ICHIRAN Honshasohonten

It would be a huge misstep to skip this, the birthplace of Ichiran, while visiting Fukuoka. No recommendations. Just try everything in the menu.

Visited November 2023

A good warm bowl of Tonkotsu ramen was just what the doctor ordered on a slightly chilly March evening. Warming rich broth, satisfying noodles and a couple of slices of pork/ bacon delivered literally in seconds. You order at the machine on the way in, but remember to fill in the form (answering all... questions unlike some tourist idiots - doh!) as well as it’s collected aling wirh your receipts to make up your meal. Then slurp away in privacy enjoying each mouthful.

Visited March 2024

With this opportunity to be in Fukuoka Ichiran main shop is the must go to for ramen. We walked from Hakata to locate this famous humble beginning shop. Not difficult to find but do not be misled by the ramen shop next to it as the entrance to Ichiran is at the furthest end of the stretch. We were l...ucky as there was no queue when we got there. Unlike the Ichiran HQ where even 24-hours there's always a queue to enter. We had visited Ichiran in Tokyo and HK and now the main shop. Same layout and as some will call it anti-social eating as each has a cubicle but it's good to slurp loudly in private. I was not absolutely satisfied with this lunch as it left me with a taste that other ramen we had eaten during the 2-weeks driving through Kyushu were better then Ichiran. The broth was not full-bodied enough but the rest are for us to select and deliver to the table. Service was fast. But kudos for keeping this property alive and the staff must be commended for helping us foreigners to order, even asking if they can help us take our photos.

Visited February 2024

We had read the reviews for this place and upon arrival at Fukuoka we went straight there …only to find a line of at least 20 people! We waited for about 20 minutes maybe more. One of the staff passed by and gave us a form detailing of how we wanted to have our ramen (thick or thin soup, spicy, al d...ente noodles or soft, egg or no egg, nori or no nori). Afterwards, we put the order in a machine and paid. Soon after we were seated, each one at a booth, and few minutes later a waiter brought us the warm soup!! What a delight, what a delicious sensation. All the ingredients were perfectly balanced. My husband ordered extra noodles as his bowl was almost half full of the mouth watering broth and came in just 3 minutes. Payment in the machine and at the booth for the additional noodles or anything else is in cash only. Highly recommended.

Visited November 2023

I'll admit that we had ramen almost everyday. I am not ashamed of that. Ichiran is one of the best. Very efficiently organised, you order and pay at a machine outside, then fill in a little form (in Japanese and English) to say just how you want your ramen (such as firm, spicy, extra garlic). It arr...ives in minutes and is delicious.

Visited May 2023