I visited this restaurant by bus from Takao Station for the first time in about 3 years. I used to frequent this place when I lived in Takao for a year and a half over 10 years ago. Yasaku is a restaurant that can be considered the originator of tonkotsu ramen, following the tradition of Kurume ramen. Unlike the current trend of rich soup, their tonkotsu ramen is clear and light, with a unique taste that is not overpowering. When I visited, there were few other customers and I overheard some nostalgic conversations. The taste remains the same, but the place seems to have become more popular without me realizing. It is run by an elderly couple, so I hope people will visit without overcrowding the place.

I stopped by Yasaku-san along Route 20 in Nishi-Hachioji, Hachioji City, Tokyo. There are three parking spaces available. On Sundays, the neighboring shop is closed, so two parking spaces are empty, making it easier to make a U-turn. I ordered the lunch set A (900 yen) for both my wife and myself. Although my wife initially said she was fine with the Shio Tonkotsu Ramen (800 yen), I convinced her that the A set, which includes pickled vegetables, seasoned chashu, and rice for an extra 100 yen, was a better deal. As a result, I ended up eating most of the rice. The pickled vegetables and seasoned chashu added a nice touch to the meal. The light tonkotsu broth was delicious, and I would definitely like to visit again.

Appearance The shop is located on the way from Hachioji city center to Mt. Takao, along National Route 20 (also known as Koshu Kaido). The nearest station is Mejiro-dai Station on the Keio Electric Railway, about a 15-minute walk away. With a large store name on a yellow tent, it is relatively easy to find even by car. Parking is available behind the store. Although it seems like there are plenty of spaces, only 3 cars can be parked. Interior The interior of the shop consists of an L-shaped counter, giving off a traditional ramen shop vibe. An elderly couple seems to be running the place harmoniously. There are only counter seats, totaling around 10 seats. Menu There are only 2 types of ramen available, each with regular and large sizes. Toppings include pickled vegetables and seaweed, with only rice dishes available as side menu items. During lunchtime, there is also a ramen and rice set available. Shio Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen I wanted to try the chashu, so I ordered the Chashu Ramen in regular size. It had plenty of green onions and bean sprouts. The shio tonkotsu base gave a nice accent to the crunchy texture of the vegetables. The ramen came with a half-boiled egg, which had a simple and impressive yellow yolk. In Kanto, it's not common to have eggs in Kyushu-style tonkotsu ramen. The chashu had a good balance of fat and flavor. The meat was chewy and went well with the soup. The noodles were slightly yellow and had a firm texture, closer to Chinese noodles than the ultra-thin white noodles in Kyushu tonkotsu ramen. The soup had a slightly yellowish appearance, with a rich pork bone flavor and a low oil content. The combination with soy sauce was also good, making the soup delicious. Review I will definitely come back again!

The journey of exploring ramen in Hachioji continues. This time, I visited a shop in Nishi-Hachioji. It was convenient to have a parking lot. There was no ticket vending machine for ordering. It seems they specialize in salt tonkotsu ramen. I ordered and it was served in about 5 minutes. The thickly cut green onions caught my eye. Other toppings included seaweed, chashu, boiled egg, and bean sprouts. The bean sprouts were neatly trimmed. The noodles were medium-thin, not bad. But the chashu was disappointing. Was it made from boiled pork after making the broth? The meat had completely lost its flavor and was dry. This cannot be called chashu. The soup was also light, so it might be good for the elderly. Personally, I wanted a bit more richness.

On May 29, 2023, I visited the restaurant for the third time. The first time was on March 18, 2005, when I had the Tonkotsu Ramen (regular) for 500 yen. The second time was on January 9, 2019, when I had Set B (large ramen + rice + side dish: pickled mustard greens with roast pork) for 800 yen. I arrived around 1:30 PM. There were 2 customers before me and no customers after me. This time, I ordered Set A (regular ramen + half rice + pickled mustard greens with seasoned roast pork) for 900 yen. The ramen was served in about 4 minutes. The soup was a refreshing salt tonkotsu broth with a nice flavor. The noodles were medium-thin and had a chewy texture. The toppings included a large slice of roast pork, a sheet of seaweed, a small amount of bean sprouts, half a seasoned egg, and plenty of chopped green onions. The rice with pickled mustard greens and seasoned roast pork was delicious, with the pork melting in the mouth. The ramen was easy to slurp down, probably due to the light soup. It was a satisfying meal.

Hassaku (Tokyo/Nishi-Hachioji) 14-19 Namiki-cho, Hachioji City, Tokyo Shio Tonkotsu Ramen Regular ¥800 @hassaku.ramen Located along Route 20 and Koshu Kaido, between JR Chuo Line Nishi-Hachioji Station, Takao Station, and Keio Takao Line Mejiro-dai Station, this ramen shop offers a Shio Tonkotsu Ramen that is based on a recipe that has remained unchanged for about 60 years. The soup is a slightly clear salt tonkotsu base that is surprisingly light and not too oily, with a good balance of saltiness. The noodles are wavy medium-thin noodles that are easy to slurp. Toppings include two slices of tender pork chashu, a half-boiled egg, bean sprouts, green onions, and seaweed. It was a delightful experience to enjoy the historic taste of Kyushu in an unexpected place. The tonkotsu ramen was very delicious. Thank you for the meal. #HassakuRamen #OitaSaltTonkotsuRamenHassaku #SaltTonkotsuRamen #TonkotsuRamen #Ramen #Noodles #RamenInstagram #RamenLover #RamenEnthusiast #RamenClub #RamenPatrol #RamenHunting #GourmetInstagram #RamenInTokyo #RamenInHachioji #RamenInNishi-Hachioji #RamenInTakao #RamenInMejiro-dai #JapaneseFood #JapaneseNoodle #HachiojiRamen #HachiojiGourmet #RyumenTokyo #RyumenHachioji #RyumenNishi-Hachioji #RyumenTakao #RyumenMejiro-dai Posted by @ryumen827

I knew about this place for a while, but it didn't have much of an impact so I ignored it. Since the planned restaurant was closed, I decided to try this place nearby. The menu is not extensive, with options like ramen or char siu ramen, and a set meal with salt pork bone ramen and boiled egg. I ordered the salt pork bone ramen, which had a light yet flavorful broth that was enjoyable. It didn't have any unpleasant smells and seemed suitable for everyone. It seems to have a long history and originated in Oita.

I wanted to eat tantanmen but the place was crowded so I came to this restaurant. I ordered the Salt Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen for 900 yen. It was a really refreshing tonkotsu ramen. The chashu was average. You don't even need chashu, it's good on its own. It's a refreshing ramen but you can still taste the richness of the tonkotsu. I finished the soup completely.

Delicious. I would drive all the way to Hachioji just to go there. I ordered the salt pork bone ramen. It had a light pork bone flavor with the richness of salt, not too light which I like. The best part was the bean sprouts. The root part was cut off, making it very easy to eat and delicious. I will definitely go back many times.

◆ Ramen tour in Tokyo ⚫︎ Hassaku (Nami-cho, Hachioji City) Salt Tonkotsu Ramen: 700 yen ◾︎ Food Beast Maro

The other day, I visited the famous ramen shop Hachisaku, located a 15-minute walk from JR Chuo Line Nishi-Hachioji Station, also known as the domain of the ramen world, Ryoma Nishikawa. The reason why this shop, Hachisaku, located a 15-minute walk from JR Chuo Line Nishi-Hachioji Station, holds onto the name of Ryoma Nishikawa in the ramen world without letting go is because of the "Hachisaku" and "Senchu Hassaku." Senchu Hassaku is a fictional strategy drafted by the Tosa domain samurai Ryoma Sakamoto in the late Edo period in 1867, outlining the basic principles of a new national system. This linkage between "Senchu Hassaku" and "Hachisaku," and the fact that Ryoma Nishikawa shares a name with Ryoma Sakamoto, intensifies the connection between them. Ryoma Nishikawa, born in Izumo City, Shimane Prefecture, and raised in Osaka, is a right-handed left-handed infielder and outfielder. He started playing baseball with the Fukusaki Yanchaers when he was in first grade in Osaka and continued playing in the Big League at Taiki Middle School. He then moved to Atake Kibi High School in Fukui Prefecture, where he became a regular player in the baseball team and even led the team to victory in a regional tournament. After graduating from high school, he joined the corporate baseball team Oji Paper, where he became the third batter and participated in various tournaments. In 2015, he was drafted by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp as an infielder and given the number 63. He made his official debut in a game against the Yokohama DeNA Baystars, where he recorded his first hit as a triple. This made him the first rookie player from the Hiroshima Toyo Carp to achieve this since the introduction of the draft system in 1965.

The origin of Tonkotsu ramen is said to be in Kurume, where the first generation Hachisaku trained, opened in Usuki, Oita Prefecture, and then opened as the third generation Hachisaku in Hachioji. I visited this restaurant around 11:30, half an hour after its opening at 11:00. Located between Nishi-Hachioji Station and Takao Station, this restaurant has a parking lot and a counter-only interior that was already more than half full, indicating its popularity. Water is self-service. During lunchtime, they offer a salt Tonkotsu ramen that has been simmered for over 10 hours for 700 yen, with options for a half rice, takana (pickled mustard greens), and chashu (sliced pork) for 800 yen in Set A, or a large serving in Set B. I ordered Set B. Despite a slight backlog, the thin noodles allowed for a quick serving in less than 5 minutes. The ramen was light, with little to no pork bone flavor, and was delicious. Thank you for the meal.

I stopped by around 2:30 pm on Sunday. There were 5 people inside the restaurant at that time, and the smell of the soup was really good, so I had high expectations. I ordered the Salt Tonkotsu Ramen for 700 yen (regular size). The soup was light and easy to drink, and it was also good as a finishing touch. The straight noodles were well coated with the soup.

The lunch special at Mejiro-dai is "Hassaku" which I haven't had in 16 years. The noodles are straight noodles and you have to order them. The salt pork bone soup is a bit fatty but refreshing. Thin straight noodles go perfectly with pork bone soup. The pickled vegetables and diced char siu in the set meal go well with rice and I finished both the noodles and the meal quickly.

[Introduction] This ramen shop in Oita, Kyushu, is highly popular among locals and ramen enthusiasts in the Hachioji area. The first-generation owner trained at "Nishiyoken," the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen in Kurume, Fukuoka (also my hometown, haha), before founding "Hassaku" in Usuki, Oita in 1957. The first and second generations have since closed due to old age, and now the third generation continues the business, maintaining the original recipe unchanged since 1950s. The tonkotsu ramen I used to eat a lot as a child in Kurume had a strong pork bone smell and was very rich (I loved it so much that my parents often took me to ramen shops. I ate ramen a lot as a child, not as much as now, but I loved it, haha! It's my favorite). However, the tonkotsu ramen from the 1950s at "Hassaku" was apparently light and refreshing. A follower on social media recommended this place, and I had been wanting to visit for a while. Finally, I was able to visit on this day. [Order] Salt Tonkotsu Ramen - Regular (¥700) [Impressions] To summarize my eating experience, this was incredibly delicious! I finished the soup in no time and wanted to have more. The soup was clear with minimal oil floating on top, light and refreshing. With each sip, I could feel the delicious umami, flavor, and natural sweetness of the pork bones permeating my whole body. There was no peculiar taste of pork bones or marrow-like essence, and the saltiness was mild. It was not heavy or overwhelming, just a soup that made me keep slurping. While I love the thick, pork bone-rich tonkotsu ramen, this one might be enjoyable even for those who don't like the taste of pork bones. I truly loved this flavor. Before I knew it, I had finished the soup. The slightly wavy, medium-thin noodles were chewy with a high water content, which was more than I expected. The texture was just right considering the light salt tonkotsu soup. Delicious! The char siu was lightly seasoned, allowing the natural flavor of the pork to shine through, very tasty. The bean sprouts and green onions complemented the soup perfectly. The nori added a nice touch of sea flavor. I was impressed by the perfectly semi-soft boiled egg with its firm yolk. The red pickled ginger and garlic on the table for flavor enhancement were fantastic. The right amount of acidity and garlic flavor paired well with the salt tonkotsu soup, making me smile at how delicious it was. [Diary] The atmosphere of the restaurant was also amazing, along with the delicious food. The service was very polite and friendly, creating a warm and homely feeling. After finishing the meal, I felt warm and content both physically and mentally. I am thrilled to have found several favorite restaurants in the Nishi-Hachioji area recently. I will definitely visit again. Thank you for the wonderful meal!

In the past, there were many eateries lined up along the Koshu Highway, with people parking on the roadside to eat. However, with the restriction on roadside parking, restaurants without parking lots seem to have lost their appeal. It's getting harder to find non-chain restaurants while driving these days. On this particular day, I stumbled upon "Hassaku" and decided to back into the parking space marked with a "P" to enter. The place has been serving the same unchanged flavors for 50 years, which is quite impressive. The kitchen is run by an elderly couple, and despite their long years in business, the place is kept very clean. I ordered the lunch set B, which included a large serving of pork bone ramen, rice, pickled vegetables, and chopped char siu for 900 yen. The aroma of the pork bone soup was enticing as it was being heated. The ramen turned out to be a light salt flavor at first, but as I continued eating, the rich pork bone flavor gradually emerged. It was a satisfying bowl of ramen. Thank you for the meal!

It's not the typical thick tonkotsu ramen, but a light and easy-to-eat tonkotsu ramen. If you're aiming for the rich Nagahama ramen, you might be disappointed. However, the carefully made soup is delicious. The difference between Set A and Set B is simply whether the ramen is regular size or large, which is a point to nitpick. The first, second, and third generations have been earnestly preserving the taste for over 15 years and are highly supported by the locals. A restaurant that I hope will continue for a long time.

I arrived at the restaurant around 12:30 on Saturday. There is a parking lot, but with few spaces available. The seating consists of only about 8 counter seats. When I arrived, there was one customer already there, and by the time my companion and I left, there were a total of 6 customers, but the place did not get full. I ordered the salt tonkotsu ramen (regular size) with an additional topping of pickled mustard greens (+50 yen). I also added extra bean sprouts separately (+200 yen), which turned out to be a surprisingly large portion. The crunchy texture of the bean sprouts without any seasoning paired well with the pickled mustard greens. My husband ordered a set meal with rice, seasoned chashu pork, and pickled mustard greens. He really enjoyed the seasoned chashu pork. We would like to visit this restaurant again in the future.

Visit to the restaurant recommended by Kowasuke. Personally, I have not tried ramen in Hakata while in Fukuoka, but I have visited about 15 ramen shops in Saga and Kumamoto during my intense hot spring hopping trips in both prefectures. The impression I got from the ramen I tried during these trips was that the tonkotsu ramen in Kyushu tends to be surprisingly light and not as thick as expected. The roots of Kyushu tonkotsu ramen are said to be in Kurume, where there was a mistake in boiling the pork bone soup for too long, resulting in a cloudy broth that turned out to be delicious. As for the ramen from Sandaime Hachisaku that I had yesterday, they only use pork knuckles and back bones to simmer for 17-18 hours starting from 6 AM to avoid any unpleasant smell from the head part of the pork, but the broth is not as cloudy as typical Kyushu tonkotsu ramen. The founder of this shop apparently trained in Kurume in the mid-1950s, before the discovery of the goodness of cloudy broth, making this shop a valuable place preserving the old style Kyushu tonkotsu ramen. The broth, which is not very cloudy, is paired with a salt sauce that is both salty and round. The broth has a light and refreshing taste but still has a strong umami flavor. This might be the real deal, a traditional Kyushu, Oita, or Kurume-style ramen. The noodles are firm and thin, the chashu is simmered pork, and the bean sprouts are carefully trimmed. As for COVID-19 measures, the kitchen and counter area were covered with transparent sheets, and the couple working there were wearing masks. *The current rating on Tabelog is 3.33 points.

In June 2020, I enjoyed exploring new restaurants for the first time, but I also feel a strong desire to visit more actively those popular places where the owner is elderly and it wouldn't be surprising if they closed anytime soon. This particular restaurant has closed in the past due to the owner's illness, and it is a rare gem nationwide for serving a primitive style of tonkotsu ramen. I've been meaning to visit sooner. The restaurant is known for its tonkotsu ramen with a strong pork bone smell, thick soup, and a taste that harkens back to the early days of tonkotsu ramen in Japan. I ordered the lunch set B (tonkotsu ramen large serving, rice, pickled vegetables, diced char siu, 900 yen). It used to be 800 yen, but the price has gone up due to tax increases and rising ingredient costs. Nevertheless, I still think it's a good value set. I was a bit worried about whether the flavor would suit my taste among tonkotsu lovers, but I really enjoyed this light salt tonkotsu soup! It might have felt a bit lacking if I had eaten it when I was younger, but as an older guy now, I found it very delicious. This ramen doesn't have the sharp impact of trendy, conscious, MSG-free ramen, but it has a light taste with a strong pork bone umami and flavor. It's a unique taste that can only be found at this place in Hachioji. If you only know rich tonkotsu ramen, you might be in for a culture shock. Tonkotsu ramen shops tend to get greasy inside over time, but even after years of operation, this place is clean inside. It's located a bit far from Nishi-Hachioji and Takao Station, but it has gained solid popularity, and it's a truly satisfying restaurant.