Tonkotsu (pork bone soup stock) ramen is popular among foreign travelers. It is said to be started in Kurume-shi, Fukuoka.

↑“The monument for the birth place of Tonkotsu ramen! Near the entrance of Meiji Dori Bunkagai.

Let’s learn the basic knowledge of Kurume Ramen

What is Kurume ramen?
Kurume ramen is a type of ramen with thin straight noodle and tonkotsu soup and is made mainly in Kurume-shi.

It is said that the ramen stall, “Nankin Senryo”, in Kurume is “the birthplace of Tonkotsu ramen”.

What is the secret of the rich soup?
When there is only little soup left in the pot, they add more soup made in a different pot so there are some shops that hasn’t emptied their pot for decades.

3 selected ramen shops that are worth going out of your way.
■Okishokudo

It is the pioneer of “Shokudo-kei” ramen, started in 1955 in Kurume. “Ramen” (500 yen) has tonkotsu with some chicken soup so it has mild flavor with slightly sweet flavor.

●Address： 330 Sasayamamachi, Kurume, Fukuoka
●TEL：0942-32-7508
●Hours：10:00 to 15:30
●Closed day： Sundays and holidays
※Menu in foreign language：None
●Access：
From “Nishitetsu Kurume Station”, get on Nishitetsu bus 3, 6, 8, or 20, and get off at “Sasayama 3 Chome”.  3 minutes on foot.


■Daiei Ramen

They have traditional Kurume ramen where they add new soup to the old one since their foundation in 1973. “Ramen” (580 yen) has soup that is made with pork’s skull, and its balance is adjusted every day.

●Address： 30-25 Higashimachi, Kurume, Fukuoka
●TEL：0942-39-3977
●Hours：11:30 to 15:00、17:00 to 21:30
●Closed day： Wednesdays
※Menu in foreign language：Available（English ）
●Access：5 minutes on foot from Nishitetsu Kurume Station
●URL：https://ja-jp.facebook.com/kurumetonkotsu/


■Banyoken Main shop

Soup from the fist of pork and rib bone and chicken soup is blended in the ratio of 8 to 2. You can taste very simple traditional “ramen” (600 yen).

●Address： 7-52 Mutsumonmachi, Kurume, Fukuoka, Kurume the Mid Tower 1st floor
●TEL：0942-35-2237
●Hours：11:30 to 14:30（OS14:20）、17:30 to 2:00 a.m.（OS 1:40 a.m.）
●Closed day：Mondays and second Sunday
※Menu in foreign language： None
●Access： 10 minutes on foot from Nishitetsu Kurume Station


Other famous ramen shops in Kurume
■Taiho Ramen Main shop
They were founded in 1953. The standard “ramen” (600 yen) and “mukashi ramen” (650 yen) that recreated the rich flavor of the ramen stall are the basic menus.
※The price is as of December 2017. This may be changed.
●Address： 11-8 Torihokamachi, Kurume, Fukuoka
●TEL：0942-33-6695
●Hours：11:00 to 21:00
●Closed day：New Year’s day
※Multi language menu: Available （English）
●Access： 10 minutes from Nishitetsu Kurume Station
●URL：http://taiho.net


■Nankin Senryo Yatai
It is the oldest ramen shop started in 1937.　They use premium water and salt. All ramen is made with alkaline ion water and rock salt from Mongol.
●Address： 36 Higashimachi, Kurume, Fukuoka, In front of Kumamoto Family Bank
●TEL：0942-22-6568
●Hours：19:30 to 3:30 a.m.
●Closed day：Sundays
●URL：http://www.nankinsenryou.jp