Located in downtown Kumamoto, “Ramen Tatsunoya, Washington-dori Branch” offers a limited-edition menu item that will make you want to come back and eat it again and again.
That is the “Tatsunoya-Style Kumamoto Ramen.”
A flavor unlike any other, born from the harmony of a rich tonkotsu soup—simmered at high temperatures using only pork head bones and water—and black ma-yu (roasted garlic oil).
Please, enjoy a bowl yourself.
Just like the soup, the pudding handmade daily at the restaurant is also highly recommended.
Tatsunoya-Style Kumamoto Ramen
1,070 yen (tax included)
Tonkotsu and black ma-yu (roasted garlic oil). Medium-thick straight noodles and fried garlic. While staying true to the basics of Kumamoto ramen, its flavor is uniquely different.
Developed in response to
customer requests.
“Ramen Tatsunoya” (hereinafter Tatsunoya) was founded in 1999 in Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, the birthplace of tonkotsu ramen. About 20 years ago, they expanded to Kumamoto, and the Washington-dori Branch opened. Currently, there are 10 locations including Tokyo, four of which are operating in Kumamoto.
The “Tatsunoya-Style Kumamoto Ramen” recommended in this article is a popular menu item exclusive to the Washington-dori Branch. When asked about what prompted them to start serving it at this location, the store manager, Mr. Shin Takasaki, told us, “It was mainly because we received many requests from tourists visiting from outside the prefecture, saying that they ‘want to eat ramen typical of Kumamoto.'”
The restaurant’s location is next to the Kumamoto Washington Hotel Plaza, which is also the origin of the street’s name. Being in the downtown area and offering convenient access to Kumamoto Castle, it is an area with many tourists. In addition, requests from local residents also increased, and this menu item was developed with the hope of responding to their voices.
According to Mr. Takasaki, who prepares the soup for this menu item every day as the store manager, “For Kumamoto ramen, ma-yu (roasted garlic oil) is the deciding factor. By harmonizing with the tonkotsu soup, the aroma, bitterness, and umami change. That is where the characteristics of each individual shop come out.” Mr. Takasaki, who was born and raised in Kumamoto City, says, “Even now, I spend half of the month going to eat at other shops’ ramen for reference.” It is said that he also lived and served as a store manager in Kurume, the “home” of tonkotsu soup.
Having the ramen after hearing this story, I felt as though I could see, beyond this soup, the traces of the hidden efforts toward development and improvement accumulated by Mr. Takasaki and the successive generations of store managers.
“Being able to watch the cooking up close is also part of the enjoyment. On days when you visit alone, I recommend the counter seats.” (Mr. Takasaki)
The “Tatsu” in the restaurant’s name was taken from the representative’s name (Mr. Ryuta Kajiwara), and “Ya” was given out of a wish to make it a warm place.
The pudding is delicious.
A pleasant surprise.
The charm of this restaurant does not stop at the limited-edition Kumamoto ramen. The “melting pudding,” handmade fresh at the shop every day, is another delight that completely captures your heart. Refreshing, melting in the mouth, and subtly sweet, the coconut milk and tapioca make the perfect dessert after a bowl of tonkotsu ramen. It is easy to see why some fans visit the shop with this as their sole purpose.
“Hoping to please our female customers, we have been serving this pudding at all Tatsunoya locations for about 20 years. Thankfully, the number of people who visit looking forward to this has grown, and it has become one of our signature items,” says Mr. Takasaki.
Along with the food, the comfortable atmosphere is another defining feature of this restaurant. The interior feels pristine, and the lighting is neither too bright nor too dim. While the staff is energetic and lively, there is no disruptive clamor to get in the way of an enjoyable meal. That is the impression it leaves.
“We emphasize customer service with the goal of being a restaurant where people think, ‘I want to bring someone special here.’ We have also been conscious since our founding of making it a place where even a woman dining alone can feel comfortable. That is why we place a high value on cleanliness and comfort,” says Mr. Takasaki. It is said that on some days, nearly half of the daily visitors are customers from overseas. For this reason, the menus are displayed in multiple languages.
A comfortable interior. A Kumamoto ramen unlike any other. A pudding so delicious it feels like a treat. Please come and experience it for yourself at Tatsunoya.
Melting Pudding
350 yen (tax included)
The coconut milk and tapioca pudding is another delight.
It is homemade, with some fans visiting specifically for this. “We have been continuing to make it for over 20 years, since before the tapioca boom.” (Mr. Takasaki)
Store manager Shin Takasaki (51).
“What I like about Kumamoto is the deep warmth of the people and the view of the caldera in Aso, my mother’s hometown.”
