Ramen Zundoya Head Shop

In November 2024, Ramen Zundoya, a specialty shop offering rich tonkotsu ramen, reached 100 locations nationwide. Having noticed this shop frequently while walking around town lately, I decided to try their ramen and visited the Ramen Zundoya Head Shop in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. As the flagship store of a ramen chain with 100 locations nationwide, it feels different from just going to eat ramen at an ordinary shop. I was excited to see what kind of tonkotsu ramen they served, but…

Aiming to open 200 stores in three years… Ramen Zundoya Head Shop is a restaurant like this… 

Ramen Zundoya Head Shop is located a short distance west of Himeji Castle on National Route 2. When I actually arrived at the restaurant, I was impressed by how spacious it was, both in terms of the entrance and the interior. It really felt like the head shop of a chain with 100 stores nationwide.

According to Tabelog, the restaurant has 36 seats, but there is plenty of space between each seat, so you don’t feel the cramped feeling that is common in ramen shops. 

Upon entering the store, there is a large display of Zundoya‘s history in a prominent location…

In the upper right corner, you can see the words “200 stores by 2028!” Aiming to double the number of stores to 200 in three years… That’s a pretty ambitious goal. However, this store is now under the umbrella of Toridoll Holdings, which operates Marugame Seimen and many other restaurants, so it has the financial resources to achieve this goal. There are still many regions without branches, so I hope they’ll push forward aggressively toward achieving 200 stores, including conquering all 47 prefectures.  

This bowl of ramen was the start of 100 stores… How was the Motoaji Ramen at Ramen Zundoya’ Head Shop?

Now, let me introduce the Motoaji Ramen (price: 860 yen, tax included) that I ordered at Ramen Zundoya Head Shop on that day. I waited 2-3 minutes after ordering, and the ramen was brought to me much faster than I expected…

The red counter and red bowl make for a very eye-catching appearance. The white, cloudy pork bone soup stands out more than usual. The toppings are simple: chopped scallions, char siu, and nori. By the way, at Zundoya, you can choose from four levels of back fat (light, regular, rich, and extra rich) and two types of noodles (thin and curly). This time, I ordered regular back fat and thin noodles.

Alright, let’s try the soup first… Even though I ordered regular back fat, there’s a decent amount floating on top. This soup, made by simmering pork bones and water for 10 hours, has a light thickness, and when you take a sip, the rich pork bone flavor spreads in your mouth along with a light, aged pork bone aroma that travels from the mouth to the nose. I feel like this pork bone aroma might divide people into those who like it and those who don’t, but it’s interesting that something like this is accepted nationwide. While Ippudo and Ichiran popularized Hakata-style pork bone ramen nationwide by eliminating the pork bone aroma, it’s fascinating that ramen with the pork bone aroma has spread nationwide, regardless of personal preferences.  

On the other hand, the noodles, according to Zundoya, are homemade straight thin noodles made with “special wheat.” They’re cooked to a fairly firm texture, offering a satisfying crunch when bitten into. This is just my personal impression, but both the noodles and the soup feel like half Hakata tonkotsu ramen. The slightly smaller portion of noodles and the option to order extra noodles (tax included price: 150 yen) also give a sense of Hakata tonkotsu ramen influence.  

The main topping, chashu, comes in two small slices. It has a balanced ratio of lean and fatty parts, allowing the umami of the meat and the melting sensation of the fat to be enjoyed simultaneously. The portion is small, making it easy to eat, and it’s gone in no time. While it doesn’t give the feeling of indulging in meat, the total amount of meat is on par with other ramen shops since there are two slices. 

This is what Ramen Zundoya’s Motoaji Ramen tastes like. Personally, I felt that it was “half Hakata tonkotsu ramen.” I wonder if this “half” is the key. Even though it has a tonkotsu smell, it is milder than the authentic Hakata tonkotsu ramen at Hakata Ikko-sha, and I think the light spiciness is addictive. It is perfect for everyday use, but it is also a good choice to try before making your debut with authentic Hakata tonkotsu ramen.

Other menu items at Ramen Zundoya Head Shop (prices include tax)

• Chashu ramen 1,400 yen
• Ramen with all toppings 1,360 yen
• Vegetable Ramen 1,060 yen
• Ajitama Ramen 980 yen
• Corn Ramen 980 yen
• Negii Ramen 980 yen
• Wafu Ramen 930 yen

Note: For an additional 90 yen, you can increase the amount of noodles.

Special set menus available during weekday lunchtime… To access Ramen Zundoya Head Shop, take the Shinki Bus bound for Shianbashi from JR Himeji Station, get off at Shinonomecho Bus Stop, and walk for 6 minutes.

At Ramen Zundoya Head Shop, special set menus are available during weekday lunchtime. There are five sets available, from A to E…

• A Set: Small fried rice + 2 pieces of fried chicken +520 yen
• B Set: Small fried rice +320 yen  
• C Set: Rice + 2 pieces of fried chicken +370 yen  
• D Set: Rice + 4 gyoza +370 yen  
• E Set: Small fried rice + 4 gyoza +520 yen

For an additional charge, you can add fried rice, fried chicken, gyoza, etc. to your favorite ramen. Of course, it is also possible to customize the ramen with a large serving or toppings. This seems to be quite useful when you are feeling hungry…

Now, here are the details of the restaurant…

P.S. If you are looking for delicious ramens in Hyogo, please stop by this article below…