A Road Hog's Ramen
Hey Noodle-Heads,
This time, we visit a little shop off the beaten path a bit. It's easiest to access this place by bus, taking a northbound bus from Imaike Subway Station and exiting at the Miyakodori 1-Chome bus stop. That's the fourth or fifth stop North from Imaike on most northbound lines. The good news is, it's right next to the bus stop! That, and it has a cool sign.
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| If Dennis Hopper was still alive and had a ramen shop. |
Kurume Kyuushu Style Ramen
The shop sign advertises Kurume Kyuushu style ramen, and it really does have a distinctly different flavor to other tonkotsu (pork marrow) soups I've had in the past. It has a bitterness to the soup that does create an interesting contrast to the natural tang and umami of tonkotsu. It strikes me as something that may appeal to a more mature pallet.
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| Ramen for Grown-ups. |
Get your starch on!
As well as having a soup with a bit of kick to it, the ramen at Tonpa-re features a starchy, somewhat heavy noodle. This may not appeal to everyone, but it's quite filling and gives the dish a real "stick to the ribs" quality. It's a good "comfort food" noodle.
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| Mmmmm...Comfy. |
Down and Dirty
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| Also available in "Spicy" with a dollop of tobanjan stewed ground pork. |
The lowdown on Tonpa-re Ramen is that it faithfully obeys the K.I.S.S. rule.
Keep.
It.
Simple,
Stupid! This is a ramen for sitting down and filling your belly with. It is warm, rich and has just a hint of bitterness to wake up your taste buds. It doesn't try to wow the diner with complex flavor nuances or a dizzying variety of toppings. It stands on its own. This is Kurume Kyuushu Tonkotsu Ramen, take it or leave it. To make up your own mind about it, you can find the shop
here.
Happy Ramening!
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