ICHIRAN Original Shop and Home Office

This place is definitely an experience to try. From long queues to get in to individual sections where you consume your meal to a curtain greeting and help signs, this first meal in Japan as a tourist got me mistaken that all of it was going to be this way. *wink* All said, the noodles are worth the experience. Maybe the above made the taste a lot better than the instant ones I buy from Don Don. As for the meat I ordered, I probably will give that a miss.

Amazing experience and very good food. You will need to wait but not a lot as it is a quick-eating system. The staff will perform a dance at 20:00 every day.

The best tasting Ichiran ramen compared to other locations, including Tokyo and New York (which to be expected from HQ location!) I ordered the strongest flavor with full garlic and level 5 spicy, will try level 10 spicy next time. I had to order kaedama for sure, super recommended if you are in Hakata!

Went here at night and was able to watch some performance in the balcony by the staff. Waited in line for almost 30 minutes. It’s worth the wait, since once you are seated, the serving time for the Ramen is quick. We also tried the matcha pudding, but I didn’t like it. We climb up a staircase to reach our seats. A vending machine is available which saves time since you just have to choose and pay right a way. Totally recommended

Considering that this is Ichiran's main store, there aren't a lot of seats and when we dropped by a little after 11:00, there was already a long queue formed outside. In spite of that, the queue was pretty fast-moving and we were seated within 20 minutes. The food was pretty decent and the price hasn't changed — 980円 — compared to the first time I had it in 2019. The environment was comfortable though it's a little tough visiting with a group of more than three.

The OG Ichiran HQ restaurant was on my bucketlist for a long time so we had to visit when we were in Fukuoka. You order at the machine and can pay cash or with card. Then someone will guide you to your seat where you individualize your order. You can choose the firmness of your noodles, the intensity of your broth, the spicelevel and so on. All contactless if you are introvert. What bothered me was the fact that you cannot really talk to your friends because you sit in a single booth all by your self. I get that you can better enjoy your bowl of Ramen and concentrate on eating and the flavors but I am a communicative guy who likes to talk about his experience. It is perfect if you are alone or just want to slurp up fast and leave. The Ramen itself was nearly perfect. The broth was so rich and all the ingridients were really tasty!!! Definetly would go again when i come back to Fukuoka 😍

In a city famous for its ramen this place stands above the others. With ramen shops seemingly on every block, "pilgrims" wait for up to an hour on the sidewalk outside Ichiran. Their patience is rewarded with a seat in a small cubby after they've placed their order and paid for their meal at a machine on the way in. It's hard to describe how a mixture of broth, noodles, pork and green onions can be SO amazing! My wife and I agreed it's the best ramen we've ever had.

Ichiran is an absolute must-try for any ramen lover! Five stars all the way. The individual booths create a unique and focused dining experience, allowing you to truly savor the rich and customizable tonkotsu broth. The quality of the noodles is exceptional, and the ability to tailor everything from the broth's richness to the spice level is fantastic. The service is efficient and discreet, and the overall atmosphere is both comforting and exciting. Even with lines to get in, the experience is well worth the wait. A truly unforgettable ramen experience!

I've visited a number of Ichiran locations throughout Japan (Tokyo, Yokohama, Hokkaido, Osaka) and initially questioned whether this one would be worth the wait. The queue was decently long but moves rather quickly. From the outside, you might wonder if there's seating on all 10+ floors, but I believe they only have booths on 1F & 2F. The ticket vending machine actually takes credit card, which is somewhat rare. There's also a bathroom inside. The meal itself was spectacular. Ichiran has always been really good; however, for whatever reason, this bowl was insanely good. 10X better than ShinShin. Def a must visit in Fukuoka! On a side note, about a block away from Ichiran, there's a really delicious donut shop (google map "Jokiya") that's unfortunately not listed on Yelp. My goodness. Freshly steamed perfection! There's also a shop at FUK airport domestic terminal. You can thank me later.

Ichiran ramen is the standard, it has been for decades and tonkotsu ramen is king in my books. It was the first chain of ramen restaurants that I've ever repeated and l I've visited Ichirans all over Japan from the hectic Shinjuku locations to much quieter parking lot restaurants, they all satisfy the deepest of ramen cravings. So when I found the so-called capital of pork bone broth noodles was in Fukuoka, I had to make the journey. Thank goodness I did because, the building is impressive! It is a true marvel but the best part is that the ramen is consistently amazing. The customizable menu is great but I've been using the recommended options for years and it has never disappointed. So if you've never been to an Ichiran or have been to all of them except this one, you're missing out!

This is the main branch of Ichiran Ramen. A must-visit for your trip to Fukuoka! Ichiran's tonkotsu ramen is superb with its rich and deep pork bone broth. The combination of chewy noodles and light chashu is truly fantastic. One of the great things about Ichiran Ramen is that you can customize your ramen to your taste. You can choose the thickness of the broth, the amount of garlic, the type of green onion, and the degree of doneness of the noodles. If you visit here for the first time, I recommend trying the basic flavor.

I love ichiran, but I would pass on this place. 100% waiting in line to go to the giant ichiran. Only 1 to 2 floors are open at a time. So you'll end up waiting 45-60 min. I did it once so I'll never have to do it again. Everyone knows there are shorter lines at other places.

This joint only does Tonkotsu ramen. And they do it really well. Ichiran is a chain. You're seated in a little booth, you don't really see the staff. They give you your order, and then drop a small screen. Portions are good, quality is good. But they move you in and move you out. I would probably go 3.5 stars, but that's only because we found an even better place. Expect to wait in line. They are very popular.

Saw this place on YouTube, and I had to try it. Pay at the machine, go in, to a cubicle, and fill out a form. Noodles texture, soup strength, add garlic, onions, Char Sui and spiciness. They pick up your custom order and recept. Lunch in a few minutes. They deliver, you don't see the person, only hands, you can talk with them, but in Japanese. They then close your cubicle front with a bamboo door so you can have privacy when you eat. Each cubicle al has an ice water spout. Great experience!

The wait for any of the Ichiran chain of ramen restaurants is pretty crazy. We waited in line for about half an hour to 40 minutes to get inside but it definitely is worth it to taste and experience it for yourself. Maybe because it's not my first time at one of these in Japan, but it is a pretty tasty ramen. Can't say that it's the best that I've had because there are so many different kinds out there to try. The experience of it all is unique with the individual booths and the mysteriousness of not being face to face with your server. You feel that you can make some abstract combinations of toppings without being judged by your fellow consumers. It is very satisfying to eat though and I'd say just go for it and try for yourself!! We went in October and it was neat to see the special jack o lanterns that were on display.

As much as it may sound like a tourist trap, it's not. Sometimes there is a line but it's worth the wait. It's ichiran, if you had it elsewhere it's the same bowl of ramen. But having it in the first store does feel special.

Great experience order your food item on the ticket machine outside of the restaurant. Turn your ticket in and before they start your Ramen you fill out a form for your personal custom ramen...noodle texture from very form to soft, soup richness, spiciness level and if you want garlic added to your soup. How awesome is that!

This place is the business. There's a good reason the line is out of control at 2pm on a Tuesday. If you've never been to Fukuoka, Halata Ramen is a big freaking deal and this is one of the better Hakata Ramen places.

I love Japanese food, and my husband lives for ramen. Thus when we find a winner where we can both celebrate our love for food, we both win. Here at IHSH, we really lucked out. The day we arrived it was blazing hot outside, we were sweaty, exhausted, and super hungry. We were pleasantly surprised that on a Saturday during lunch hours there was zero wait! We were seated immediately, and given menus in English. The little card of options allows for choice on onions, spice, garlic, noodle done-ness, and other customizations. We both ordered the char-siu tonkatsu with green onions, garlic and al dente noodles, and we both totally forgot to add one of the salty eggs. To drink, I was delighted to see that they had matcha draft beer, which I gleefully ordered, and the hubs ordered the matcha sochu. Our drinks and ramen arrived even before I could wipe all the sweat off my face and pour some water down my throat. The beer was grassy and malty with the matcha, and super cold, which was excellent. The sochu was served in a teapot, which threw both of us for a little bit of a loop, and was average but not super delicious. The ramens however, were hands down the best tonkatsu either of us have ever eaten. The broth was super flavorful and full of umami, the noodles were perfectly cooked, and the toppings were clean and fresh. Prices were super decent for the quality of the food, the service was friendly and fast, and despite the heat, the ramen was a highlight of my food adventures in Japan. Would absolutely go here again if I came back to Fukuoka.

Writing this review took longer than ordering, receiving and devouring this delicious Ramen. This is the original Ichiran in Fukuoka and it is a hive of activity as groups of diners enter, smash their bowls of ramen and then pay/exit. They specialise and serve only tonkotsu ramen. I'm going to say this is one of the best ramen I have ever had. In the tonkotsu style it is easily the best - the broth packs bags of flavour which is further intensified by the spiciness which adds another dimension. The other fabulous inclusion here is angel hair noodles over the regular thick instant type. This allows for maximum soup-and-chew slurp factor which invariably means you finish everything together - which is very satisfying. Unlike some ramen shops, this is a choose-your-own-adventure style. You tick off broth richness, spiciness and add extras to customise it to your personal taste, which is also a fantastic idea. If you find yourself in the Nakasu area of Fukuoka then this is a must visit. You won't be disappointed, and you will be in and out in about 8 minutes with a satisfied grin on your dial.

I went here for a late night dinner a few weeks ago. The ground floor was a yatai style setting so you get to see other people in the restaurant rather than eating in your individual booth. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen set which cost Y1490 and came with 4 pieces of char siu, 3 large pieces of seaweed, wood ears, scallions and a half-boiled egg. Everything was made to perfection. The char siu was very tender and not too fatty and the tonkotsu broth was creamy and great as usual. This time, I added the spicy red sauce as well and added a kick to the ramen. As always, Ichiran never disappoints!

Review 1300! As far as Hakata (Fukuoka) ramen chains go, there are two big ones. Ichiran and Ippudo. Ippudo is the one with the bigger name in the US with a couple stores in New York. Ichiran is finally branching out internationally having opened a location in Hong Kong to great popularity and is about to open in New York. I visited the Nakasu location of Ichiran in Fukuoka on my recent trip to Japan. This happens to be also the same location as the head office of the company. The actual restaurant is not on the first floor. Instead, the ground floor is devoted to a number of product offerings sold by Ichiran including their famous noodles along with numerous sauces. Ichiran also recently opened up a yatai-style restaurant in this space if you like the fare that is sold at the popular street food yatai abound nearby. However, ramen is not offered. You will find the restaurant located on the second floor. Walk up the stairs where you will encounter a payment machine. Take a look at the offerings and make your payment. After getting your ticket, make you way into the restaurant. What is most interesting about Ichiran (aside from the ramen) is the unique seating arrangement. There are no tables here. Instead the restaurant is setup with individual eating booths and in which you are served by a faceless staffer behind a curtain. This is so that the ramen experience is front and center. Due to the limited space, you might need to wait to be seated. Especially if you are dining as part of a group as it might be a while for a row of seats to open up if the restaurant is busy. The menu here consists of only ramen. So if you would like something else like gyoza, you will need to go elsewhere. However, the ramen here is very much worth trying. I ordered the standard tonkotsu ramen (¥790). They do have toppings like eggs for an additional charge if you want add on to your ramen. The great thing about eating ramen here is that you are in charge of the preparation. You are given a form (English version available) to fill out regarding your preferences including flavor strength, richness and noodle firmness to name a few things. The ramen I had here was just as good as I remembered when I first tried it at the Canal City branch. Very rich broth with excellent slippery noodles that I can not help but slurp up. The pork is tender, though the portion is small. The ramen at Ichiran is the best that I have had. Though I like the Canal City location a little better since they serve the ramen in a rectangular bowl and the ambiance is a bit nicer. In addition to serving up great ramen, the Nakasu location is open 24 hours. So it is possible to have a bowl of ramen at 5 am like I did on this occasion. If you are looking for tonkotsu ramen in Hakata, Ichiran is an excellent spot particularly for its unique dining experience.

The original Ichiran branch. We love how tall this Ichiran building is. Like it or not it is almost a landmark of Fukuoka and it's ramen industry. I know the locals are not fond of this commercialized ramen and understandably so, it is pricey and more often than not is filled with tourist. But Fukuokans should be proud of this restaurant because it has become world wide with a good reputation for both the ramen itself and the gimmicky isolated stalls. Anyway, on to the ramen. Like any franchised restaurant, the taste is consistent with what we've had at other Ichiran branches. Great tasting broth with customizable flavor and spiciness levels. My wife and I dined here twice, we tried both the stall seating upstairs on our first night and the table seating at the ground floor on our last night at Fukuoka. Memorable experience as always. Although we both agreed the only thing missing from Ichiran are Gyozas!

Not gonna lie I'm pretty sure this isn't the location I went to, but I'm trusting Ichiran's quality is consistent enough that I can insert my review here. Ichiran's ramen is THE BEST RAMEN I have ever had. Months later I still get the occasional Ichiran craving... And contemplate making a trip from Toronto to New York just to let my tongue relive the experience. The lineup was so long that I stood on the other side of the intersection. When you get to cross the road to where the restaurant actually is, you're given a slip of paper that allows you to customize your ramen. You can customize everything from the firmness of your noodles to the spiciness of the flavour. And if you're completely lost, you can follow the recommended options written on the paper. Even though I came here with friends, we each had our own peaceful cubicle to focus on the delicious taste of our ramen (as the design intended). Ignoring the fact that it was customized to my heart's desires, I loved everything about it and would definitely line up for it again!

Delicious delicious delicious. If youre in Fukuoka trying to get the best ramen around there is no better place than Ichiran. They only make one type of ramen but they make it better than any ramen i have ever had. I sat at the counter which was a really cool experience and very easy to do even though i dont speak japanese and i got the Ichiran 5 which i fully recommend. Once you've had Ichiran ramen once you wont be able to stop thinking about it. I know I havent!

A great location if you want traditional ramen. This is a popular place in japan and also a location in NYC. Their broth is so delicious and rich. You order from the vending machine which is a plus for foreigners because of the English menu. Once you get your order tickets, the waiter takes your ticket and your fresh bowl of ramen will arrive. Get a Sapporo beer to compliment your meal

I used to go there after nomikai. You can chose how hard your noodle is and how spicy your soup is. If you have a heartburn easily like me, you should get tums. Taste: Super duper delicious. Price: Good. Customer service: Fantasitic. Parking: Not free.

It has been a while since Fukuoka citizens have not gone to Ichiran. However, it is not that Ichiran got worse. It is because the tourists who line up day and night, the price which exceeds the average of tonkotsu ramen, and the exclusive counter(own ramen focus booth) are not for group use.　However, I understand that the system which can be ordered safely even if the traveler who does not understand Japanese is popular. Ichiran's main office has a table on the first floor and a dedicated counter on the second floor.The third floor and above are offices. And it is open 24 hours. The price of 890 yen is never high from a global perspective. However, there are innumerable tonkotsu ramen that can be eaten with one coin(500 yen) in Fukuoka, and the taste is not inferior to Ichiran.However, some stores may have a strong pig smell inside the store. Also, it is not necessarily a hygienic store. If you choose Ichiran, there is no mistake.

Go here at your own risk. Unless you are fortunate enough to travel to Fukuoka often, it may ruin ramen for you. The three of us arrived just before the lunch rush, so there was no wait. We ordered from the vending machine and were shown to our seats, or rather, private stalls. Were were given English ordering slips where we could customize everything from the fattiness of the broth to the thickness/quantity of the green onions. It doesn't really matter what you mark on the slip, because they will soon deliver the richest, creamiest, most amazing tonkatsu ramen that you could never even dream of. Hubband had to ask me to stop moaning over my bowl. Seriously, this is the best thing I have eaten. Ever.

This Ramen joint is one you really dont want to miss out on! As soon as you inter the restaurant they hand you a clip bored with a few questions for example "flavoring, weak normal strong verystrong" and when they sit you they take your paper its custom made to your preference!!! Crazy right? You also have the availability to get extra toppings and extra serving or noodles! This it for sure something out of a fictionary book! One con is that at times there can be a very long line but this Ramen restaurant is easily one if a kind and wish there would be one on Maui!

This is also famous ramen shop and there are many shops in Tokyo but this is the headquarter. Nomally people have to eat ramen alone here at the enclosed seat but one of the interesting thing is that people sit and eat ramen together here. Honestly I feel the taste here same as the others in Tokyo but it always tastes good!

Best chain store Ramen in Japan. If your hungry and you don't wanna take chance with a Mom and Pop place bcoz you can't speak the lingo? Then this is the In & Out of ramen joints in Japan. Consistently good. Buy a ticket from the machine in English and you're ready to dine without hassle, except may be the line of Chinese tourist. Its kinda of a human feeding trough.

BEST RAMEN YET!!! Very rich and flavorful and reasonably priced! Great customer service too! Highly recommend!

The menu is only Ramen, but it is good! You can add extra noodles, garlic, onions, etc. They have English menus so you can choose your specifics. Private, individual seating booth.

It was slightly more expensive than the other options that can be found around the area, but the unique experience and the delicious ramen is very well worth it.

great taste, super fast and efficient service (the simple but efficient selection menu with different firmness noodles, level of spice is a great idea), this particular location is original, convenient to down town, the deco is minimalist and typical for Ichiran and creates very nice feeling. Ichiran was voted the best ramen in 2017 in Japan... for a good reason :)

We ate at both the lower level tables and the private booths This restaurant only serves one kind of ramen, customized to your liking. Both times were great. In the lower level, there is a flip chart on the tables that describes the different add-ons you can order with your ramen (extra pork, garlic, onion, soy sauce, noodles, hard boiled egg, etc). After you order, you receive an order sheet and you select the flavor strength, richness (seafood oil), garlic, green onion, sliced pork, red sauce and noodle texture. Once you submit your order, they bring out your extras first and then your ramen. Without the seafood oil, I had no seafood taste in my ramen at all. And without the red sauce, it was not spicy at all. Upstairs, there are private cubes where you can eat privately. Each cubicle has its own tap for water and a button to call the waitstaff. The price was very reasonable - about 1200 per person

Mind blown by amazing Ramen, Gyoza, and Shōchū on the ground floor (second floor focuses on Ramen). Will definitely be back.

Best ramen in Japan, as made in the ramen capital of Japan. Memories of it still make my mouth water. Recommended: Tonkotsu ramen + chashu + extra noodles. Rich broth.

After visiting three ramen joints in Fukuoka(Ippudo and Mengekijo Genei being the others) this was my least favorite, that doesn't mean it's not worth a visit. The place serves tonkotsu ramen, is massive and open 24 hours. Down stairs is a sit an order restaurant while the upper floors contain cubicle like dining. We went upstairs. You choose your soup and toppings via vending machine, pay and print a ticket. Then you locate an empty cubby and take a seat. Sitting down actually triggers an alarm so they know you've sat down even though you can't see each other. The nice thing here is you get to customize each component of your bowl of ramen. Like amount of garlic and spicy red sauce, the doneness of the noodles, and richness of the broth and flavor strength. Trust me when I say get the full strength flavor and ultra rich(on my first visit I went middle of the road on both and regretted it). After making your selections the bowl arrives through the window and they drop the curtain so it's just you and your ramen. With no one to distract you from pure, unadulterated noodle slurping nirvana.