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Fukuoka is home to several of Ichiran’s most viral spots, from the original Ichiran Nanokawa, to the Souhonten flagship, premium Kamadare and pentagon-bowl Gokaku store. And with any iconic restaurant, you’ll often find queue times well exceeding the 60-to-90 minute mark – forcing you to plan ahead and sacrifice precious time out of your trip.

Located underground right by the Souhonten Flagship Store, however, lies a ‘hidden’ Ichiran branch that offers the exact same experience at a fraction of the crowd. So where exactly is this Ichiran? Is it truly their secret ‘no-queue’ store? And is it worth the visit? Let’s get to it. How Good is Ichiran’s Tenjin Store Actually?

–Tenjin Store Queue–
–Ticketing Machine–
–Interior–
–Flavor Concentration Booths–
–Ordering Sheet–
–Classic Tonkotsu Ramen–
–Tonkotsu Broth–
–Hakata-Style Noodles–
–Chashu–
–Secret Red Sauce–
–Spring Onions–
–Extra Chashu–
–Kaedama–
–Secret Message–
–Verdict–
–Getting There–

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💬 Tenjin Store Queue 💬

Having passed by this store dozens of times since 2023, queue times are significantly shorter than any of Ichiran’s other stores – with no queue at all being quite the common occurrence.

If you’re at the Souhonten Flagship and see a 90+ minute line, I say just walk the 10 minutes to the Tenjin store. Chances are, you’ll be done with your meal here before even reaching the front of the queue there.

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📋 Ticketing Machine 📋

Before heading in, you’ll first make your orders at their Ticketing Machines.

Select their Classic Tonkotsu or Ramen Sets plus any add-ons, collect your tickets, and head right to an open seat.

Side Note: This Ichiran store accepts both Cash & Credit Card!

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🏠 Interior 🏠

The interior should be very familiar if you’ve ever visited Ichiran before, featuring rows of counter seats and their famous “Flavor Concentration Booths.”

And since the store has practically no queue, you also have the luxury to choose whatever stall you like (say if you have a lucky number!)

Side Note: For a more technical look, Ichiran Tenjin’s interior appears to not be as “wood-finished” as most of their stores, with black tiles on the floor and back wall as opposed to the more wooden design of the others. Small detail that probably won’t matter once you’re eating, but worth a quick note.

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🍜 Flavor Concentration Booths 🍜

Ichiran’s “Flavor Concentration Booths” feature individual seats with walls on all three sides to ensure you’re fully focused on the dining experience. 

Everything you’ll need is fully self-contained here, from chopsticks, ordering sheet, and a water dispenser & cups by the table, as well as a bag hook below and clothes hanger & tissues right behind. Plus, a set of pre-written blocks for special requests to the staff for a true solo-dining experience. 

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📋 Ordering Sheet 📋

To submit your order to the kitchen, you’ll first need to fill in Ichiran’s Ordering Sheet (or ‘exam paper’) where you can customize the ramen to your preference.

Here’s how I customize my Ramen
Dashi – Strong
Richness – Extra Rich
Garlic – 1 Clove
Green Onion – With
Chashu – With
Original Spicy Red Sauce – Mild (1/2)
Noodle Texture – Extra Firm

It’s a bit on the extreme end (as my friend found my version way too rich), so if you’re new to Ichiran, I suggest you try out their ‘recommended’ options to get the baseline experience before fine-tuning it to your preference.

Once you’re ready, hit the “call” button by the table. A staff member will come pick up your order and return shortly with your ramen.

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🍜 Classic Tonkotsu Ramen (¥980) 🍜

Your ramen will be served within 1-2 minutes, and once the staff closes the front bamboo blinds – it’s a solo experience from here on.

The presentation of Ichiran’s Classic Tonkotsu is quite striking. Green onions on one side, Chashu on the other, and in the center – Hakata-style noodles topped with their signature “Secret Red Sauce.” 

Do note that at ¥980, it’s slightly pricer than the average tonkotsu shop in Fukuoka. But as you’ll find below, it’s one of the more unique bowls in the city.

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🍜 Tonkotsu Broth 🍜

The highlight of any Tonkotsu Ramen is its broth, so how does Ichiran stack up?

Famous for their “No-Smell” Tonkotsu, Ichiran’s broth is exceptionally ‘clean’. The deep-simmered pork bone goodness is still fully present,  but the broth is prepared in a way that almost eliminates the strong ‘funk’ commonly associated with a traditional Hakata Tonkotsu. 

Even with my maxed-out dashi strength, oil content, and full clove of garlic, the broth is still incredibly well balanced. It’s rich, slightly salty, and garlicky (moreso than many stores), but remains very well defined – as you’re able to identify each individual element of the broth without having one completely overpower the rest.

Ichiran critics love to claim that the cleanliness of the broth is ‘too pure’ and ‘chain-like’ compared to a ‘proper’ tonkotsu, but you can’t deny how distinct this bowl is. Does it lack that signature funk most tonkotsu shops have? Sure. But as a result, the profile is much more beginner-friendly, serving as a great entry point to anyone wanting to explore the world of tonkotsu ramen.

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🍜 Hakata-style Noodles 🍜

Hakata-style ramen is defined by their thin, alkaline, low-moisture, and slightly snappy noodles – and dare I say Ichiran is among the best in that department.

With a satisfying toothsome feel (especially so if you order it “Cho-Kata” / “Extra Firm”), the noodles provide a great textural contrast to the smoother profile of the broth, adding a bit of bite with each spoonful

For Ichiran specifically, I highly recommend you give the firmer noodle options a go, whether it be the “かため/Katame/Firm” “超かた/Cho-Kata/Extra Firm” options a go!

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🍖 Chashu 🍖

Ichiran uses pork shoulder for their chashu, which offers a more balanced ratio of meat and fat compared to the leaner loin or fattier belly cuts. Tender and well-seasoned with their sweet and salty tare marinade, but isn’t as good compared to the standout broth and noodles that accompany the Chahsu. 

You get two slices per bowl, which isn’t too protein-heavy. But you can always order a plate of four more for ¥260.

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🌶 Secret Red Sauce 🌶

Ichiran’s ‘Secret Red Sauce’ is a blend of chili & spices mixed with a slightly sweet chili-based paste. Interestingly sweet by itself, but the aroma of the chili & spices really shine through once mixed with the heat of the tonkotsu broth.

The default recommendation is at “1/2 // Mild”, which provides just enough kick for the average chili fan. And for diners who really love their chili, you can go all the way up to 10 for some (unreasonable?) heat – with anything beyond that featuring a small charge.

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🥬 Spring Onions 🥬

Nothing fancy, but the spring onions do bring some added brightness and crunch to the ramen.

By default, you’re served the standard green part of the spring onions. But if you’d like a sharper kick, try ordering the white part of the green onions on the Customization Sheet instead!

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🍖 Extra Chashu (¥260) 🍖

Ichiran’s tonkotsu ramen comes with two slices of pork. So if you want four more, make sure to order some extra.

It especially pairs up well with their Kaedama refill noodles!

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🍜 Kaedama (¥210) 🍜

A Hakata tradition of ordering extra noodles to finish off your remaining broth.

Once you’re ready, place the Kaedama plate over the sensor on the table.

After a quick jingle, a staff member will pick up your plate and return with your refill in about a minute.

Slide your refill noodles into your leftover broth, plus any extra sides you may have ordered, and you’re ready to go for your second round of Ichiran!

Side Note: As the Kaedama is served without any broth (only with a bit of tare soy sauce), the noodle will feel slightly firmer than your initial order. If you’re already a fan of their extra firm “Cho-Kata” noodles, you’ll find the even firmer Kaedama very addicting!

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💬 “Secret Message” 💬

If you finish the ramen until the last drop, you’ll find a little message at the bottom of the bowl.

“この一滴が最高の喜びです” // roughly translated to “The final drop is the pinnacle of joy.”

This message can be found across all of Ichiran stores – but there exists a couple which feature their own exclusive message!

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⭐VERDICT⭐

So how good is Ichiran’s Tenjin store actually? If you’re craving for some Ichiran in Fukuoka and don’t want to deal with the 90-minute queue at the more popular locations, then this shop is an easy recommendation!

As for the ramen itself, it’s quite impressive! Ichiran’s tonkotsu is among the ‘cleanest’ tasting bowls I’ve come across. Full of flavor while being remarkably light, and one that doesn’t leave you feeling too heavy afterwards. Sure, it’s not as strong and funky as the more standard tonkotsu shops, but don’t let online discussions fool you – it’s still a solid bowl or ramen that’s easy to get into. 

So if you’re looking for a customizable, beginner-friendly entry into the world of tonkotsu ramen, need to check ‘Ichiran’ off that bucket list without the wait, or just want a solid bowl of ramen after a long day, Ichiran’s Tenjin store is the place to visit!

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🚗 GETTING THERE 🚗

Ichiran’s Tenjin store is located at the Tenjin Business Center, specifically the Tenjin Inachika dining area on floor B2.

From Tenjin Station, exit via the East Gate to the underground shopping area, and follow the signs for Tenjin Business Center.

Ichiran (Tenjin Store)

🌏 Location 🌏
1 Chome-10-20 Tenjin, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka, 810-0001, Japan (B2 Floor)
🗺 Map 🗺
https://maps.app.goo.gl/LjQK7nFFbsT1DtbW8
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
11 A.M. to 11 P.M.
💻 Website 💻
https://en.ichiran.com/shop/kyushu/tenjin/

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