Hakata Issou is a popular ramen shop known for its rich and creamy tonkotsu broth. The main store near Hakata Station always has long lines, but the Gion branch near Gion Station is a good alternative. The Gion branch is within walking distance from Hakata Station and Canal City Hakata. The atmosphere is less fancy compared to the main store, but the staff is friendly and efficient. The ramen comes in a beautiful Hakata-style bowl, with a creamy tonkotsu soup that is rich in flavor. You can choose the firmness of the noodles and extra noodles are only 100 yen. The lunch set is a good deal, and the rice goes well with the flavorful soup. Overall, it's a great spot for delicious ramen in Fukuoka.

Hakata Issen, famous for its tonkotsu cappuccino, celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. On November 26, 2022, a limited edition premium ramen was announced for reservation only, and I was lucky to secure a reservation as it sold out quickly. I arrived at the Hakata Issen Gion store on November 26th, with a time slot of 11:50 am for the 40-minute rotation system. I paid the ticket fee of 2,000 yen per person and entered the store a little early. The golden bowl and golden ladle used in the previous anniversary event were also used this time, with each seat having a golden ladle, an explanation of the course, and a drink menu for all-you-can-drink. The theme was described as exceeding imagination, fermentation x aging. The high-quality ingredients used were listed, including luxury ingredients not typically found in ramen. The attention to detail and dedication to quality were evident, just like in the previous event. I ordered oolong tea as my drink, and the drink menu included all-you-can-drink options like the head chef's favorite Japanese sake, sparkling red (sparkling junmai sake), draft beer, highball, and oolong tea. The brothers Yamada, the head chef, and other staff greeted us before starting the meal. The first dish was a seafood soup made with hand-fired bonito flakes, Rausu kelp from Hokkaido, Awa Oi chicken shavings, and homemade dried abalone, without any seasonings added. The richness and deliciousness of the soup were outstanding. Next came the ramen, toppings, katsuobushi rice, and mountain wasabi. The ramen broth was made from black pork bones, Kyoto duck, abalone, kelp, bonito flakes, and chicken shavings fermented and aged with rice koji. The soup was rich, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, with no unpleasant odor and a strong aroma. The noodles were specially made by Keiji, aged for 7 days, and had a thickness similar to medium-thin noodles with a firm texture that paired well with the soup. The toppings included TOKYO X pork chashu, Kyoto duck leg and loin chashu, tsukune, quail egg, and green onions, all of which were delicious on their own and enhanced the ramen when combined. The flavors were so unique and exceptional that I struggled to describe them, but the attention to detail and quality in every aspect of the dish were evident. The meal ended with fluffy bonito flakes on rice, which was delicious even without any sauce. The whole experience was beyond words, and I simply enjoyed the ramen without overthinking it.

I went to Hakata Ichiran since I came all the way to Hakata. It was a little past 12 pm on a weekday and there were about 10 people waiting in line, but I was able to get in after about 15 minutes. The soup wasn't as rich as I expected, but the pork bone and oil really hit the stomach. There were plenty of wood ear mushrooms which added a nice chewy texture.

I visited this restaurant to satisfy my appetite that I had been holding back since the previous day when I was released early from my medical check-up. Just 5 minutes before opening on a weekday, there were 7 groups waiting in line (lol). It's almost the end of September, but it's impressive to see so many people waiting in this hot weather (including myself). Finally, it was my turn to purchase a meal ticket, but the restaurant was already full (lol). The interior only had 3 tables for 2 and 6 counter seats, so even after buying the meal ticket, I had to wait outside in the scorching sun... After waiting for about 20 minutes from opening, I was seated. I ordered the B set (ramen + rice bowl). After 5 minutes of waiting, the rice bowl was served. The ramen followed a few minutes later. When I took a sip of the soup, I could taste a strong saltiness. I generally like strong flavors, and even I, who was sweating in the hot weather, thought it was quite strong, so it must be really intense. However, I didn't feel the pork bone smell much, so I thought it was well processed. It was salty but had a rich taste and was delicious (^ ^) However, for those who prefer less salt, it might be a no-go. The rice bowl had chashu, boiled egg, sea chicken mayo, and spicy pickled vegetables, giving it a sinful feeling. I could eat this eagerly! It was really delicious (^◍^•ᴗ•^◍) I regained all the calories I had been holding back little by little for a few days in an instant (lol).

During my trip, I visited a ramen shop in Hakata, where I waited in line for about an hour. I was excited and had high expectations. When I sat down, I found condiments on the table. The soup was foamy, but it had a lot of off-flavors and a strong bitterness. It was not the flavorful ramen I had been hoping for. Perhaps I went at a bad time when the soup wasn't at its best. I didn't expect this kind of taste from a place with such a long line.

In Tokyo, after a photo shoot, I rushed to Haneda Airport to catch a flight to Fukuoka around 10:30 PM. Arrived at the hotel hungry, I prepared my equipment for tomorrow's shoot and finally had dinner. The restaurant was lively with a great teamwork of three staff members. I had ramen, gyoza, and beer. My tired body was soothed by the delicious meal. Thank you very much!

I went on a business trip to Hakata and arrived the day before to go out drinking with my local work colleagues. The two of us had a great time chatting and ended the night with ramen. Even though we are both over 50, we didn't call it a night after just one place. Our colleague recommended a ramen shop, which happened to be a branch of a place I had researched beforehand. We ordered the regular ramen (800 yen) with extra firm noodles. The soup was so rich that it had bubbles on top, and when I took a sip, I couldn't forget the rich, creamy taste like potage soup. The noodles were also crunchy and went well with the pork bone soup. It may not be a standout compared to others, but it's definitely delicious Hakata ramen. I added an extra serving of noodles (100 yen, very cheap) and despite being full, I couldn't leave such a delicious soup unfinished. When I finished it, I noticed there was pork bone powder settled at the bottom. No wonder it was so rich and tasty.

I visited this restaurant at Hakata Station Chikushi exit side because the store was delicious, and I had high expectations. Compared to the main store at Hakata Station East, there were fewer customers in line. There were many overseas tourists and couples. I bought a meal ticket while waiting in line and communicated the firmness of the noodles, just like at the main store. The staff, both in the kitchen and in the dining area, were more friendly than at the main store, and the atmosphere was pleasant. There were table seats and a counter seat in a single row. The ramen had a nicely foamy tonkotsu soup. They also offer extra noodles.

I had the final ramen at Issen, about a 5-minute walk from Hakata Station. It was the lightest tonkotsu ramen I've ever had. They had pickled mustard greens and a whole clove of garlic on the table, which you could crush and add according to your preference. The base flavor was light, so even a small amount of toppings made a big difference in taste. On my way back, I saw Issen's souvenir package being sold at the airport gift shop. It's a famous restaurant, isn't it?

At the beginning of my Fukuoka trip, I had ramen at the Gion branch, which was conveniently located near my hotel. I heard there was less of a line compared to the main branch, but I ended up waiting in a normal line. It was a hot day, but the occasional shade from the clouds helped me endure the heat. I don't remember much, but I think I waited for about an hour. The wait was worth it because the ramen was incredibly delicious. The rich soup paired well with the thin noodles, and it was easy to slurp them up. It might have been because it was my first meal on the first day of the trip. I'll attach a high-quality photo taken with my mirrorless camera.

On the first day of my Fukuoka trip, I decided to have ramen as soon as I arrived. I found a popular ramen shop nearby and there were a few groups waiting when I arrived around 2 pm. I waited for about 15 minutes before getting a seat inside. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen, of course. Since it was late, I didn't get the set meal or extra noodles. The tonkotsu broth had a strong pork smell but rich flavor that paired well with the thin noodles. The green onions and chashu also complemented the soup nicely. It was worth waiting in line to enjoy this delicious ramen. I definitely want to try the rice or extra noodles next time. For reference, the tonkotsu ramen I had was 800 yen, but the set with rice was 850 yen. I recommend getting the set meal.

I visited Ichiran in Hakata after a long time. The head chef from the original store is working here, so I believe the efficiency and taste are the best here. Despite the long line, the operation was speedy. The ramen is not as heavy as it looks and easy to eat, making it perfect for hopping to another restaurant or as a final dish. Thank you for the meal.

B Lunch (ramen + donburi) for 1,000 yen. I gave up on the main store with a line of 40 people during the day and visited the Gion branch late at night. There were 10 people waiting outside, so I joined the line. The turnover was fast, and I was able to enter in about 10 minutes. I bought the meal ticket while waiting in line and handed it to the staff in advance, so I didn't have to wait to be served. The cappuccino-style soup had a refreshing taste. The set donburi was also quite delicious. Although it's called lunch, you can order it even in the evening. Thank you for the meal.

I had some business at the Chamber of Commerce in the morning, and on my way back, I stopped by this ramen shop! There were 5-6 people in line, but the turnover was quick and I got my order soon! The ramen was definitely delicious! And even though it's a popular shop, the fact that you can get a second helping for only 100 yen is great! I want to eat here again!

I was drawn to the line for tonkotsu ramen and entered the shop. I was pleased with the staff's efficient and thoughtful service. Since I am not familiar with tonkotsu culture, I always struggle to choose between white rice, karaage don, gyoza, etc... Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Next time, I will try the Hakata-style ramen.

After a long time, I went to Hakata for ramen. I had ramen during an old man's night out. There weren't too many people lining up at night. I got the one with seasoned egg. It's been a while since I had creamy tonkotsu. It was refreshing and delicious. I really enjoyed it. I like to add pickled mustard greens for extra flavor!

Near Gion Station, there is a popular Hakata ramen shop that always has a long line during the day. I visited right before closing at midnight to avoid the line. I ordered the Ajitama Ramen for ¥900. When the dish arrived, I noticed that it didn't look like the photo on the ticket machine. The soft-boiled egg was not cracked open. The ramen itself wasn't particularly delicious, but when I crushed the fresh garlic provided on the table and added it in, it improved the taste somewhat. Overall, I don't think it's worth waiting in line for this ramen.

Cappuccino‼️ Tonkotsu cappuccino with foamy soup and firm noodles, a top-notch experience for me. Of course, I got an extra serving of noodles. The firm noodles absorb the soup a little as they roll around in my mouth. I wanted to add garlic, but it seems like no one else around me did. Following the expert way of eating, I am satisfied even without it. Personally, I rank it as Genki Ichiban > Ichiran > Issen, but this was the most delicious!!! Ah, I wish this moment could last forever... Well, even if time continues, I can't keep eating until my stomach bursts ===========

It had been a while since I came to Hakata, so even though it was summer, I decided to have motsunabe before looking for ramen to finish off. I always end up thinking that a place must be good if there's a line, haha. When the donburi arrived, I was surprised to see it covered in foam, but the taste was something I don't often find in Tokyo and it was delicious.

One of the famous ramen shops in Hakata, whether you are a local or a tourist, there is usually a line even on weekdays during lunchtime, with a wait of about 20 minutes. The interior of the shop is relatively small. You can buy a meal ticket while waiting in line. I chose the ramen with seasoned egg, while my companion chose the chashu ramen. The soup is incredibly rich and thick, with a creamy and flavorful broth as rumored. It was really delicious. The thin noodles are well-coated in the soup. Even my companion, who usually doesn't like thin noodles, thought it was delicious and even ordered an extra serving. The soup was so good that I couldn't help but finish it all. The gyoza was decent. You can also enjoy flavor variations with garlic, pickled ginger, and mustard greens on the table. It's a great place. Although there are many other ramen shops in Hakata that I want to try, this is definitely one of the places I want to visit again. Looking at the shop card inside, I found out that their affiliated Chuo branch is open from 7 pm until the next morning, while their Gion branch and the one near Hakata Station are open from 11 am to 12 am, serving lunch as well. The staff was also friendly and it was a great dining experience. Thank you for the meal!

Tonkotsu ramen comes in various styles, making you want to try it at different restaurants! Gion is known for its unique style. Even the taxi driver recommended it, so my expectations were high! The actual taste!!! Creamy, rich, and flavorful. It feels like a chunk of richness. The wood ear mushrooms are a nice accent. However, as a personal opinion, the flavor is intense! It seems like the shop itself understands its role as a maverick in Hakata ramen!! As one of Hakata's ramen varieties, it's recommended to try it at least once!

When I visited Fukuoka during a tour, I casually entered this ramen shop. They offered a ramen and rice bowl set for 1000 yen, which I thought was a good deal. The ramen had a strong pork bone smell, with a punchy soup and thin Hakata-style noodles. It may not be suitable for those who prefer a lighter taste.