I was planning to compare Kurume ramen from Seiyo-ken with Oohou ramen, but Seiyo-ken was not to my liking. So, I decided to come here instead, although my old friend didn't recommend it much due to the service. We arrived around 1 pm and found a line of about 8 people at the entrance of the restaurant. Soon after us, another 10 people lined up behind us. However, the turnover seemed good as we kept moving forward. We bought our meal tickets and passed by the oden corner, then entered a room with two long tables arranged side by side. The older ladies in triangular hats instructed us to our seats in Kyushu dialect, and we waited with our meal tickets placed on the table. The ladies tried to serve the ramen in order of seating, but with many customers, there was some confusion and shouting to redirect them. My old friend didn't recommend this place probably because of such incidents, but I didn't mind the local atmosphere and found it charming. I leisurely picked up some free side dishes and pickled vegetables and waited patiently. After a while, one of the ladies brought our ramen to us, and we picked it up from the tray ourselves, replacing it with the meal ticket. The ramen came in a slightly small, deep white bowl with a pinkish milky broth, a slice of rolled chashu, green onions, and seaweed toppings. The noodles were medium-thin and straight, not too firm, and well coated in the flavorful soup. The soup was hot and had a rich, fatty taste without any fishy smell, yet it was clear and not too sweet. The chashu was meaty and overall the ramen had a rough, wild quality but was well-balanced and easy to eat. As I enjoyed my meal, I noticed the words "Pray for safe driving" on a sign, which made me happy as we had driven for 8 hours to get to Kurume. The diverse customers, including two old men, an elderly couple, families with children, and groups of young people, all eating ramen together in this bustling and slightly chaotic restaurant, made me feel like we were all enjoying our meals in harmony.

The business lunch in Kurume is here. Ramen for 550 yen, extra noodles for 100 yen, and additional green onions for 50 yen, totaling 700 yen. Side dishes like simmered dishes, pickled vegetables, and pickled ginger are all you can eat. The soup was light and I finished it all. Truly a renowned restaurant. Despite more and more people coming in, the turnover was fast. Thank you for the meal!

I visited after several years. The ticket system was the same, but some of the tables in the restaurant had been replaced with a counter style. There was no alcohol option on the ticket buttons, so I didn't order ramen and instead bought a ticket for 6 pieces of oden. My wife, who also hadn't been in years, ordered ramen and said it was delicious like before. I enjoyed my oden alone, even though there was no alcohol. Thank you for the meal.

Around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, the restaurant was full and I had to wait in line for a bit. When I sat at the counter, I was asked if regular noodles were okay, by chance or mistake. These noodles were quite soft. I don't dislike soft noodles and had been curious about them, but they weren't to my taste. I realized that there is a difference in taste between noodles that are boiled for a long time and soft noodles that have been stretched. For the extra serving, I chose firm noodles.

Established in 1958 in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Marusei Chuka Soba Center (Marusei Ramen) is a legendary restaurant known for originating tonkotsu ramen. It used to be open 24 hours, catering to late-night drivers. As a self-proclaimed ramen enthusiast, I knew I had to visit this place. Upon entering, I was a bit confused as it was my first time there. You need to purchase a meal ticket and hand it to the staff. Drinks are self-service, as well as the ladles. There's also a self-serve side dish section, which is a great bonus. In less than 5 minutes, my ramen arrived. The rich tonkotsu soup was delicious, not too overpowering. The noodles were thin and straight, a classic choice for tonkotsu ramen. While Kurume-style ramen is known for its rich flavors, this place had a surprisingly light taste, which I appreciated.

I also wanted to try the ramen in Kurume. There are many famous Chinese soba shops, so where is a good place to try ramen for the first time in Kurume? If you go from Fukuoka City, it is the first place you see along the main road. The parking lot is large and easy to enter. When you enter, you will see a ticket machine and oden. I ordered Chinese soba and maruten for starters. The staff said, "Help yourself to the side dishes." There were dishes like Chikuzen-ni, meatballs, takana, and pickles, all for free. The ramen is cheap, the side dishes are free, it's a great deal. Since it's along the main road, it's full of truck drivers, taxi drivers, and salesmen. After finishing the noodles, a message saying "Pray for safe driving" appeared on the bowl. No wonder it's loved! It's delicious, filling, and energizing!

Established in 1958, this legendary roadside restaurant in Kurume is well-known not only among the locals but also throughout Fukuoka and nationwide! The slightly thick and oily soup, rich in pork bone flavor without any off-tastes, perfectly coats the palate with its richness. The smooth noodles, slightly thicker than Hakata style, offer a chewy texture and just the right amount of firmness. The flavorful chashu and crunchy negi toppings, along with the simple yet delicious Oden, add to the overall experience. The warm and nostalgic atmosphere of the historical interior is also top-notch and truly wonderful! 😊✨

This summer, I went back to my hometown in Kyushu! I planned to leave early in the morning from Tottori and have a late lunch at the Kumamoto Daikoku Ramen, which is open all day. However, there was a huge traffic jam on the Kyushu Expressway, and my arrival time was delayed by 2 hours to 5 pm. Depending on the situation, I might be directed to take the local roads to avoid the congestion. This time, I was directed to get off at the Tosu Interchange due to the congestion in Kurume, but ended up facing a big traffic jam on Route 3. Suddenly, I saw a familiar sign ahead! I quickly parked and found out that this ramen shop was ranked number one in Kurume Ramen rankings, which I had heard of before. It was a bit before 3 pm, and the shop wasn't too crowded, so I decided to go in! The atmosphere inside the shop was nostalgic and the staff spoke in a full Kyushu dialect, giving me a sense of coming back home. I purchased tickets for ramen, extra noodles, and a ticket for a whole day for only 550 yen, which was surprisingly cheap. There was a short line, but I was quickly seated! While waiting, I was served pickled vegetables, pickled radish, and boiled potatoes as a service, which was very satisfying. The ramen was served quickly and it looked quite simple! Although I'm from Kyushu, I rarely eat tonkotsu ramen, so it had been 1 year and 8 months since I last had tonkotsu ramen. The soup was creamy, rich, and surprisingly light! I had heard that tonkotsu ramen originated in Kurume, so I expected it to be more intense, but it was surprisingly smooth and easy to drink without any unpleasant smell. The noodles had a direct wheat aroma and were a bit powdery, but they had a nice Kyushu-specific texture! I added extra noodles and enjoyed changing the flavor with pickled ginger and pickled vegetables, feeling like I was really back in Kyushu. I couldn't finish all the soup, but I was satisfied and ready to tackle the remaining traffic jam.

Fukuoka Prefecture's local ramen, Kurume Ramen, is one of the best. I was torn between Hakata and Kurume, but decided to go to Kurume. This restaurant is located in Kurume City, along Route 3, and opens at 9 in the morning. The parking lot is spacious, with plenty of space for parking. Even before the opening, local residents and cars with out-of-town license plates were already filling up the parking lot, indicating its popularity. Inside the entrance, on the left, there is a ticket machine where you can order ramen for 550 yen. It's amazing to be able to eat ramen for only 550 yen in this day and age of price hikes. The interior of the restaurant is spacious, with a cafeteria-like atmosphere, including counter seats and table seats. You hand over the ticket to the lady and wait for a while. Then, regular customers gather around the central area where side dishes are placed. Surprisingly, these side dishes are actually free! It's hard to believe, right? These side dishes, along with rice (150 yen) and the ramen (550 yen), make a complete meal for only 700 yen. It's incredible. Once you're full, your plans for the day are ruined, so I refrained from ordering rice, but I did enjoy the free side dishes. And then, the ramen was served. It had a simple visual with large slices of pork, green onions, seaweed, etc. First, I took a sip of the soup. It was a rich and creamy tonkotsu soup with a thick and smooth texture. Despite the price, it was not a cheap and watery tonkotsu soup, but a hearty and rich one. Adding red ginger to the soup really enhanced the flavor. The noodles were slightly thicker than Hakata ramen, straight noodles. I forgot to ask for them firm, but the chewy and bouncy texture was still enjoyable. The amount of noodles and soup was substantial, and considering the quality, the price of 550 yen is truly amazing. When I thanked the chef on my way out, I could immediately tell from his appearance that he was a kind person who doesn't just focus on profit. It's all thanks to this chef that such great service is provided.

When it comes to Kurume ramen, Maruho Ramen is a must-visit. It's so obvious that I didn't even think to post about it. ・Ramen ¥550 Now you can customize the firmness of the noodles and get extra servings, but I prefer the traditional regular serving. This is it, this is it. Despite being tonkotsu (pork bone broth), it's surprisingly light. The noodles are just the same as always. When I was a child, it was a self-declaration system. The man would peel boiled eggs for oden while calculating the bill in his head.

Famous old-fashioned shop representing Kurume, the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen. I visited for the first time since they were still open 24 hours before the pandemic. I arrived around 10 am on a weekday and didn't have to wait to get in. I bought a meal ticket at the entrance and sat at the counter in the back. The spacious restaurant was already 40-50% full at this time. The rich and mellow soup, although simple, had a lingering deliciousness. The noodles were slightly thin and straight, and I asked for them to be cooked normally, resulting in a satisfying chewiness. The self-serve pickles and side dishes were also tasty and comforting. Despite the price increase, the cost performance is still great. This renowned shop lives up to its reputation with its delicious, affordable, and quick service! When they were open 24 hours, I heard that the soup's richness varied depending on the time of day. I wonder how it is now.

Lunch during a quick business trip. Choose between eel or ramen. Despite the parking lot being full, I was able to enter without waiting in line. I paid in advance at the ticket machine for the ramen (550 yen!!), and added extra green onions and rice. 550 yen is incredibly cheap in this day and age!! Additionally, side dishes like simmered dishes and stewed meat were provided for free!! With delicious ramen on top of that, it's no wonder this place has been popular for years.

I visited Marusei Ramen for the first time, which I had been curious about for a while. They use a ticket system, and I ordered the W Ramen for 600 yen. In a time when ramen can cost close to 1000 yen, getting two servings for 600 yen is quite reasonable. Inside the restaurant, there was a side dish corner with pickles and meatballs. The ramen wasn't too rich, making it a bowl that locals would want to come back for regularly. I would like to visit again if I have the chance.

This day, I was planning to go to Ebino City from the morning. However, Fukuoka was experiencing heavy rain due to a linear rain band, and the expressway was closed in the morning. I decided to head south on Route 3 from Fukuoka. It was a slow progress due to heavy traffic. Finally, around noon, I arrived in Tosu. It was lunchtime, so I decided to go to a familiar bakery, but it was closed for the day. I had no choice but to return to Route 3. There were not many dining options along this part of Route 3. I crossed a bridge and entered Kurume City. I remembered that there was a ramen shop I had been wanting to try in this area. It was this shop. The shop has been in business since the 1950s. When I arrived near the shop, I saw the curtain hanging and cars parked in the parking lot. Despite it being past lunchtime, I decided to have lunch at this shop since such an opportunity doesn't come often. I parked my car in the parking lot in front of the shop and crossed the pedestrian crossing to enter the shop. I arrived at the shop around 2:00 PM. I purchased meal tickets at the ticket machine in the shop. This time, I ordered ramen and rice. I passed on the oden. I walked to the back and handed the meal tickets to the staff. There were a few customers in the table and counter seats inside the shop. I went to get water by myself and sat at an empty counter seat. I waited for my order. After about 3 minutes, the rice was brought to me. Shortly after, the ramen was also served. It had a simple appearance in a slightly small bowl. Surprisingly, there was no ladle... I took a sip of the ramen soup. It was delicious. It was a rich and mellow soy sauce-based pork bone soup. The saltiness level was just right. It had a slightly gamey flavor. The noodles were medium-thin straight noodles. They seemed to have a slight curl. They were thicker than regular pork bone ramen noodles. The soup coated the noodles well. There was a relatively thick slice of chashu included. It was tender and juicy. Nori and green onions were also added. The delicious soup made me eat the rice quickly. I wished there was a ladle to enjoy the rice after finishing the noodles... There were free side dishes available, but I passed on them this day. I ate voraciously. I finished the meal in no time. The pork bone ramen was delicious as rumored. It used to be open 24 hours, but now it closes at 9 PM. I don't often have the chance to come to Kurume, but I would like to stop by again if I'm nearby. It cost 700 yen this time. I think it's reasonable. It was delicious. I will come again.

Taissy (Taishi) "Food Adventure" ~ Team to liven up food and drink establishments ٩( ᐛ )و ~ Ramen edition♪ Overall: 5.0 Taste: 5.0 Service: 5.0 Atmosphere: 5.0 Value for money: 5.0 Drinks: - Overall: Taste, Service, Atmosphere>Value for money, Drinks Taste: Crispy green onions cut into large pieces. Meaty chashu. Noodles that are satisfying to slurp and mix well with the soup. Rich and flavorful tonkotsu broth with a strong umami flavor. Service: Quick and efficient customer service. Atmosphere: Lively and vibrant atmosphere. Value for money: Excellent, wallet-friendly. Drinks: - *Highly recommended exceptional dish★★★ ⚠︎ Not a sponsored post ⚠︎ ⚠︎ Photos and posts are shared with permission from the restaurant ⚠︎

I walked from Nishitetsu Kurume Station for about 30 minutes, combining it with my diet. When I arrived at the restaurant, there was no line but it was full. I ordered the following items from the ticket machine: Ramen 550 yen, grilled pork 300 yen, green onion topping 50 yen, and chicken rice ball 280 yen. I thought the system was a bit strange. After purchasing the tickets, I was seated without much guidance. A staff member came and looked into my seat without saying anything, then left. I was confused if my order was confirmed. When the chicken rice ball arrived first, I asked the staff if they could make the ramen first, and they said I should have mentioned it earlier. The taste of the ramen was rich and delicious, although slightly salty. The noodles were a bit clumpy, but overall it was tasty. It seems like I might have had a bit of bad luck compared to other reviews. I enjoyed the meal overall.

I went to Maru-boshi Ramen for lunch for the first time in a while in June 2023. I was able to enter the restaurant a little after 11:30. When I looked at the menu, I noticed that the prices had increased by about 100 yen since my last visit. This time, I chose the W Ramen. W Ramen (2 servings of noodles) costs 650 yen. It comes with simple toppings like one slice of chashu, seaweed, and green onions. The rich and flavorful soup was delicious. The noodles were slightly soft, which I think suited this ramen well. If you want to specify the firmness of the noodles, make sure to tell the staff when you exchange your ticket. The combination of green onions and seaweed in the soup was tasty. The chashu had a good amount of fat, adding a nice sweetness and flavor. Even though the price went up to 650 yen, it still offers good value. It was delicious as always! Thank you for the meal.

I stopped by this restaurant on my way back from work and decided to visit it. The place had more seating than I expected, and I was able to enter without waiting in line. I ordered the Ramen W, but it took longer than usual to be served, which made me regret not ordering the regular size. The taste was good, with a typical pork bone ramen flavor that you would expect from a popular restaurant. There were plenty of parking spaces around the restaurant, which made sense as it seemed to be a popular spot for salespeople and truck drivers.

After eating a huge amount of tonkatsu, I couldn't help but stop by this place. It was delicious as always. The cost performance is great, and the staff are all very kind. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant. Whenever I go on a Kyushu road trip, I always make sure to visit this place. It's a bit difficult to come from Kansai, but I definitely want to go again.

It's a lie (^ワ^＝), actually, it's Kamehachi (^ワ^＝). I've always loved this place and it's been my go-to spot for a long time. Thank you for the meal! ＼(^o^)／ Writing 100 characters is always everything to me (*´థ.థ`*)ﾃﾞｭﾌﾌ

Since I was in Kurume anyway, I decided to try one more ramen shop. It's just a short drive from Daikan Ramen. I had ramen and two kinds of oden. You have to go pick up the oden yourself. It's a bit disappointing that there's no daikon. I chose a slightly small boiled egg and hanpen. They were neither good nor bad. The ramen had a strong pork bone flavor that was satisfying. It didn't have a strong smell. Is this the authentic taste? It was a good experience. Thank you for the meal!