Taiho Ramen main shop — Restaurant in Kurume

This is where it all started. Taihou (Cannon) Ramen's first store. I would say it is characterised by an attempt to provide a traditional pork bone broth that is at the same time, healthy and not too thick or smelly. Kurume is the home of ramen flavoured with soup made of crushed pork bones. The soup can be so thick that you feel that all the oil and salt will give you a heart attack or brain aneurysm, and that the smell of the pork bones is enough to make one want to wear a clothes peg. But that is a thing of the past. The Taihou group made a healthier compromise pork bone broth that appeals to traditionalist and ladies alike. The story of the owners efforts was made into a manga and then a film (see photos). There are now several other branches. We usually go to the one behind Kurume station because this one is a bit too cozy and it is the busiest often with long queues stretching well outside the store. As the original it may be the tastiest but I can't tell the difference. All the Taihou restaurants...

There is a long queue outside, the wait time is approximately 20mim so i think it’s acceptable. I order the mini size signature ramen with picking “firm” for the noodle texture.

The soup comes hot and the firmness of the noodle is just the way i like it. I like how they offer S,M,L size for the ramen portion so i get to try other things. The soup is bone broth so it’s quite thick, the taste is well balanced and natural, not overly salty. I would love to have half of an egg as they only give you a slice.

Environment wise, the shop is not big and it is filled with the both broth aroma so be prepared to smell like a bowl of ramen. I guess that deducts some points for me.

It’s a fulfilling bowl of ramen and worth a try if around the area but prepare...

This is the first store they established. The set up of seats they offered a mix of table/bench seats and tatami seating. Bad luck all tatami seating were occupied. We actually are too old for tatami. While we were hesitating to understand the Japanese menu, staff there were too kind to give us the English one. Firstly ordered the noodles sets. The soup was super rich of pork in smell but not strongly gamey. I almost finished the soup. The noodle stiffness we specified "firm" and it was tasteful and al dente. Slides of pork was up to standard. Additionally we ordered a portion of dumplings and it was outstanding. My truely recommendation and do not forget to...