Nagahama Number One Gion is a japanese ramen restaurant in Hakata, Fukuoka.
Nagahama Number One grew from a 1971 yatai. The Gion branch sits two minutes from Gion subway and pours a 20-hour tonkotsu over ultra-thin noodles.
Signature dishes: Nagahama tonkotsu ramen, Kaedama refill, Negi scallion topping
Must order: Standard tonkotsu plus kaedama noodle refill; add a soft-boiled egg.
Tip: 11:30-23:00 daily, Sundays close at 22:00. Walk-in only; turnover is fast.
Address: Hakata-ku, Fukuoka 812-0038, Japan
The Hakata Station branch of Yamanaka miso-motsunabe original, closer to the shinkansen than the Akasaka room, with the same recipe since 1984.
Signature: Miso motsunabe, Soy sauce motsunabe, Champon noodle finish
Order: Miso motsunabe for two, finished with champon noodles.
Tip: Reserve ahead for dinner; the room fills with business travellers most weeknights.
Hanamidori at Hakata Station sits in JR Hakata City, within walking distance of the shinkansen gate. Same kitchen as Imaizumi flagship, faster turnover.
Signature: Mizutaki chicken hotpot, Yakitori starter platter, Zosui rice porridge
Order: Mizutaki course with the rice-porridge zosui finish.
Tip: Reserve through Savor Japan; weekday lunches are easier than weekend dinners.
Ichiran's Canal City branch runs the silent solo-booth tonkotsu with the customisable spicy red sauce, the booth-and-slip format Ichiran codified.
Signature: Solo-booth tonkotsu ramen, Signature spicy red sauce, Kaedama refill
Order: Classic tonkotsu with red sauce at level two, plus kaedama refill.
Tip: Open 24 hours. Vending-machine ticketing in English; pick firmness and richness on the slip.
Hide-Chan first generation runs the Ramen Stadium counter on the fifth floor of Canal City. A lighter Hakata tonkotsu, the late-night drinking close.
Signature: Hakata tonkotsu ramen, Spicy karaka-men, Chashu rice bowl
Order: Standard tonkotsu with kaedama, then karaka-men for the spicy version.
Tip: Open with the Ramen Stadium, 11:00-23:00. Vending-machine tickets in English.
Kawataro Nakasu runs Yobuko squid ikizukuri live from a tank, plus the Hakata goma-saba mackerel. River views, three floors of tatami rooms.
Signature: Yobuko squid ikizukuri, Goma saba mackerel, Seasonal sashimi platter
Order: Yobuko squid ikizukuri at market price, followed by the goma saba.
Tip: Lunch 11:30-14:00; dinner 17:00-23:00. Reserve through the operator's site.
The Hakata Station branch of Yamanaka miso-motsunabe original, closer to the shinkansen than the Akasaka room, with the same recipe since 1984.
Signature: Miso motsunabe, Soy sauce motsunabe, Champon noodle finish
Order: Miso motsunabe for two, finished with champon noodles.
Tip: Reserve ahead for dinner; the room fills with business travellers most weeknights.
Hanamidori at Hakata Station sits in JR Hakata City, within walking distance of the shinkansen gate. Same kitchen as Imaizumi flagship, faster turnover.
Signature: Mizutaki chicken hotpot, Yakitori starter platter, Zosui rice porridge
Order: Mizutaki course with the rice-porridge zosui finish.
Tip: Reserve through Savor Japan; weekday lunches are easier than weekend dinners.
Hachibei's Shoninbashi-dori branch is the original yakitori counter that grew into a Tokyo chain. Hardwood charcoal, long counter, packed every night.
Signature: Charcoal-grilled chicken skewers, Tsukune meatball, Daikon salad
Order: Omakase yakitori platter plus the daikon salad.
Tip: Reserve through Tabelog or the operator's site. Walk-ins fill the counter from 18:00.
Ichiran's Canal City branch runs the silent solo-booth tonkotsu with the customisable spicy red sauce, the booth-and-slip format Ichiran codified.
Signature: Solo-booth tonkotsu ramen, Signature spicy red sauce, Kaedama refill
Order: Classic tonkotsu with red sauce at level two, plus kaedama refill.
Tip: Open 24 hours. Vending-machine ticketing in English; pick firmness and richness on the slip.
Hide-Chan first generation runs the Ramen Stadium counter on the fifth floor of Canal City. A lighter Hakata tonkotsu, the late-night drinking close.
Signature: Hakata tonkotsu ramen, Spicy karaka-men, Chashu rice bowl
Order: Standard tonkotsu with kaedama, then karaka-men for the spicy version.
Tip: Open with the Ramen Stadium, 11:00-23:00. Vending-machine tickets in English.
