Kurume Ramen : The Origin of Tonkotsu Ramen

Do you know “Hakata Ippudo (博多 一風堂)”?

Ippudo is a Japanese ramen chain running ramen restaurants around the world, which offers Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen, or Hakata-style pork bone broth noodle soup simply called “Hakata Ramen (博多ラーメン)”.

Hakata Ramen, together with “Sapporo Miso Ramen (札幌味噌ラーメン)” and “Kitakata Ramen (喜多方ラーメン)“, is generally known as one of the Japan’s 3 major local Ramen.

Actually, Hakata is the name of a city in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Although Hakata is very famous for its Tonkotsu Ramen, the birthplace of Tonkotsu Ramen isn’t the city.

Kurume Ramen (久留米ラーメン)

Have you ever heard of “Kurume Ramen (久留米ラーメン)”?

Kurume Ramen refers to the Kurume-style Tonkotsu Ramen that originated in Kurume. Actually, the city is also located in Fukuoka Prefecture.

Nevertheless, its Tonkotsu ramen isn’t well-known outside of Japan just as even many Japanese don’t know the pork bone broth ramen in detail.

However, Tonkotsu ramen, the pork bone broth ramen widely enjoyed in the world has its root in Kurume Ramen.

Nankin Senryo (南京千両) : The Birthplace of Tonkotsu Ramen

Tonkotsu Ramen served at Nankin Senryo

Image : tabelog.com

The originator of Tonkotsu ramen still exists in the city of Kurume. The name of the ramen shop is “Nankin Senryo (南京千両)”, which was opened in 1937.

After that, from the city Kurume, the Kurume-style Tonkotsu ramen was introduced to the local areas of the Kyushu district except for Kagoshima Prefecture and influenced their local ramen.

Shop Information : Nankin Senryo (南京千両)

Address : 1357-15 Nonaka-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture (MAP)
Open : 11:30 to 22:00
Closed : Second Monday

The Features of Kurume Ramen

Marutai Kurume Tonkotsu Ramen Instant Noodles
Amazon.com

Although the taste of the Tonkotsu Ramen offered in the city Kurume varies depending on the ramen shop, the general features of Kurume Ramen are as follows.

Broth

In general, the broth is thick and has a strong smell of pork bones as compared to that of Hakata Ramen, but it varies. Therefore, some ramen shops in Kurume provide light pork bone broth.

Noodles

The noodles are straight and slightly thicker than the ones for Hakata Ramen. In Kurume Ramen, the noodles are boiled rather hard.

Toppings

Kurume Ramen has almost the same toppings as Hakata Ramen, that is, basically cloud ear mushrooms, Chashu roast pork slices, and chopped green onions. In addition, the noodle soup is often topped with Nori dried seaweed laver.

The toppings typically used in Kumamoto Ramen (Kumamoto-style Tonkotsu Ramen), fried garlic chips and black garlic oil are not used in Kurume Ramen.

Popular Ramen Shops

As I wrote above, “Nankin Senryo (南京千両)” is a ramen shop that represents Kurume Ramen. Additionally, here are another 2 popular ramen shops in Kurume.

Taiho Ramen (大砲ラーメン)

Image : retty.me

Taiho Ramen is a popular Kurume-based ramen chain. The ramen shops were listed in the 2014 edition of the Michelin guide to Fukuoka and Saga, where you can enjoy authentic Kurume-style Tonkotsu Ramen noodle soup.

Shop Information : Taiho Ramen Head Shop (大砲ラーメン本店)

Address : 11-8 Torihoka-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture (MAP)
Open : 11:00 to 21:00
Closed : New Year’s Day

Maruboshi Chuka Soba Center (丸星中華そばセンター)

Maruboshi Chuka Soba Center is a popular ramen shop in Kurume offering Tonkotsu ramen at an inexpensive price and is open 24 hours. The noodle soup has plenty of flavor for its price and is loved by many people.

Shop Information : Maruboshi Chuka Soba Center (丸星中華そばセンター)

Address : 2-7-27 Takano, Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture (MAP)
Open : Open 24 hours
Closed : Second and fourth Thursday

Marutai Kurume Tonkotsu Ramen Instant Noodles
Amazon.com

(Reference page of this article : Wikipedia 久留米ラーメン )