If you like tonkotsu ramen, you must try Kumamoto ramen!
As a ramen box provider, we know that Kumamoto has its distinctive black garlic taste that everyone will love.
History and the Background
Kumamoto ramen has originated from Kurume-city in Fukuoka prefecture.
Kurume ramen is ramen that simmers the tonkotsu (pork bone) and water for a long time.
It started to be known as Hakata ramen and as it became popular, it advanced to other prefectures including Kumamoto prefecture.
After the Hakata ramen was set up in Kumamoto, three ramen founders tried the ramen and considered making their own Kumamoto ramen.
This is how Shoyoken (1953-2018), Komurasaki (1954-), and Ajisen (1955-) started their business and spread Kumamoto ramen not only to Japan but to the world.
The place is located in Kyushu, which takes about 2 hours by flight and 6 hours by Sinkansen(bullet train) from Tokyo.
When you come to Kumamoto for ramen, you can also visit Kumamoto Castle, Suizenji Jojuen Garden, and Nabegataki Falls for sightseeing.
There are some Kumamoto ramen around the sightseeing places.
Also, you can try Red Wagyu Donburi, Karashi Daikon (Mustard Lotus Root), and Taipi En (Chinese-style harusame soup). They are famous food to eat aside from Kumamoto Ramen.
Features of Kumamoto Ramen
Hakata ramen is usually made only with tonkotsu, but Kumamoto blends chicken broth, so the taste is creamy and rich, yet easy to eat.
Kumamoto ramen is most distinguishable with its black garlic. They stir-fry or deep-fry the garlic chips to make burnt garlic, and usually add the garlic oil to the ramen.
It has chewy, harder, straight, thicker noodles that scoop the soup well. The ramen noodles get thicker as you go south of Kyushu if you notice.
The most common toppings are charsiew, wood ear fungus, seaweed, and green onion. Some stores also add boiled bean sprouts.
Recommended Kumamoto Ramen Restaurants
Here are the ramen shops you can try when you visit Kumamoto.
Kumamoto Ramen in Kumamoto:
- Kurotei（黒亭）
- Daikoku（大黒）
- Ramen Ku-Ron（ラーメン九龍）
- Keika Ramen（桂花ラーメン）
- Komurasaki（こむらさき）
They are all unique in their flavor, so please try them out.
Kurotei（黒亭）
Kurotei ramen has a refreshing tonkotsu taste.
The owner was trained how to make ramen from a store “Komurasaki” and opened its store in 1957.
The owner wants people to enjoy it every day, so they tried to reduce the smell of pork bone and focus more on the fragrance of fried garlic.
You are able to choose the noodles from extremely hard, hard, usual, and soft. The owner put an effort into the balance of 100% pork bone soup and burnt garlic.
Ramen:
Soup: Thick
Garlic level: 1 out of 3
熊本ラーメン 黒亭 本店 さん
— ゆのまる (@O9cOoReYyb76604) February 14, 2024
玉子入りラーメン
熊本ラーメンの老舗の人気店に来店！
1番人気の玉子入りラーメンを食べました
玉子は味玉か生卵を選択でき、今回は生卵を選択
卵黄が２個入っており、途中でスープに混ぜて味変しても、麺に絡めて食べても美味しい😋 pic.twitter.com/N58Om7NhqZ
Kurotei (Main store):
Location: 2 Chome-1-23 Nihongi, Nishi Ward, Kumamoto, 860-0051
Nearest Station: 10 mins walk from Kumamoto station
Operating hours: 10:30 AM - 9 PM every day
Daikoku（大黒）
It is a ramen that is loved by well-known Japanese comedians, Cream Stew（くりぃむしちゅー）, and other celebrities.
It started in 1980 and has been serving from the kids to the adults. It comes with thinner straight noodles with a great accent of black garlic oil (ma-yu).
Ramen:
Soup: Thick
Garlic level: 3 out of 3
久々Ｘに顔出す。２月は多忙を極め、気がつけば中旬を過ぎる頃となる🤔今日は休み🎌１日位ゆっくりとのんびり過ごしたいそう思う１日でした。🍀🌃熊本ラーメン🍜『大黒ラーメン』で焼豚大盛り❗️👍🍀🥰🍜 pic.twitter.com/icskxgx8Yj
— gorokohime (@gorokohime) February 18, 2024
Daikoku (only one branch):
Location: 1 Chome-1-14 Takahira, Kita Ward, Kumamoto, 860-0085
Nearest Station: 20 mins bus from Kumamoto station
Operating Hours: 10:30 AM - 7:30 PM, Close on Thursday
Ramen Ku Ron（ラーメン九龍）
This is THE tonkotsu ramen. The owner developed the recipe many times to come with ramen soup that is extremely thick.
Although the texture is thick, you will feel light after the meal. You can choose straight or curly thin noodles.
Ramen:
Soup: Extremely thick
Garlic level: 1 out of 3
Ramen Ku Ron (Only one store):
Location:1 Chome-28-1 Kengun, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto 862-0911
Nearest Landmark: 22 mins bus ride from Suizenji Jojuen Garden
Operating Hours:11:30 AM - 2:45 PM, 6-10 PM, Close on Tuesday
Keika Ramen（桂花ラーメン）
Keika ramen is one of the well-known Kumamoto ramen in Japan. It is the store that introduced ma-yu and a pioneer that spread tonkotsu ramen to Tokyo.
It has a great amount of vegetables and a big chunk of pork called Ta-ro-.
The store opened in 1955 and has expanded to several stores mainly in Kumamoto city. This means you should be able to enjoy the ramen from different locations.
Ramen:
Soup: Light
Garlic level: 1 out of 3
Ajisen × Keika Sakuramachi store:
Location: 3 Sakuramachi, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto, 860-0805
Nearest Station: 16 mins train or 20 mins walk from Kumamoto Castle/City Hall Station
Operating Hours: 11 AM - 9 PM
Komurasaki（こむらさき）
Komurasaki comes with mild soup with thicker and chewier noodles.
In other stores, it’s common to use the ma-yu, but Komurasaki focuses on using garlic chips. The base is tonkotsu, but it has a light taste with a mix of chicken broth.
It opened in 1954 and has also opened a branch in Shin-Yokohama.
Ramen:
Soup: Light
Garlic level: 3 out of 3
ラー博ハシゴツアー3軒目。
— ナイト狼a.k.a.やっさん (@nitrow0213) June 1, 2024
熊本ラーメンこむらさきさんへ
ラーメン(ミニ) 680円を
いただきました😋
続いてラー博に30年も
レギュラーとして君臨する
『こむらさき』さん。
サラッとしたスープに
ニンニクチップの香り✨
重鎮の貫禄を感じる一杯٩(˃̶͈̀ᗜ˂̶͈́ )و
ごちそうさまでした🍜#こむらさき pic.twitter.com/IUES9hTljI
Komurasaki (Only one store in Kumamoto):
Location: 8-16 Kamitoricho, Chuo Ward, Kumamoto, 860-0845
Nearest Station: 10 mins walk from Kumamoto Castle/City Hall Station
Operating Hours: 11:00 AM - 3:30 PM, 6-9:30 PM every day
Try Kumamoto Ramen
Please come visit Kumamoto to try their ramen! Kumamoto ramen is unique for its thick, yet light tonkotsu taste.
If you love tonkotsu, this should be the ramen to try out.
If you do not have a plan to come to Kumamoto, you can try our Ramen Gift Box to enjoy it from your country.
Let’s enjoy the Japanese pork bone breeze at your home!
