When you think of Fukuoka, you think of Hakata ramen. It is considered one of the three great ramen in Japan, along with Sapporo ramen and Kitakata ramen. It is famous not only in Japan but also overseas.

Let's explore the characteristics and history of Hakata ramen.

Characteristics of Hakata Ramen

Ramen in Fukuoka City can be broadly divided into two types: Hakata ramen and Nagahama ramen, but it is said that there is no clear difference between them.

We will introduce the characteristics of Hakata ramen in three categories.

noodles

Hakata ramen uses whitish, very thin, straight noodles, similar to Shimabara somen. They have a supple texture and go down smoothly. Incidentally, Fukuoka prefecture has developed a wheat flour called ramugi, which is used specifically for ramen. It is used not only for ramen, but also for dishes that use Chinese noodles, such as yakisoba and champon.

The reason for using thin noodles is to allow the noodles to stick to the soup well and to make it easier to eat. This was started by the Nagahama food stalls adjacent to the fresh fish market. Thin noodles that can be boiled quickly were used to provide ramen to market workers in a short time.

At most restaurants, you will be asked how firm you would like your noodles. The main types of noodle firmness are very hard, firm, normal, soft, and very soft.

Apparently many locals order Hakata ramen with "Barikata" (hardness). Some people order it harder, with "sugi" (wire) or "konaotoshi" (a type of flour dumpling).

Another unique feature is the refill system, which allows you to have just the noodles. Hakata ramen is served in small portions because it gets soggy. There are no large servings, but you can have extra noodles, so you can be satisfied. The best time to order extra noodles is before you finish the first bowl, so the soup doesn't get cold. You can't have extra soup, so it's important to leave some.

Ingredients

Most restaurants use simple toppings such as just green onions or just green onions and roasted pork. Some restaurants also add toppings such as wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and seaweed.

It seems that wood ear mushrooms first started being used as a topping for nori seaweed. The price of nori was subject to large fluctuations, so wood ear mushrooms, which have a relatively stable price, came to be used instead.

Free toppings such as pickled ginger, takana pepper, and white sesame seeds are sometimes placed on the tables at the restaurant.

Instead of adding toppings straight away, try tasting it as is first. We recommend adding a few toppings after enjoying the soup, to enjoy the change in flavor.

There's a reason why toppings are there.
When Hakata ramen was first created, pigs were not fed the feed that today is made mainly from corn and other ingredients. Because there was a lot of waste and leftover food from households, the tonkotsu soup had a strong flavor. To reduce the strong flavor, white sesame seeds (ground sesame seeds) were added as a topping.

Incidentally, it was Tonomura Yasunori, the founder of Hakata Ramen Shizuka in Nishijin, Sawara Ward, Fukuoka City, who came up with the idea of adding white sesame seeds (ground sesame) to Hakata ramen.

soup

Hakata ramen is known for its rich tonkotsu soup. Collagen dissolves in the soup, giving it a thick consistency. There are clear and cloudy versions, but the most common is the cloudy version.

The seasoning, color, and ingredients vary depending on the restaurant and area. The part of the pig used (skull, backbone, trotters, etc.), the way the bones are prepared, the simmering time, the amount of fat added, and so on also vary from restaurant to restaurant. Each restaurant has their own preferences for the unique pork bone smell, such as whether they want to enhance it or remove it as much as possible.

The History of Hakata Ramen

There are various theories about the origins of Hakata ramen. The birthplace of tonkotsu ramen, which is said to be the original, is Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture. The beginning of tonkotsu ramen in Kyushu is said to be the ramen stall "Nankin Senryo" that opened in 1937.

The founder of Nanking Senryo, Tokio Miyamoto, originally ran a udon noodle stand. At the time, he heard that Chinese noodles were becoming popular in Yokohama and Tokyo, so he trained at a local Chinese noodle restaurant.

Miyamoto, who was born in Shimabara City, Nagasaki Prefecture, took inspiration from the familiar Nagasaki champon soup and, through much trial and error, perfected tonkotsu ramen.

Later, around 1947, the cloudy white tonkotsu soup was created at Tamana's "Sankyu."

Tamana "Sankyu" made "clear tonkotsu soup with little turbidity." One day, the owner left the soup's heat in the hands of his mother and went out. When he returned, the tonkotsu soup had boiled down and become cloudy. However, when he tasted the cloudy soup, he found it delicious and the "cloudy tonkotsu soup" spread throughout Kyushu.

By the way, someone who was impressed by the ramen at Tamana's "Sankyu" opened "Matsubaken," the birthplace of Kumamoto ramen. It is a forerunner of "Komurasaki," "Keika," and "Ajisen."

If you come to Hakata, you should stop by Nakasu

Hakata, a vibrant city that flourished as a merchant town, is home to Nakasu, famous as Kyushu's number one entertainment district. There is a wide variety of delicious food, and many people visit. You can enjoy the local food culture, including Hakata ramen, as well as Hakata specialties such as motsunabe and yakitori.

Another great thing about Nakasu is that you can chat with locals while eating delicious food at the food stalls. Nakasu is located in the center of Hakata, so it's easy to access. It's a popular spot that you can't miss when sightseeing in Fukuoka.

How to get to Fukuoka

Fukuoka Prefecture is easily accessible by air and land. If you are traveling from Tokyo, Nagoya, or Osaka, it is convenient to fly to Fukuoka Airport or Kitakyushu Airport.

If you take the subway from Fukuoka Airport, you will arrive at Hakata Station in about 5 minutes. From Kitakyushu Airport to Kokura Station, it will take about 35 minutes by bus. If you are traveling within the Chugoku and Shikoku regions, or Kyushu, we recommend using the Shinkansen. It will take about 1 hour from Hiroshima, and about 1 hour and 50 minutes from Kagoshima.

Location of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture

summary

Hakata ramen has different flavors depending on the shop, so you can enjoy a special dish. We also recommend using the refill system to change up the flavor with toppings.

If you visit Fukuoka, be sure to try Hakata ramen.

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