A Journey Through the World of Kyushu’s Noodle Culture
Throughout Japan, there are many regional noodle dishes to discover and all of them do have their very own charms. Kyushu, however, the southernmost part of Japan, is particularly known as the kingdom of delicious dishes. It is time to pay this very kingdom a visit and discover all the different noodle varieties, from Kyushu’s favorite soup tonkotsu ramen to its very own version of chow mein, Hita yakisoba.
1. The Favorite Ending of Fukuoka Drinking Parties: Tonkotsu Ramen
Drinking parties are an inherent part of Japanese pub culture and the best way to end such a party is a hearty bowl of ramen. In Fukuoka, the people’s favorite is by far tonkotsu ramen, or pork bone noodle soup. Of course, this delicacy can be enjoyed all by itself as well, without any major party having to happen beforehand. We’ve found the city’s best and most reasonably priced shops focusing on tonkotsu ramen.
Ajiichi
4-4-4 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 814-0002
Nagahama Ramen Jiromaru
5-4-1 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 814-0002
Nishijintei
4-9-18 Nishijin, Sawara-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 814-0002
2. UFO Sighting at a Local Udon Shop!
When hearing “Hakata”, a lot of people will immediately think of tonkotsu ramen. However, the area is also the birthplace of udon, the thick, chewy noodles that have become a favorite among many gourmets. In one local udon shop, people have made a curious discovery, though. UFO is a curious specialty of a restaurant called Daichi no Udon, made from udon, meat, and green onion, all arranged and fried in the shape of a disc. This isn’t the restaurant’s only mysterious item on the menu – but why not discover the rest for yourself?
Daichi no Udon
2-1-1 Ekimae Hakata, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka-shi, Fukuoka-ken 819-0054
3. A Gourmet Gem: Long-Established Nagasaki Chanpon Delights
Another noodle favorite of the region is chanpon, Nagasaki’s unique take on noodle soup. With one of Japan’s biggest Chinatowns, it comes as no surprise that the city has some of the best chanpon in Japan, with the dish having its roots in Chinese cuisine. We’ve hand-picked three long-established restaurants that will tickle your tongue with delicious and authentic chanpon, unique in taste and dangerously addictive!
Kozanro
12-2 Shinchimachi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki-ken 850-0842
Kyorakuen
5-4 Furukawamachi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki-ken 850-0000
Ohato Tokaen
15-5 Motofunamachi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki-ken 850-0035
4. 1 Day - 1,000 Meals! One of Kagoshima’s Most Popular Yakisoba Restaurants
This restaurant in Kagoshima is rumored to serve one-thousand meals in one single day and therefore counts as one of the city’s most popular yakisoba restaurants. Vegetables, meat, and seafood, all fried with a savory bean paste, make for one fantastic dish that you won’t be able to resist.
One of the most popular items on the menu is the “Katayakisoba”, which basically means crunchy chow mein. It is said that this delicious dish is a family recipe passed down for several generations! Don’t miss out on this classic and incredibly tasty dish!
Yamakataya Shokudo
3-1 Kinseicho, Kagoshima-shi, Kagoshima-ken 892-0828
5. Traditional & Original: Okinawan Soba Ramen
Okinawa is Japan’s southernmost prefecture and has an amazing set of noodle dishes to offer. One particular local delicacy is the Okinawan soba which has its very own taste and texture compared to what people usually enjoy in mainland Japan. In this article, we’ll take a look at the prefecture’s very best ramen restaurants that make use of Okinawa’s soba.
The tender texture of the homemade noodles is a special delight when enjoyed with refreshing mozuku seaweed vinegar used as seasoning. This traditional combination can be savored the classic way as well as in new, creative creations – don’t be shy to try new things!
Thianda
1-6-10 Ameku, Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken
Thishiraji Soba
1-1 Shuriteracho, Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken
Kinchichi Soba
https://gurunavi.com/en/fb7z301/rst/
Ishigufu
3-2-1 Omoromachi, Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken 900-0006
Kenpano Subaya
4-9-11 Omoromachi, Naha-shi, Okinawa-ken 900-0006
6. Taipien: Soupy Delight for Rainy Days
Have you heard of taipien before? It’s a local noodle dish from Kumamoto prefecture, so traditional and classic that it often graces the lunch menus of Kumamoto’s schools. It can be called a Japanese vermicelli chicken soup that has its roots, like many other noodle soups, in Chinese cuisine. With its rich but light flavor and reputation of being a healthy dish, taipien has amassed quite a large fandom all throughout Japan – as such, it comes as no surprise that this regional delicacy can be savored in Tokyo as well.
Baku, located in Tokyo’s Hamamatsucho, serves the classic Kumamoto taipien to hungry Tokyoites and visitors alike. With plenty of vegetables in the savory soup, this culinary experience is as delicious as it is unique!
Chugokushuka Baku
https://gurunavi.com/en/g220602/rst/
7. Crispy Noodles, Grilled on an Iron Plate: Savoring Hita Yakisoba
Oita does have a lot of regional delicacies but one of the most popular and famous one is Hita yakisoba, or Hita chow mein. Instead of being fried in a pan, the noodles are grilled on the iron plate of a teppan, making them incredibly crispy and delicious. With a raw egg dropped in the middle once the dish is done, it doesn’t only taste amazing but also looks very appetizing.
Of course, such a delicious noodle dish has spread from Oita to the rest of Japan and particularly Oita-born Tokyoites frequent various restaurants to get a taste of home.
Sofuren
416-1 Wakamiyamachi, Hita-shi, Oita-ken 877-0000
Mikuma Hanten
1-15-21 Kuma, Hita-shi, Oita-ken 877-0044
Apetaito
7-12-8 Takashimadaira, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo-to 174-0000
Yakisoba Kabukichi
Dai-21 Tokyo Bldg. 1F, 1-14-6 Kabukicho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo-to 160-0021
