Hakata Daruma Sohonten

There are many variations of Hakata’s tonkotsu ramen depending on the restaurant, but Hakata Daruma, which I will introduce here, is famous for its “thick tonkotsu” (pork bone) ramen. Since they have opened branches outside of Fukuoka as well as in the Kanto region, and cup noodles bearing the Hakata Daruma name are sold at 7-Eleven stores nationwide, it is probably a fairly well-known brand among tonkotsu ramen lovers throughout Japan.

The main branch of Hakata Daruma is located near Watanabe-dori, a little south of Tenjin. This time I went to the main branch, which I had been interested in for some time, to try their tonkotsu ramen. As I got closer to the ramen shop, the smell of tonkotsu (pork bone), which is very appealing to those who love it, began to irritate my nose….

Hakata Daruma Sohonten is a “celebrity purveyor” that has been visited by many famous people… Here is what Hakata Daruma Sohonten has to offer.

Hakata Daruma Sohonten was established in 1963, making it one of the oldest established Hakata tonkotsu ramen shops with a history of over 60 years. It is no exaggeration to say that it has been “the leader of Hakata tonkotsu ramen” along with the Ganso Nagahamaya, which was established in 1952, and attracts many customers not only from all over Japan but also from overseas for its long-lasting thick tonkotsu ramen.

I arrived at the restaurant one weekend night after 8:00 pm. I was told that the ramen shop had been renovated a few years ago, but when I actually visited there I found that it had retained its old-fashioned look, or rather, it had a visual appearance that made me wonder, “Did they really renovate the store?” The restaurant has a retro feel that is irresistible to those who love it. The restaurant seats about 30 people, including five counter seats. The interior of the restaurant is also relatively simple, creating an atmosphere somewhat like a cheap izakaya from the Showa period.

The walls of the restaurant are covered with autographs of athletes and entertainers. Professional baseball players, famous singers, entertainment reporters, politicians… there were so many autographs, both old and new. Just by looking at all of these autographs, I even feel as if I could get a sense of the history of this shop. Some media introduced Hakata Daruma Sohonten as a “celebrity purveyor,” and I guess that’s true.

What exactly does the ramen of Hakata Daruma Sohonten, known for its soup recipe known as “Yobimodoshi,” taste like? I tried it!

Let me introduce the ramen I ordered from Hakata Daruma Sohonten (price: 800 yen including tax). After about 5 minutes of waiting, the ramen arrived in front of me…

It came out in a much smaller bowl than a typical bowl of ramen. I guess it is about the same size as a bowl of Anzen ramen. The color of the soup is also muddy brown, and is quite different in appearance from the tonkotsu ramen at other restaurants. I wonder if there is quite a bit more soy sauce “kaeshi” in it…

While imagining such a thing, I took a sip of the soup… Contrary to my expectation, I did not feel much salt. Rather, it has a rich pork bone flavor that lives up to its reputation. It is, however, very mild and does not smell so much like pork bones. This soup is made by a process called “Yobimodoshi”, in which new broth is added little by little to the broth that has been preserved for more than 60 years since the restaurant’s opening. If so, perhaps the soup will continue to mature more as time goes by, giving it a different flavor.

I would like to add one more point about the soup: the fine bubbles floating on the surface. It is not greasy at all, but creamy. Thanks to these bubbles, I feel that the mildness of the soup itself is further enhanced. This is just my personal opinion, but I think that Hakata Daruma’s soup is more suitable for the expression “pork bone cappuccino” than Hakata Isso‘s pork bone soup.

The noodles are straight, ultra-thin noodles made using the restaurant’s unique noodle-making method. This time, I asked for the noodles to be boiled normally, and they were rather soft and chewy. The noodles have a firm wheatiness, but perhaps the original water content is low, and the noodles absorb the soup too quickly. Since the amount of noodles is small, as is typical of Hakata tonkotsu ramen, it is recommended that you slurp it up quickly, assuming you want to order a double portion (150 yen including tax).

Now, the main topping, chashu pork. Although small in size, I was pleased to see three pieces in the bowl. The balance of lean meat and fat is good, and we can enjoy the meatiness of the pork. It is fine to eat it as it is, but after soaking it in the broth, the pork flavor is unbeatable….

I was personally very satisfied with the thick Tonkotsu Ramen of Hakata Daruma Sohonten, not only because I could enjoy the thick Tonkotsu flavor as rumored, but also because I could feel the originality that can only be found here. I think it is not for everyone because of the smell of pork bones, but if you can get past that, what awaits you is great.

After all, the soup has been aged for more than 60 years by adding more and more ingredients. This is something that no other tonkotsu ramen restaurant can imitate, and as it matures further, it may take on a different flavor. In that sense, I think this ramen shop is worth visiting again and again in the future.

Other ramen menu items at Hakata Daruma Sohonten (as of February 2024, prices include tax)

• Tsukimi chashu wontan ramen: 1,300 yen
• Chashu wontan ramen: 1,200 yen
• Chashu ramen 1000 yen
• Wontan ramen 1000 yen
• Tsukimi ramen 900 yen

Ramen mail order is also available… Access to Hakata Dharma Sohonten is a 4-minute walk from the nearest station, Watanabe-dori Station on the Fukuoka City Subway Nanakuma Line.

Hakata Daruma Sohonten also has an online store, where we can mail order the tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen. Shipping costs extra, but isn’t 540 yen for one serving of ramen, tax included, a pretty good deal? Also, with Rakuten, Furusato Tax can be used to order. If the conditions are met, Furusato tax payment is practically free, and why don’t you try authentic thick Tonkotsu Ramen at home?

【ふるさと納税】博多だるまラーメン（3食入）　 | 福岡県 福岡市 福岡 九州 博多 返礼品 支援 楽天ふるさと 納税 お取り寄せグルメ 取り寄せ グルメ 食品 お取り寄せ ラーメン らーめん 拉麺 ご当地ラーメン お取り寄せラーメン 博多ラーメン ご当地グルメ 麺類 めん 麺 価格：10,000円（税込、送料無料) (2024/4/28時点) 楽天で購入

Now, here are the details of the restaurant…