I'm happy that they are open late after work. There were customers drinking alcohol, and the appetizers were great. I had ramen, which was light. The ramen with gyoza and seasoned egg was delicious! Next time, I want to try adding more appetizers.

This time, I visited the tonkotsu ramen restaurant "Ganso Kurume Ramen Fukuya" in Azabu-Juban. I saw a video about this place on Tutorial Tokui's YouTube channel and it piqued my interest. When I entered the shop, I saw signatures of famous people lined up on the walls. It's definitely a popular spot! I ordered the Half-Boiled Flavored Egg Ramen (1000 yen). Compared to tonkotsu ramen in Fukuoka, the price is a bit higher in Tokyo, but the taste of the ramen was exactly like the tonkotsu ramen in Fukuoka! It's great that they are open until late at night.

After more than 10 years, I visited this restaurant located along my running route and almost got lured in by the enticing smell as usual. This time, I went during the day. Despite the strong aroma emanating from outside the store, the ramen itself was actually light and easy to eat. I was pleasantly surprised by the fried lard that added a nice touch. It reminded me of the "cannon ramen." They also have a variety of side menu items, making it a convenient spot if it's nearby. I remember 14 years ago when I first moved to Tokyo, there were reviews saying things like "smells like pork bones, rating 1" or "smells like a beast, rating 1" about this place. It was probably around that time that I first thought how dangerous it is for Tabelog (Japanese restaurant review site) not to delete such ignorant user posts. This incident may have been one of the reasons or memories that prompted me to start keeping a food log last year.

A genuine Kurume ramen shop. If you go during lunchtime, you can get a good deal, and you get free extra noodles or rice. You can eat as much spicy pickled vegetables and spicy bean sprouts on the table, and they go well with the ramen. I always end up eating too much every time.

During a regular lunchtime visit, I arrived a little before 12 o'clock at a restaurant that was almost full, with 90% occupancy. I managed to find one available seat and ordered the ramen for ¥900. I requested the noodles to be cooked firm. It took about 5 minutes from placing my order to the ramen being served, which was quite fast considering there were only two staff members in the kitchen and the dining area. One of the key features of Kurume ramen, unlike Hakata or Nagahama ramen, is its milky white pork bone soup with ultra-thin straight noodles. The pork bone smell is mild, making it easier for those who are not fond of strong pork bone flavors to enjoy. Additionally, adding red pickled ginger or spicy mustard greens from the table condiments can further reduce the pork bone smell, and sprinkling white sesame seeds enhances the flavor. During lunchtime, you get a free extra serving of noodles for each ramen ordered, making the price of ¥900 reasonable, especially when considering the location. I have decided to revisit this place.

"Fuku-Ya" is located right near the Asakusa-Jujo intersection and is open late at night, which is very convenient. I visited casually after a night of drinking. I had the semi-soft seasoned egg ramen (1000 yen) with firm noodles. It had a rich and strong soup typical of Kurume style, but was easy to eat and perfect for a late-night meal. Thank you for the meal.

I visited a tonkotsu Kurume ramen restaurant during lunchtime on a weekday. The price was 900 yen, and they offered a free extra noodle service. There were no other customers when I arrived, and the staff consisted of two energetic young men. The table had red pickled ginger, bean sprout namul, no spicy pickled mustard greens, sesame seeds, and garlic.

During a regular lunchtime visit, I returned to the restaurant a little before 12 o'clock and found it completely full. I waited for about 10 minutes before being seated. I ordered the tonkotsu Kurume ramen for 900 yen. It took about 5 minutes from ordering to when the ramen was served. When ordering the ramen, they asked about the firmness of the noodles, so it's recommended to decide your preference beforehand. I always go for firm noodles, like "kona-otoshi" style. The thin noodles, similar to Kyushu ramen, were just right in firmness from the boiling to serving time. The taste was consistent with their usual rich pork bone soup, and the crispy thin straight noodles softened just right as I ate, making it delicious. Due to its convenience, I have decided to revisit this place.

I visited around 11:35 am on a regular day. The restaurant has 5 counter seats and 3 tables, giving off a casual izakaya vibe. I pointed at a photo on the menu and ordered the Negi Ramen with firm noodles. I was surprised by how quickly the ramen arrived. It took about 1 to 2 minutes, which made me wonder if they made the ramen in advance. However, when it arrived, it was not the Negi Ramen I ordered but the basic Kurume Ramen. The soup was creamy, with a mild pork bone flavor and not too salty. It was tasty but didn't have any standout features. The noodles were thin and straight. The dish came with two thin slices of chashu pork and a bit of green onion. The portion size seemed small to me. There were various condiments on the table like pickled ginger, mustard greens, bean sprout namul, and grated garlic. The lunch menu mentioned that rice or extra noodles were free, but this was not verbally explained to me. Personally, I didn't feel completely satisfied with the meal, but it was still tasty.

I had the Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen at Fuku-ya in Mabushijuhachi. I felt like having tonkotsu ramen, so I visited the restaurant right at the opening time of 11:30 am. The interior of the restaurant was decorated with autographs of celebrities, and it quickly filled up with customers. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen with normal noodle firmness and topped it with red pickled ginger and takana (pickled mustard greens) from the table. It was delicious. When you order ramen, you can get a free serving of rice or an extra helping of noodles, and I chose the extra noodles. If you're interested, definitely give it a try!

During a regular lunchtime visit around 1 pm, the restaurant was 80% full with casually dressed male customers. I ordered the Kurume Ramen for 900 yen, specifying that I wanted the noodles to be firm. The ramen arrived in about 5 minutes, with a pork bone broth and straight thin noodles, a classic Kyushu style ramen. The broth was not as strong in pork bone flavor as Hakata ramen, and the richness was more subdued compared to Nagahama ramen. The slices of pork were thin, so I mixed them with the noodles. The ramen came with green onions and tempura bits, and I added pickled ginger, spicy mustard greens, and sesame seeds from the condiments on the table. I quickly finished the noodles before they became too soft. About halfway through, I ordered an extra serving of noodles, also specifying that I wanted them firm. Even though I asked for the noodles to be firm, the "firm" texture here was softer than at other Kyushu ramen shops, so I recommend the "powder-drop" option for those who prefer firmer noodles. The restaurant was run by two people, one Japanese and one foreigner, so the turnover of customers was high, and even when full, the wait time was only about 4-5 minutes. I definitely plan to visit this restaurant again.

A Hakata ramen restaurant near Ichino Hashi that is open late at night, offering a variety of snacks in addition to ramen. When I visited around 11:00 PM on Saturday, the place was full, but I was happy to enjoy the delicious grilled dumplings served in sets of four. I also enjoyed the flavored egg ramen with spicy pickled mustard greens and sesame for added flavor. The seats were constantly filled with customers coming and going.

"Fuku-ya" located right by the Azabu-Juban intersection boasts itself as serving the original Kurume ramen. Lately, it seems to be run by foreign nationals during the night. As the name suggests, the Kurume ramen here features crispy fried pork lard floating in the soup, which was a traditional ingredient in Kurume ramen. However, it may raise eyebrows for those familiar with Kurume ramen, as the noodles used here are quite thin, closer to Nagahama ramen. Kurume ramen typically uses thicker noodles that are softer, rather than firm noodles like in Nagahama or Hakata ramen. Additionally, they do not offer extra noodle servings, which is a characteristic of authentic Kurume ramen. If they claim to be the "original," it might be better for them to align more with the traditional Kurume ramen. Overall, it was a satisfying meal. ☆Sotaikoi Kurume Ramen Ranking 1. Kuiyoi Ken (Delivery) 4.5 2. Maruboshi Ramen (Main Store) 4.3 2. Hanyo-ken (Delivery) 4.3 4. An-san Shokudo (Delivery) 4.2 5. Maruku (Delivery) 4.1 5. Honda Shoten (Delivery) 4.1 7. Taiho Ramen (Delivery) 4.0 8. Taiho Ramen (Fukuoka Tenjin) 3.9 8. Benge (Delivery) 3.9 8. Daitatsu Ramen (Delivery) 3.9 11. Seiyo-ken (Delivery) 3.8 12. Koryu Ramen (Delivery) 3.5 13. Fuku-ya (Azabu-Juban) 3.4 14. Kurumeya (Uchisaiwai-cho) 3.3 *Delivery refers to frozen or refrigerated products, with soup, noodles, and ingredients being the same as those used in the restaurant.

I went to the original Kurume ramen restaurant "Fukuya" located right near Mabu-Juichiban Station. The noodles in the tonkotsu ramen were thin and straight, which paired well with the tonkotsu soup and tasted delicious. The soup was made from tonkotsu but was light and not too strong, making it easy to eat. There was plenty of green onions as well. There were many types of appetizers to choose from, making it hard to decide. I also ordered a bite-sized gyoza, which paired perfectly with the ramen.

During a weekday lunchtime around 11:30, I revisited the restaurant and found it to be fully packed with a waiting time of about 10 minutes before I could enter. While they usually have only one staff member, today there were two staff members - one Japanese and one foreigner - with the Japanese staff handling the cooking and the foreign staff managing the front of house. I ordered the Tonkotsu Kurume Ramen for ¥820, which had increased by ¥20 from my last visit. The noodles were cooked just right in 7 minutes, and I requested them to be slightly firm. Even though I usually order them as normal, I find the noodles here to be softer than expected, so I have gradually moved up to ordering them slightly firm. Before I knew it, I found that the slightly firm noodles were the most delicious. They offer free extra noodles up to one serving, so I added an extra serving when I was halfway through my bowl. It arrived within 2-3 minutes. I added spicy pickled vegetables, red pickled ginger, and ramen soy sauce from the table condiments to change up the flavor and finished my meal. I have decided to revisit this restaurant again.

I heard that there is a famous restaurant in Asakusa that has inherited the legacy of Kurume Ramen TaiEi. I visited the restaurant and found that there were no other customers around 6 pm on a weekday. The staff seemed to be Brazilian. The walls were filled with autographs of celebrities. I ordered the Ajitama Ramen (930 yen). It was quite light and refreshing, which was a bit unexpected. However, I suppose this is the style of local ramen in Kurume. It was the kind of ramen that you could eat every day. I added extra noodles (150 yen) and customized it with sesame seeds, garlic, pickled mustard greens, and red pickled ginger. It became exactly to my liking and was incredibly delicious. I paid with Paypay and received a 20% discount. I left satisfied. Thank you for the meal.

I visited the restaurant for lunch when I was short on time. When I arrived around 12:40, there were no customers, possibly due to the rain. I ordered the Ajitama Ramen for 920 yen, which came with free extra noodles or rice for lunch. I reluctantly opted for the extra noodles despite it being a diet enemy. The soup, although pork bone-based, was not overly strong in flavor and had a clear taste. The thin straight noodles paired well with the soup, making it delicious. The table was stocked with spicy bean sprouts, pickled ginger, and spicy mustard greens, offering a variety of toppings for added satisfaction. The service was quick, and while the restaurant didn't have any standout features, the abundance of toppings and overall tasty experience make it worth revisiting if given the chance.

Ramen has always been a quick and affordable lunch option for salarymen, right? In the past, maybe... Nowadays, it's common for ramen to cost over 1,000 yen. Ramen has evolved with no additives, carefully selected ingredients... If you think about these things in the morning, you'll suddenly crave ramen. There are different types of ramen based on the soup, but today I feel like tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen. Speaking of tonkotsu, "Ganso Tonkotsu Kurume Ramen Fukuya Azabujuban" is just 30 seconds from Azabujuban Station. The entrance is small, so you need to time it right. I arrived at 1:10 PM. Alright! Two customers were already there. The wall above the counter is filled with signatures of celebrities. I ordered the 3rd most popular ramen "Zenbu-nose Ramen" for 1,420 yen. I also ordered the complimentary rice during lunchtime. The free bean sprouts in the pot were delicious while waiting for my order. Hmm, I feel like having a beer... but I'll resist since it's lunchtime. Later, the ramen and rice were served! Oh, it looks so good, doesn't it? Definitely looks delicious just by appearance. The tonkotsu flavor seeps into the soup. It suppresses the strong smell of tonkotsu and leaves a rich taste that can be accepted in Kanto. It was worth coming to this place. The "Zenbu-nose" ramen has a variety of toppings (laughs). There are many things to enjoy, but the best part is wrapping the seaweed soaked in soup around the white rice. This is so delicious! And adding thinly sliced ​​pork to the seaweed roll... This is like a new menu at a sushi restaurant (laughs). One downside of tonkotsu ramen is that the thin noodles may not be filling enough. To make up for this, there's the system of "kaedama" (extra noodles)! I added kaedama for 160 yen. Yes, I thoroughly enjoyed the tonkotsu ramen. It was delicious! Ramen is great. This feeling of fullness is satisfaction. I'll come back again. Thank you for the meal.

At Azabu-Juban, you can enjoy authentic Kurume ramen. It's located about a 1-minute walk from Azabu-Juban station. The restaurant has a counter with 5 seats and about 3 table seats. The walls are filled with autographs of celebrities. In addition to Kurume ramen, the menu also includes gyoza, rice dishes, small appetizers, and alcohol for casual drinking. When ordering, I got the Half-Boiled Seasoned Egg Ramen and the Salt Musubi Ramen. They asked about the firmness of the noodles, and I requested them firm. The noodles are thin, and the toppings include chashu, green onions, and a half-boiled seasoned egg. The soup has a slightly wild taste, giving it a Kyushu vibe. The Salt Musubi Ramen has a nice balance of salt and is delicious. They also accept PayPay and stay open late, which is convenient. Thank you for the meal.

During a regular visit, the restaurant was 90% full, with only one seat available. I ordered the Kurume ramen for 800 yen, requesting the noodles to be cooked slightly soft. Despite the advertised 3-second cooking time for the noodles, they still felt a bit too soft for my liking. The foreign staff members, who spoke fluent Japanese, prepared the ramen in about 5 minutes, and it was the most delicious I've had at this restaurant. While I usually prefer the dishes made by these foreign staff members, there are times when Japanese staff members are on duty, and the taste is completely different, to the point where I don't even feel like ordering free extra noodles. There seems to be a hit-or-miss factor when it comes to the taste, so it all depends on luck, but I would definitely consider revisiting this place.