inclusive price, a set of 3 pieces. Despite the common practice of selling 4 pieces, they sell 3 pieces, but that's understandable. (laughs) The fried chicken at ramen shops tends to have a strong seasoning unintentionally, in my experience. Perhaps because they want to stand out alongside the ramen... I'm not sure, but this shop also falls into the strong seasoning category. The meat is juicy, and the seasoning is the classic Japanese-style fried chicken. However, it's strong in flavor and a bit greasy... (bitter smile) Anyway, it makes you crave for plain rice. ◆Strong Points They have reached their 1st anniversary! ◆Service Average. ◆Conclusion Next time, I'll try the champon. Thank you for the meal.

Today's lunch was at Menya Jiro Kokura branch. My partner chose the "Kokura Chanpon," so I decided to go with the "Tonkotsu Ramen Kasane Aji" with a side of fried rice set, just like last time. The "Tonkotsu Ramen Kasane Aji" had a sweet broth with bean sprouts, green onions, and thick slices of chashu, making it quite filling on its own. And with the fried rice on the side, it was a satisfying meal (*´ω｀*). The "Kokura Chanpon" had a delicious soup with well-cooked vegetables and plenty of them, offering a different kind of goodness compared to ramen (*^。^*).

Today, I visited Ramenya Jiro in Kokura Kita-ku for the second time. The restaurant is located along Route 563, across from Matsuboku-en Hotel. They use a vending machine system, so first-timers may find it a bit confusing. I ordered the fried rice set for 1180 yen. The restaurant has a spacious interior with around 50 seats at the counter and tables. The soup was a gentle blend of sweet and spicy flavors with added pork bone, creating a mild taste. The homemade noodles were chewy and elastic. The marinated pork was tender and flavorful. The fried rice was filled with ingredients and had a gentle taste. Each dish was carefully prepared with the chef's hospitality. It was a delicious meal. Thank you for the feast.

I visited early in the evening. I couldn't decide between the curry set or the fried rice, but ended up choosing the fried rice. The ramen had delicious soup and noodles, and the pork slices were especially tasty. The portion size was quite generous, and I was satisfied. Next time, I will try the curry set.

Today, I visited Kagoshima Ibushi-style Ramen Jiro in Kokura Kita Ward, Fukuoka Prefecture for the first time. It is located along Route 563, across from Matsuboku-en Hotel. The restaurant operates with a vending machine system, so first-time visitors may find it confusing. I ordered the fried chicken set for 1160 yen. The restaurant has about 50 seats, including counter and table seating, providing a spacious environment. The soup was a blend of pork bone and chicken broth, with no unpleasant odor, enhanced by fried green onions and bean sprouts, creating a gentle and easy-to-drink broth. The homemade medium noodles had a chewy texture. The chashu pork was well-marinated and melted in the mouth. The fried chicken was also well-seasoned, with hot juices bursting out when bitten into. Each dish was meticulously prepared by the chef, reflecting his hospitality. It was a delightful dining experience. Thank you for the delicious meal.

December 29, 2022, 4th visit. My companion loves spicy food, so they ordered the Spicy Ramen with Flavored Egg for 900 yen, while I opted for the Lightly Seasoned Karaage Set again for 1,160 yen, with an extra serving of noodles for 150 yen, totaling 2,210 yen. I forgot to confirm if they could make it without garlic again. Such a scatterbrain. LOL.

Tonkotsu ramen kasane flavor for 800 yen, Burnt garlic spice curry for 650 yen. Ranked 28th in the ramen division in Kagoshima Prefecture, with a rating of 3.39 stars as of the first week of December 2022. The shop is called Menya Jiro Ibusuki Main Store. I decided to try both ramen and curry at the same time, but it seemed overwhelming for one person, so I dragged a crew member along to visit the shop. I ordered the curry for myself and instructed the crew member to try the ramen. The ordering is done through a ticket vending machine, and QR code payments are also accepted. The curry had a mysterious taste, similar to demi-glace sauce, slightly oily, and with a subtle Western curry flavor. It was moderately spicy, comparable to level 1.75 at CoCo Ichibanya. The two large pieces of fried chicken were made with tasty chicken thigh meat, but the texture was a bit rough. The ramen had medium-thick noodles with a chewy texture, topped with plenty of green onions and bean sprouts. Contrary to its appearance, the soup was quite light and lacked a strong broth flavor. Surprisingly, it was quite sweet, possibly due to the sweet soy sauce base. Overall, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't the type of ramen I would crave to eat again. I pondered whether this ramen would be well-received in Kitakyushu as I made my way back home. Today, December 2nd, is Japanese Human Space Flight Day, commemorating the successful space flight of Japanese journalist Toyohiro Akiyama aboard the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz TM-11 in 1990. It's not me, though. PayPay is accepted.

Today was the day to renew my license. I thought there wouldn't be too many people since it was a weekday, but when I arrived earlier than the opening time, there were already about 20 people in line! I used to go on Sundays, so compared to that, it was fewer, but still surprising to see so many people. Well, it was good that I came early. I managed to pass the eyesight test just in time. I just said something random, but it seemed to be correct by chance. The seminar was a 2-hour traffic violator course. My gold license was taken away a few years ago because of consecutive violations. I've been trying to drive safely since then... or so I think. After the course, I received my new license and the renewal was done. I then went for the oil change I had reserved and decided to visit a ramen shop in Kokura, which I haven't been to recently. I chose "Menya Jiro" because it had a spacious parking lot. I thought it might be the famous "Jiro" ramen chain, but it turned out to be a Kagoshima ramen shop with a main store in Ibusuki City. It seems to be a chain with 4 stores in Kagoshima, 1 in Kanagawa, and 1 in Fukuoka. Surprisingly, there are also 3 stores in the US! The location is across from the Matsuboku-en Hotel on Route 3. The building has housed different shops many times before, so it was interesting to see the new "Menya Jiro" take on the modern ramen shop look. The exterior was subtly appealing. The parking lot was in front and to the side of the shop. A large banner boasting "NEW YORK Ramen Contest 2 Consecutive Victories" was hung outside. I've seen this "NEW YORK Ramen Contest" somewhere before, but I don't really know what it is, and winning 2 consecutive times is impressive! I entered the shop with curiosity. Inside, there was a front room with a ticket machine on the right side. The kitchen was on the left side as you entered, with a raised seating area on the right. There was a counter facing the kitchen, and three 4-seater tables on the right side. The noodle-making room was at the back. The shop was run by 6 staff members. I ordered the default Tonkotsu Ramen for 780 yen. There were about 3 customers ahead of me, but more people started coming in as lunchtime approached. The interior had a lot of wood elements, creating a calm atmosphere. The Tonkotsu Ramen arrived in about 2-3 minutes. The bowl was red ceramic, slightly curved at the bottom and open at the top. The toppings included chashu, bean sprouts, and green onions, with small brownish grains floating on top. I thought it might be chili oil, but it wasn't oily, so I wondered what it was. The soup was a light and mild tonkotsu base with a subtle aroma. It didn't have a strong taste, but was well-balanced with a hint of chicken at the end. Even those who don't like tonkotsu might enjoy it. The noodles were medium-thick straight noodles with a slightly flat shape. They were smooth and slippery, with a high water content giving them a slightly translucent appearance. The noodles had a bit of firmness and elasticity, with a satisfying chewiness. The chashu was thin and tender, with a mix of soft and chewy textures, and a slightly sweet flavor.

Third visit on October 16, 2022. Once again, had the light tonkotsu ramen for 780 yen and the burnt garlic spice curry set for 280 yen. Huh? Last time there was no mention of "burnt garlic." Distracted by the burnt garlic mention, forgot to confirm if it could be made without garlic again.

Parking available. Ticket vending machine system. There are both table seats and tatami seats, making it easy for families with children to visit. Ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen Kasane flavor and curry. Was not asked about the firmness of the noodles. Tonkotsu Ramen Kasane flavor. Overall, it was quite light. It was hard to tell if it was really Tonkotsu Ramen or something else. Added some pepper and garlic from the table, but still found it too light for my liking. The chashu had a good thickness and flavor. The curry was very spicy. Although I'm not a big fan of spicy food, it was better than the ramen. It was just on the edge of being too spicy for me. I ended up leaving half of it uneaten (ノ_＜). The fried chicken on top had a crispy skin and was delicious. It was lightly seasoned, but it paired well with the curry.

September 23, 2022, 2nd time. Last time, the double flavor was too strong, so this time I had the light tonkotsu ramen for 780 yen, curry set for 280 yen, total 1,060 yen. The light tonkotsu ramen is definitely more delicious! I forgot to confirm if they could make it without garlic.

Visited for the first time on September 13, 2022. Had the Kasane flavor for 800 yen. It was quite rich and the garlic was intense! The chashu was too fatty, one slice was enough. I wonder if they can make it without garlic? I don't eat ramen often, but the noodles were excellent! Next time, I'll try the light pork bone flavor.

I visited the newly opened "Menya Jiro Kokura Store" in Kokura Kita-ku last month. There were already 8 reviews on Tabelog, and there were frequent posts on the Facebook page "Kitakyushu Ramen," so I had been waiting for the right timing to visit. When I arrived around 10:50 am, there were already about 8 groups waiting in line. There was a ticket machine on the right side of the entrance, and I ordered the "Kasane Ajitama Ramen" and the "Karaage Curry." I really wanted to try the fried rice, but unfortunately, it is only available in the evening. About 10 minutes after ordering, the "Karaage Curry" arrived, followed shortly by the "Kasane Ajitama Ramen." The "Kasane Ajitama Ramen" had a sweet soy sauce pork bone broth with a fragrant burnt garlic flavor. The balance with the chewy homemade medium noodles was great. It was filled with bean sprouts and fried green onions, and the portion was generous. On the other hand, the "Karaage Curry" had a spicy and traditional curry flavor, which I enjoyed. The karaage was juicy and substantial. I don't usually order curry at a ramen shop, but I was very satisfied. It felt like I caught a glimpse of the skills that won the NEW YORK Ramen Contest two years in a row. I would like to try the "Light Pork Bone" and the "Fried Rice," so I will visit again.

I ordered a small rice dish, one with a light flavor and one with a spicy flavor. The red bowl was the light one, and the black bowl was the spicy one. The rice came with a special miso sauce that paired really well with it. Pickles were also provided as a complimentary side dish on the table. The light dish was like a salt ramen, a light pork bone ramen that was flavorful and delicious. The spicy dish also had a strong flavor, although it was labeled as spicy, it wasn't actually very spicy. The chashu pork slices were flavorful and went well with the rice. The prices were reasonable, the portions were generous, and I left very satisfied! The dishes all had rich flavors. I personally enjoy bold flavors, so I would like to come back again.

We visited this new restaurant at the request of my companion. It was 1:00 PM on a weekday. Yesterday, it was open price at 500 yen, but we gave up due to the long line of cars. Today, we thought it would be easier to get in since it's the regular price. However, the parking lot was full at this time. We waited for about 20 minutes until we got a seat. There were many families with children due to the summer vacation. The parking lot can accommodate 25 cars, which is quite large. We bought tickets at the ticket machine. When you buy multiple tickets, they come out connected in the middle, which was new to me. Maybe to distinguish them in the kitchen? There is a noodle making room at the back. There are many seats, including a counter and tables for four people. Large paper lanterns hang, swaying in the air conditioning breeze, and I watched them until we were seated at the counter. There was pickled radish on the table, and my companion told me it's a feature of Kagoshima (Ibusuki?) ramen. - Light pork bone ramen 780 yen ... I ordered - Double-flavored pork bone ramen 800 yen The light pork bone ramen had a crispy aroma, probably from the fried leeks. The soup was light and had a strong chicken broth flavor. It had a slight sweetness, umami, and a well-balanced taste that was quite satisfying and not boring. In Kitakyushu, there are similar light pork bone chicken broth ramen (especially in the Inishie style), but if the balance is slightly off, the umami can be weak and not so good. However, the one I had this time was light and had a subtle yet lingering taste. The fried leeks did a good job without being overwhelming. There was a good amount of saltiness, which was probably necessary for balance. The noodles were homemade, thick square cross-sectioned, and had a smooth texture. And the portion was large! It was too much for me, a middle-aged person with a small appetite. I could only eat about 2/3 of it. Sorry for leaving some. But for this amount, 780 yen is reasonable. My companion, who is also not young, managed to finish it, but she quietly commented that she wished they would reduce the noodle and bean sprout amount and offer a 100 yen discount. The chashu had a good thickness and a tasty sauce. The double-flavored pork bone ramen soup had a unique roasted garlic aroma and a rich flavor. It was said to have chashu sauce in it, but since the light pork bone ramen was quite salty, I didn't feel the strong taste. It was a new and delicious sweet soy sauce pork bone ramen in Kitakyushu, which had a punchy and tasty flavor. Personally, I prefer the soup of the light pork bone ramen, but I think many people like the double-flavored one. The chopped leeks had a nice aroma, and there were plenty of bean sprouts, making it quite filling. But there were constant orders for extra noodles. That's how delicious it is. I tried it without any preconceptions based on the information about Kagoshima ramen, and it turned out to be a delightful lunch. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the famous ramen shop in Kagoshima, where there was a long line for three days at 500 yen, but on the fourth day, they offered a 100 yen discount. Even with the discount, the operation was not smooth due to being newly opened, resulting in slow service. I ordered a simple tonkotsu ramen with boiled egg topping. The taste was neither bad nor good, lacking depth and uniqueness. It was disappointing. Maybe I should have ordered their recommended "kasane" instead? I wonder if I should give it another try...

✔️Tonkotsu Ramen/Light (¥780→¥500) ✔️Tonkotsu Ramen/Double Flavor (¥800→¥500) ✔️Tonkotsu Ramen/Spicy Double Flavor (¥800→¥500) *For 3 days only on 8/5, 6, 7, enjoy a bowl of ramen for ¥500 each. A renowned restaurant from Kagoshima, winner of the NY Ramen Contest two years in a row, has landed in Fukuoka! Located right in front of Matsukashi Park Hotel with parking available. The spacious interior offers table and counter seating, making it welcoming for families or solo diners. I tried all three varieties, and the blend of pork bone and chicken broth in the soup was light and gentle, with no overpowering flavors. The noodles were chewy and complemented the broth well. My favorite was the "Spicy Double Flavor" with its addictive lingering spiciness that had me finishing it in no time. During the opening 3 days, only ramen is served, with side dishes available from 8 onwards. I will definitely be back. Thank you for the delicious meal!

I accidentally ordered the light tonkotsu ramen instead of the famous layered flavor. It was light, but the noodles were delicious. I want to try the layered flavor next time. Thank you for the meal!

The noodles are delicious, but to be honest, the fried chicken is so good that I might just order the fried chicken set meal next time.