Founded in 1983, Daruma Ramen is a famous shop located on Chikushi-dori in between JR Hakata Station and Kasuga. Second-generation owner Shusaku Furukawa, who took over the shop from his father explains: “To make our soup, we use only skinned pigs’ heads, and just like we always have, we mix three different concentrations of soup, each in a different stage of emulsion, from three different pots. If you do not prepare pigs’ heads properly, they can emit quite an odor, so we make sure they are fully bled and all the impurities are skimmed away.” Because of this, the soup takes 12 hours to make, but the end result is a rich, flavorful soup with a clean aftertaste. The char siu (braised pork) is made with lean cuts of pork and only flavored with salt, while the crunchy kikurage mushrooms are chopped thinly to mix well with the soup and noodles. With a large parking lot, Daruma attracts many people taking drives, not to mention a fair share of ramen fanatics. The shop is so popular that it typically fills up as soon as it opens, so expect to wait a bit for a seat.
Menu: Ramen ¥600, large ramen ¥750, Daruma miso topping ¥50, wonton ramen ¥800
*Foreign language menu: None / Credit cards: Not accepted / Reservations: Not possible / No smoking
