On this day, after finishing a meeting in Kurume, we decided to have lunch at "Taikou Ramen Kamitsu Store". Taikou Ramen is one of the most famous ramen shops in Kurume, known for originating the "call-back soup". There are now a total of 11 Taikou Ramen shops, including the main store. The location of the Kamitsu store is about a 15-minute drive from Nishitetsu Kurume Station, with a large shared parking lot around the shop. Inside the restaurant, there are counter seats and many table seats. The staff, about six members, efficiently handle the almost full lunchtime crowd. The menu includes the Taikou Ramen (large serving) for 880 yen, a rich and flavorful tonkotsu ramen with homemade lard, crispy fried egg, and call-back soup. The broth is made by continuously adding new soup to the old soup, resulting in a concentrated and deep flavor. The toppings include roast pork, bamboo shoots, half-boiled egg, seaweed, green onions, and crispy fried egg. The noodles are homemade, medium-thin straight noodles that complement the flavorful broth. Red pickled ginger and spicy garlic sauce are also available for added flavor. Overall, it was a satisfying experience with delicious Kurume ramen.

After starting to post reviews on Tabelog aiming to conquer all 10 Daikan Ramen shops, it took 4 years to finally achieve the goal with the last shop being the Kamitsu branch. The order on this special day was the old ramen with extra noodles for 880 yen. The taste was rich with a lingering umami flavor from the call-back soup, although it doesn't compare to Kairyu. I transformed it to my liking by adding a large amount of spicy garlic and grated garlic. It was a satisfying bowl. My next goal is to conquer all the branches of Kyuyo Ken, the pride of Kurume. It's a bit far, but I want to aim for it.

"The soy sauce tonkotsu and the five-flavor fried rice were delicious. On a day when a typhoon hit, I wandered and ended up at Daikan Ramen. It seemed like everyone else had the same idea, as the place was packed with customers. The Uetsu branch offers the five-flavor fried rice, which is a unique feature of the restaurant. The soy sauce tonkotsu ramen is incredibly popular for its well-balanced and flavorful taste. It's easy to eat yet rich in flavor. Daikan Ramen is truly impressive."

It was before noon, so I lined up outside, but the turnover was fast so I didn't have to wait long to get inside! I tried it for the first time and chose the ramen and fried rice set this time. It was so delicious! I really wanted to drink all the soup, but I held back.

I tried the shoyu tonkotsu ramen for the first time at Daikan Ramen. Since I was in Kurume, I decided to try their signature tonkotsu broth. The noodles were the usual medium thickness noodles found in Kurume. The soup had a strong soy sauce flavor, but the tonkotsu taste was still present and delicious! I also tried the extra noodles with black garlic oil for added flavor. Kurume tonkotsu ramen is definitely delicious!

It's been a while since I had Daikan Ramen. Instead of the main store, I visited the Kamitsu store for the first time in 9 years. I had recently been lowering my evaluation of the main store, but I had always held this store in high regard. Looking at the menu, I noticed that the prices have gone up quite a bit compared to around 10 years ago when I first started using food review sites. Back then, the standard price was around 550 yen, and 600 yen was considered expensive. I think this increase is not only due to recent inflation but also because of the influx of ramen shops from Tokyo, which has raised our baseline perception of ramen prices as consumers. In the midst of this, I noticed the Soy Sauce Tonkotsu Ramen priced at 860 yen. Is it a new menu item? I promptly ordered it. I might actually prefer the Soy Sauce Tonkotsu Ramen over the classic Miso Ramen.

Fukuoka Prefecture, Kurume City: Along the Jozu BP - Ramen specialty shop [Tonkotsu ramen, fried rice, etc.] A representative shop of Kurume ramen! The store is very famous with multiple locations in and outside Kurume City! The tonkotsu-based ramen may look quite oily, but when you try it, the soup is not at all greasy and easy to eat, and delicious. At one point, I felt like having some white rice... but considering my age, I decided against it... haha

In the past, instead of trendy ramen, I ordered the classic "ramen" with rich soup base. In today's era where nostalgic flavors like Kurume ramen or ramen without a strong pork bone aroma are praised, I personally really like the strong pork bone taste and aroma of Daikan's soup.

This is the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen, a ramen shop where jazz music plays, and it is the setting for the movie "Ramen Samurai" starring Watanabe Dai. I personally think that wonton is the best match for tonkotsu ramen. Of course, the wonton ramen here is the best. And the pickled mustard greens are also amazing.

After the New Year, on the morning of the 2nd day, I suddenly felt like eating tonkotsu ramen. I thought there wouldn't be any shops open, but when I searched online, I found out that Daikan, a famous ramen shop, was open from the 2nd. So, I arrived 20 minutes before opening, becoming the first customer at Daikan Kamitsuke store this year. Daikan is a well-known ramen shop representing Kurume. I haven't been there recently because I wanted to try different flavors from various shops. But, no matter what, Daikan's ramen is undeniably delicious. It had been a while since I last visited, and I noticed that the menu and toppings had increased, and there were more condiments on the table. The service was as excellent as ever. Despite being a long-established and famous ramen shop in Kurume, Daikan continues to incorporate new things and make improvements. This is surely the secret to staying number one. Now, I ordered the Chashu Ramen with no green onions and firm noodles. Personally, I don't like the smell of oil in ramen, so I always order the regular ramen. Since it was the new year, I splurged on the Chashu Ramen. I love Daikan's thinly sliced and moist chashu. In the past, when I visited the Yoshino Keri store, the soup was surprisingly hot, but the temperature at the Kamitsuke store was perfect. It was undeniably delicious. This is the essence of Kurume ramen! I tried to change the flavor by getting an extra serving of noodles and adding the spicy miso-like condiment on the table, but it wasn't that great. The spicy miso itself may be delicious, but Kurume ramen shouldn't be overloaded like Hakata or Ogori ramen. Just adding a little pepper or sesame is good. By the way, in the past, the extra serving of noodles didn't come with sauce, but now it does. I think this is a good change. I also ordered the topping of Shinachiku with the extra serving of noodles. It's great that you can now order toppings separately on a plate. It was a great start to the ramen year. Daikan, a long-established ramen shop representing Kurume, continues to evolve. As expected. Additional note: When I left the store, there was a huge line. I saw online posts later saying that the wait was up to 1 hour. I'm glad I went early (sweat).

I came to Kurume, so I visited this place for the first time to try Kurume ramen. I arrived just before 7 pm on a Saturday and there were three groups waiting at the entrance. While sitting on the bench waiting, I looked at the menu and ordered the basic ramen with firm noodles, along with a set of onigiri and half gyoza. I was seated immediately and the atmosphere inside was lively with jazz music playing. The kitchen staff were mostly young men and women. At the table, there was chilled green tea and even a hair tie provided. The ramen had a creamy tonkotsu soup with hardly any gamey smell. The noodles were just right for my slow eating pace at firm texture. The onigiri came with pickles and the gyoza were small in size, similar to Hakata-style one-bite gyoza. Later, I noticed a menu item that was a seasonal dessert from a local sweets shop paired with half gyoza for 260 yen, which was not given to me during the wait. If I had seen it earlier, I would have chosen that option.

I visited the nearby yet distant Cannon Ramen after a long time, and found that the menu had changed. After much deliberation, I ordered the special ramen with wontons and a side of fried rice, which I used to enjoy. When the gyoza was served, I took a bite and was hit with a sharp, unpleasant taste that spread in my mouth. It turned out that my dental filling had come loose and I accidentally chewed on it, causing my tooth to chip. It was such a shame that the ramen experience was ruined.

I usually go to the main branch, but I heard that the soup here is delicious, so I decided to visit. There was a wait for 1-2 people, but I didn't have to wait long to get in. Wow! It's delicious! It might even be better than the main branch. The soup has richness and flavor without any gamey taste. It brings out the best of pork bone flavor. I used to easily finish a large bowl of ramen. I will go a few more times to make sure the quality is consistent, but it looks like I'll be coming here for a while. There was a line when I left. It might be difficult to come here for a lunch break.

I revisited this place after 8 years, so long that I couldn't remember the taste. I arrived at 2:30 pm and there was a line, but I was seated promptly at the counter. I ordered a set with ramen, gyoza, and onigiri. The onigiri, ramen, and gyoza were served in that order. The ramen had a nostalgic taste, the "old-fashioned ramen" was a bit sweet with oil, but the regular ramen had a straightforward pork bone soup flavor. I asked for the noodles to be cooked normally, and they were slightly soft. The gyoza was bite-sized and delicious with a strong garlic flavor. The onigiri had a nice firm texture and you could taste the quality of the rice. I ordered an extra serving of noodles cooked firm, and they paired perfectly with the soup. Highly recommended. Thank you for the meal.

I visited this restaurant while on a business trip to Kurume. It was hot outside, but there was only a 5-minute wait before we were seated. The parking lot was spacious and almost full. I ordered the set with fried rice, gyoza, and ramen, which cost around 1200 yen. The ramen, fried rice, and gyoza all arrived quickly, and I was satisfied with the taste. The ramen seemed similar to Hakata ramen, but I couldn't really tell the difference. Both the fried rice and gyoza were delicious.

Today, due to work, I visited Kurume City in Fukuoka Prefecture! At lunchtime, my boss and I decided to have ramen here. There was a wait of about 5 people, but we got in after waiting for about 10 minutes. I was in the mood for something rich, so I ordered the following: - "Mukashi Ramen" (700 yen) There is also a mild "ramen" available. The description says it has "homemade lard-infused broth with a rich pork bone soup base that has been continuously simmered since the founding of the restaurant." The ramen arrived at the counter after a 5-minute wait. The aroma of the pork bone was very inviting. First, the soup. It had a rich pork bone flavor and aroma, with a good balance of richness. The thin noodles (slightly thicker than Hakata style) complemented the soup well, with a flavor and texture that didn't get overshadowed by the pork bone. (In Kurume, normal noodles might be more delicious than extra firm.) Lastly, as always, I got hooked on the endless loop of cold water and pork bone soup, and ended up finishing the soup completely because the cold water made my mouth feel refreshed. Phew... It was a very satisfying lunch! Thank you for the meal!

Formerly operating under the name "Shoatei," this restaurant went through some twists and turns before rebranding, which seems to have boosted sales. The power of a gold signboard is significant indeed... It's been about 3 years since I last visited this establishment. I went to the Otsu branch of "Taiko Ramen" in Fukuoka Prefecture. If you take the Otsu Bypass from the Nofukuma Signal on National Route 210, you'll find the destination on your left in about 2 minutes. There's a Honda store nearby. Parking available. The parking lot of this restaurant is huge. Well, you shouldn't have trouble finding a spot no matter the time or situation. It seems they share the parking lot with the neighboring Hamburger Onion, as well as being the case with the Yume Town Mae branch. They have secured a third parking lot as well, with a capacity of about 80 vehicles. Now, let's step inside the restaurant. Inside the restaurant, on the left side, there is a counter with seating for 6 people, two 4-person tables, and two 6-person tables. On the right side, there are about 10 counter seats, two 4-person tables, and one 6-person tatami room. The capacity is around 50 people. Check out the menu... Oh... Taiko Ramen is tough now. Expensive! It's getting close to Fukuoka prices. It's not the price of rural ramen anymore. Over 1000 yen for a set... I understand it's due to the increase in taxes, but it's really disappointing. The table condiments include pepper, sesame, gyoza sauce, chili oil, garlic, chili garlic for ramen, and red pickled ginger. I ordered ramen in the past. They ask about the firmness of the noodles. How about this visual! The noodles are served in about 8 minutes! Beautiful... Thinly sliced chashu pork, menma (bamboo shoots), green onions, seaweed, a quarter of a boiled egg, crispy. Now, let's take a sip of the soup... Good temperature! The first impression is, even with eyes closed, unmistakably the taste of Taiko Ramen... The decision not to adopt the Central Kitchen system means that the education level of the craftsmen is very high, and there is little variation in taste among Taiko Ramen stores. The soup, which is the origin of the call-back, is complex, rich, and delicate, giving a sense of history. It has a richness but is easy to eat, with the characteristic smell of pork bones but smooth. I apologize for the long review. It's truly amazing ☆ Let's take a bite of the noodles... The noodles, which play a role in enhancing the deliciousness of Taiko Ramen, are apparently homemade. They create a taste and texture that does not lose to the unique soup. The collaboration between this noodle and the soup makes the soup delicious with this noodle, and the noodle delicious with this soup! Let's try a bite of the chashu pork... It's carefully prepared, with a good flavor and a tender finish. There is nothing to complain about throughout the entire meal. Finished eating. Now, what about the bill... 800 yen. Definitely worth the price. However, given the location with few tourists and a business targeting local residents, the pricing set at about 1.5 times that of other Kurume ramen shops is a bit risky (sweat). As for Taiko Ramen, even ordinary consumers may need to change their mindset. The real deal is expensive! Taiko Ramen is currently undeniably authentic. Thank you for the meal.

Today, my errands took longer than expected, so I decided to grab some quick ramen for dinner. I ordered the regular tonkotsu ramen with a side of fried rice and dumplings. It was delicious and I finished it all in no time. Tonkotsu ramen is always the best choice. Thank you for the meal! ᐡ-ﻌ-ᐡ

I entered the restaurant before noon on a regular day. As a solo diner, I was seated at the counter. I ordered the Five-Ingredient Fried Rice set for 1000 yen. The restaurant was about 80% full, and my ramen and fried rice were served in about 5 minutes. The ramen was neither sweet nor spicy, with a slightly richer flavor than typical cafeteria ramen. There was a note saying that they could adjust the sweetness and spiciness of the sauce upon request, but I chose not to use it. The Five-Ingredient Fried Rice was slightly sweet, and I enjoyed the texture of the finely chopped meat and green onions. However, I thought that 630 yen for a bowl of ramen was a bit expensive. While I appreciate the owner's dedication to pursuing delicious ramen with various preferences, I wonder how many ordinary people are willing to accept such preferences. I may visit once for the sake of conversation, but if the cost-performance ratio is low, I don't think I will return.

The lively atmosphere inside the restaurant and the energetic staff made it a full house. It had been a while since I last had ramen from this place. It seemed lighter and easier to eat compared to before. The thin noodles quickly disappeared as they intertwined with the rich soup. They also sell desserts exclusively at the Uetsu shop.

I happened to pass by and tried the popular Daikan Ramen. There are plenty of parking spaces available. I had been wanting to try Daikan Ramen for a while, but it didn't meet my expectations. It had a creamy texture, but it felt thin and lacked depth. The toppings were not particularly tasty, and the crispy fried pork that I was looking forward to was disappointing. However, the saving grace was the delicious gyoza! Maybe it would taste better at a different branch? Thank you for the meal.