Kyushu Jangara Ramen, Akasaka
[Non-halal] Kyushu Jangara 九州じゃんがら is one of the most well-acclaimed ramen chain in Tokyo.
Operating since 1984, the ramen shop first began as a way to support education for underprivileged children before it became famous for its mild tonkotsu ramen.
Even today, proceeds from the sale of ramen are channeled to education programs.
Kyushu Jangara Ramen 九州じゃんがら in Akasaka
Opposed to the rich Hakata-style ramen (where the tonkotsu ramen was born), Kyushu developed a milder broth for its signature “zenbu-iri” dish with a focus on three core ingredients:
- chunks of braised pork belly taught by the late Torimasa Noda-san who used to serve Emperor Showa.
- Seasoned cod roe (mentaiko) sourced from Hakata
- A flavoured boiled egg
The result is the signature Kyushu Jangara Zenbu-Iri, which we savoured during our visit.
They are also known for its vegan ramen which has zero meat – but flavours and texture are reminiscent of the tonkotsu style.
What do John Wick, K-pop and PM have in common?
With over 40 years of history, Kyushu Jangara 九州じゃんがら currently operates five ramen bars in Ginza, Harajuku, Ginza, Akasaka, Shibadaimon and Akihabara.
The ramen is known to serve celebrities including Keanu Reeves (aka John Wick) who visited both the Ginza and Asakasa branches, and ordered the Kobonshan (tonkotsu with fried garlic oil) ramen. Other prominent customers include former Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi.
We decided to check out the branch in Akasaka, which was visited by members of 2PM (a second-gen K-pop band).
A cheerful place, a friendly face
First we must commend the boss for being so friendly and cheerful. We also loved the bright and colourful interior, with walls plastered with personal drawings and inspiration quotes drawn/written by the restaurateur.
Kyushu Jangara offers a few different soup bases from the signature tonkotsu, to ones topped with barley miso (Mugichan), chillies (Karabon) and even a vegan broth.
Signature mild tonkotsu ramen
We ordered the signature Kyushu Jangra Zenbu-Iri (mild broth) ramen with chunks of marinated pork and boiled egg (JPY1,410 or USD10).
This bowl is perfect for those who don’t like the heavy pork bone taste. In fact, we found it to be perfectly balanced with enough porky goodness without being too cloying – while retaining that lovely umami. The broth wasn’t too fatty or salty as well.
The noodles were cooked perfectly for a slight al-dente, and the huge pork belly chunk was beautifully marinated with lovely sweet-savoury undertones. The boiled egg had the requisite jammy yolk, and the remaining toppings – scallion, bamboo shoot, ear fungus complemented the flavours.
Kobonshan offers a garlicky bomb
For something stronger, we recommend the Kobonshan (JPY1,680) for pork belly, seasoned cod roe, and egg.
This bowl takes inspiration from Kumamoto-style ramen with fried garlic oil added to the broth. This was a burst of garlicky flavours, but somehow tempered by the spicy umami of the seasoned cod roe, and sweetness of the pork belly.
Be sure to add the hot pickled greens for an extra oomph.
Conclusion
We enjoyed the meal so much that we bought a packet of instant ramen home. This was one of the best ramen we had in Tokyo, so it’s HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Kyushu Jangara Asakasa 九州じゃんがら
Address: ハイツサト赤坂, 2 Chome−15−15, Akasaka, Minato City 〒107-0052 Tokyo
Hours: 11am-9.45pm (Weekdays), 11am-3pm (Weekends)
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