This is world champ ramen

POPULAR JAPANESE restaurant chain Ikkousha Ramen arrived to Bangkok early this month and swiftly became a hit for its authentic tonkotsu ramen served in full-flavoured, Hakata-style pork broth soup.

Local diners and Japanese expatriates are swarming to the upmarket residential area of Thonglor for the experience.

Kousuke Yoshimura opened the original Ikkousha outlet in Daimyo, Fukuoka Prefecture, in 2004. Now he’s giving the whole world a taste of the marvellous ramen found in his native Hakata.

These thin noodles aren’t curly but they’re springy just the same, and the delicious, milky pork soup which has slices of tender roasted pork floating on top. Today there are more than 40 Ikkousha branches around Japan and in China, Indonesia, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong Australia and the US.

Arriving in the queue a little late, Thailand gets a nice 30-seat outlet in the J Avenue mall on Thonglor Soi 13, franchised to PDS Holding, a subsidiary of the Baiyoke Group and also in charge of Uchidaya Ramen, Misokatsu Yabaton and Sekai No Yamachan. 

“My boss is crazy about Japanese food,” laughs Namfar Tienudom, who handles marketing at PDS. “He’s also got the local franchise for Sekai No Yamachan, which is an Izakaya-style bistro famous for fried chicken. 

“Kousuke Yoshimura, the chain’s founder, and my boss keep the emphasis on traditional ramen, with the really authentic flavour. Hakata ramen is famous for its soft texture and resilience, and the broth is made with pork bone and simmered for hours to get that creamy texture and strong taste.”

 Ikkuosha is the highest-ranked restaurant on RA-Navi, the website of Japan’s leading gourmet guide, and the Ramen Institution in Kyoto. Its noodles claimed top prize in the “Ultimate Ramen Champion” competition in Singapore in 2011 and 2012. 

There are four kinds of soups, varying in the spices and herbs. 

Ikkousha Tokusei Ramen is big slices of stewed melt-in-your-mouth pork shoulder and boiled eggs in the chain’s original pork broth with the local seafood-based soy sauce “tare” added.

Black Ramen has more of that tender pork shoulder along with imported wood ear mushroom. The soup is rich and black and enlivened with grilled garlic and sesame oil. 

Then there’s the aptly named God Fire Ramen, for which, only at Ikkousha’s overseas outlets, customers can choose the spiciness level. The brother is indeed as red as lava thanks to the chilli paste and spices.

Each of these costs Bt220.

Just as popular is Hitokuchi Gyoza (Bt150), pan-fried, single-bite, Hakata-style dumplings filled with pork and served with soy sauce and red Yuzukosho spicy paste. 

“You only find this single-bite gyoza only on the island of Kyushu,” Namfar says. “We wrap the pieces individually as they’re ordered and fry them for about three minutes so the outside is crispy while the meat inside stays tender. 

“For most of the dishes, the pork shoulder is marinated in special sauce and then simmered for a long time. And the eggs are boiled with tare sauce to make the texture smooth and enhance the flavour.” 

Also on offer is a wide range of imported sake, beer, wine, whisky and ume shu.

 

INKY BLACK OR FIERY RED

Ikkousha is in the J Avenue mall on Thonglor Soi 13. 

It’s open daily from 11am to 2am. 

Call (02) 712 9487 or visit www.IkkoushaThailand.com.