Ichiran: Home Of Five Originals

Ichiran is one of Japan’s most iconic ramen chains, known globally for its signature tonkotsu ramen and unique solo dining booths that allow guests to focus entirely on the flavor experience. Even outside of Japan, the name Ichiran is frequently mentioned by ramen lovers and I completely understand why.

I was surprised to learn that they only serve one variety of ramen, which is tonkotsu, and yet people willingly line up for this one thing. It’s impressive that Ichiran draws such long queues with just a single kind of ramen. That alone speaks volumes about its quality.

Let’s start with the essentials: the noodles and the tonkotsu broth. You can order the ramen as simple as this, which is without toppings, if you want to savor the base on its own. They provide a checklist where you can customize your bowl according to your preferences on flavor strength, richness, noodle texture and more. I always go with the chef’s recommendation and I wasn’t disappointed. The broth had a clean, natural pork flavor with a creamy hint, both in taste and texture. I typically prefer pho over ramen, but Ichiran’s tonkotsu made me reconsider that this might just be on par. The thin noodles had just the right bite. It was perfectly cooked according to the customization I selected.

Now, let’s discuss the toppings. Even though the bowl was quite loaded, everything felt balanced. The chashu was simply braised, delivering a subtle pork flavor that didn’t overpower the broth. It looked unassuming but had a surprisingly rich taste. However, to me, it just tasted like a premium ham we enjoy at home. Honestly, I’ve had better chashu at other ramen shops. The kikurage added a nice crunch and a touch of earthiness. I also ordered the tamago, which wasn’t in the photo. It was runny and rich. It was cooked exactly how I like it.

Thankfully, Ichiran offers one dessert on their menu so I quickly added the Matcha Almond Pudding in my list of orders. This was a pleasant surprise! The matcha flavor had a slightly bitter, earthy note that was balanced by the soft sweetness of the pudding and a delicate almond hint. Its smooth, creamy, and silky texture practically melted in my mouth. It was the perfect way to end the meal. I only wish it was available in more branches. Unfortunately, it wasn’t offered in some locations in Fukuoka.

Even their instant ramen version deserves recognition. I couldn’t believe how close it came to the taste of the freshly prepared ramen from the store. I say almost because it did fall short in depth likely due to the absence of fresh toppings like chashu and egg, which clearly add dimension to the broth. Still, it was impressive. For a more complete experience, I’d definitely try to add my own toppings next time. I bought this Ichiran instant bowl from Bon Repas grocery store and would gladly get it again.

I also remember the time a friend gifted me a box of Ichiran Hakata Thin Straight Noodles. I wasn’t familiar with the brand back then. I totally went off-script by turning it into a BBQ-flavored ramen with that hickory smoke BBQ sauce and thick-cut pork belly. See How I Make Pork Belly BBQ Ramen. That may have strayed far from the original flavor, but despite my experiment, the noodles remained firm and flavorful. Even the broth, mixed with BBQ sauce, still managed to taste rich and porky, almost as if freshly made.