The only thing better than eating ramen at a yatai along a river in Hakata is...drinking beer then eating ramen at a yatai along a river in Hakata. If I can recall, Yamachan may have not been the best bowl I've tasted, but the surroundings made it one of the best bowls I've ever experienced. Eating ramen at a yatai should be on everyone's bucket list. Want more than just ramen? Yamachan also serves yakitori, oden, and beef tongue!
From Canal City, just head North along the Nakasu River and pass through Nakasu-Seiryu Koen (park). The yatai's will all line up just South of 春吉 bridge. You can't miss them! Open from 5pm to 2am.
Other sites that mention Yatai Yamachan:
Showing posts with label Japan-Fukuoka. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan-Fukuoka. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Ichiran Canal City Hakata (一蘭 キャナルシティ博多店) - Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan (Kyushu)
If you thought the highlight of Canal City was the 5th floor Raumen Stadium...think again. Ichiran's flagship ramen-ya located on the 1st floor screams greatness in the most peaceful fashion. From the unique private individual stalls to the highly customized ordering system, the Canal City location is the only one to feature the black coffin-like bowls, otherwise known as "Juubako." The very smooth tonkotsu soup takes on a tangy, yet spicy, flavor when mixed with the special red sauce. It's to die for, hence the coffin-like bowls (I made that up). So the next time you're searching for ramen in Hakata's Canal City, try not to overlook the first floor.
From Hakata Station head West on the main street. Stay to your right as the street splits and make a left at the 7-Eleven (the 2nd one). Then make a quick right and you should see an entrance to Canal City next to the Washington Hotel. Head to the 1st floor. Open everyday from 10am to midnight. Ordering may be a bit difficult for the first timer, but they have plenty of guides in English that show you how to do it. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Other sites that mention Ichiran Canal City:
Video from YouTube via amanoobune2000:
From Hakata Station head West on the main street. Stay to your right as the street splits and make a left at the 7-Eleven (the 2nd one). Then make a quick right and you should see an entrance to Canal City next to the Washington Hotel. Head to the 1st floor. Open everyday from 10am to midnight. Ordering may be a bit difficult for the first timer, but they have plenty of guides in English that show you how to do it. Don't be afraid to ask for help.
Other sites that mention Ichiran Canal City:
Video from YouTube via amanoobune2000:
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Raumen Stadium 2 (ラーメンスタジアム2) - Canal City, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan (Kyushu)
When you think of "rasta" what comes to mind? Okay, sure Jamaica does, but no! Rasta is short for Raumen Stadium 2! From the same group that brought us the Shinyokohama Raumen Museum, Raumen Stadium 2 is the southern island's version. With 8 different shops from around the country rotating every now and then, it is definitely one of THE "must-visit" ramen attractions of Japan. But then again, Hakata itself is a "must-visit" ramen attraction.
From Hakata Station head West on the main street. Stay to your right as the street splits and make a left at the 7-Eleven (the 2nd one). Then make a quick right and you should see an entrance to Canal City next to the Washington Hotel. Head to the 5th floor. Open everyday from 11am to 11pm.
Other sites that mention Raumen Stadium 2:
From Hakata Station head West on the main street. Stay to your right as the street splits and make a left at the 7-Eleven (the 2nd one). Then make a quick right and you should see an entrance to Canal City next to the Washington Hotel. Head to the 5th floor. Open everyday from 11am to 11pm.
Other sites that mention Raumen Stadium 2:
Hakata Tsukemen Gensuke (博多つけ麺 元助) - Canal City, Hakata-ku, Fukuoka, Japan (Kyushu)
A wise ramen adventurer once said: "all these tsukemen shops taste the same to me." Quite frankly, I'd have to agree. Even at Gensuke, a so-called Hakata-style shop, I felt like I was back in Tokyo at one of the popular tsukemen joints. Don't get me wrong, the Tokusei Tsukemen here at Gensuke is bomb, but I wasn't sure what "Hakata-style" really added to it or took away from it. Nevertheless, I was happy and satisfied with their Tonkotsu/Gyoukai soup and thick, chewy noodles.
From Hakata Station head West on the main street. Stay to your right as the street splits and make a left at the 7-Eleven (the 2nd one). Then make a quick right and you should see an entrance to Canal City next to the Washington Hotel. Head to the Raumen Stadium on the 5th floor. Open everyday from 11am to 11pm.
Other sites that mention Hakata Gensuke Canal City:
From Hakata Station head West on the main street. Stay to your right as the street splits and make a left at the 7-Eleven (the 2nd one). Then make a quick right and you should see an entrance to Canal City next to the Washington Hotel. Head to the Raumen Stadium on the 5th floor. Open everyday from 11am to 11pm.
Other sites that mention Hakata Gensuke Canal City:
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Ganso Nagahamaya (元祖長浜屋ラーメン) - Chuo-ku, Nagahama, Fukuoka, Japan (Kyushu)
Ganso means originator, but to ramen geeks it means da sh**! And Ganso Nagahamaya is just that. After being raised mostly on Tokyo-style shoyu ramen, I really underestimated the goodness of Hakata/Nagahama-style tonkotsu. I was pleasantly surprised how smooth and light the pure pork-bone soup actually tasted. It was awe-inspiring. Even the massive amounts of msg had no ill-effects. Perhaps it was the balancing effects of the shōga (ginger). There's also some tare on the table to enhance the soup even more, but use it sparingly. Ramen is 400 yen and kaedama is another 100. That's like a total of $5. It was definitely one of the cheapest bowls I encountered on my trip. If you're in the area, don't miss it!
From Hakata Station take the Kūkō Line to Akasaka Station and it's about a 10-minute walk from there. Head North for 3 blocks, make a left and walk around the slight bend. You'll eventually see it on your right. Stand in line and order from the ticket machine. Try not to waste too much time at the machine cuz the line moves fast. Stand at the door and wait to be called. After sitting down, give the server your ticket and wait patiently. If you ordered kaedama, give the server that ticket AFTER you finish the first batch of noodles. Yell out the firmness to get their attention. For example: "katamen!!"
Other sites that mention Ganso Nagahamaya:
Video from YouTube via KyushuWalkerCH:
From Hakata Station take the Kūkō Line to Akasaka Station and it's about a 10-minute walk from there. Head North for 3 blocks, make a left and walk around the slight bend. You'll eventually see it on your right. Stand in line and order from the ticket machine. Try not to waste too much time at the machine cuz the line moves fast. Stand at the door and wait to be called. After sitting down, give the server your ticket and wait patiently. If you ordered kaedama, give the server that ticket AFTER you finish the first batch of noodles. Yell out the firmness to get their attention. For example: "katamen!!"
Other sites that mention Ganso Nagahamaya:
Video from YouTube via KyushuWalkerCH:
Monday, April 20, 2009
Day 19 - Hakata Ramen...need I say more?
I bet if I took a bath and soaked my body in the tub for 12 hours, I'd end up with some pretty astonishing tonkotsu soup. Sorry about the visual, but after consuming four bowls in less than ten hours you probably know what I'm talking about. I set out to try 2 bowls max today, then I don't know what happened. There's something addictive about the ramen here. It's hypnotizing. I'm still craving it as I write this. I'm doomed, yet totally satisfied. Between the collagen and the fat, I think I'm on pace to be the prettiest heavy person alive.
When I first arrived at Hakata Station and grabbed a copy of the local ramen map, a taxi driver saw me fumbling through it and asked "Oi nani sagashitenno (What are you looking for)?" When I told him I was looking for the best ramen-ya in the area he then told me to just ride with him for the day and he'd take me to all of them. Thanks but no thanks. Sounds like fun but that would probably cost me a fortune. He then said "Ichiban ume~ no wa Ganso Nagahama da yo. Ajinomoto tappuri irete suge~ oishii." Basically, that translates to 'go to Ganso Nagahama cuz they use a lot of MSG and it's damn good!' So I went and...it was damn good! In Japan, ajinomoto is your friend. If anything, it makes you feel happier.
I had dreamt about coming to Canal City's Raumen Stadium before. So I guess you can call this a dream come true. But then again, I always dream about ramen and this whole trip has been one big dream come true. Anyway, I felt like something different but still considered Hakata. So I ordered the tsukemen from Hakata Gensuke. It definitely didn't feel like Hakata, but I guess I can now say that I've tried Hakata-style tsukemen at the Raumen Stadium 2. Sweet!
After checking into my hotel and taking a short break while watching the rain soak the street below my window, I finally decided to go get out and get wet myself. So it was back to Canal City, but this time I headed for the basement. I had heard about Ichiran and its private stalls before but never experienced it first hand. The ramen was great and the experience was one-of-a-kind. Although I did miss being able to observe the hustle-and-bustle of a ramen-ya.
I then set out to find the yatai Ichiryu in honor of a true rameniac, but it wasn't where it was supposed to be. I spent about an hour walking around Nakasu, asking just about every conbini and they all pointed me to the same direction. But I swear, it wasn't there. So after my 5th time walking by, I finally just settled with Hakata-Nagahama Ramen Yamachan. It probably wasn't the greatest ramen in the area (though it was the most crowded), but there's something about just being there that makes it special. The whole mood of sitting at a yatai at night next to a river in Hakata is unfathomable, yet very explicable. It's gonna be hard to fight this addiction.
I leave you with the rest of my pictures from my day in Hakata. As I much as I don't want to leave, I've been looking forward to tomorrow for a very long time. I hope to see you then. Oyasumi!
When I first arrived at Hakata Station and grabbed a copy of the local ramen map, a taxi driver saw me fumbling through it and asked "Oi nani sagashitenno (What are you looking for)?" When I told him I was looking for the best ramen-ya in the area he then told me to just ride with him for the day and he'd take me to all of them. Thanks but no thanks. Sounds like fun but that would probably cost me a fortune. He then said "Ichiban ume~ no wa Ganso Nagahama da yo. Ajinomoto tappuri irete suge~ oishii." Basically, that translates to 'go to Ganso Nagahama cuz they use a lot of MSG and it's damn good!' So I went and...it was damn good! In Japan, ajinomoto is your friend. If anything, it makes you feel happier.
I had dreamt about coming to Canal City's Raumen Stadium before. So I guess you can call this a dream come true. But then again, I always dream about ramen and this whole trip has been one big dream come true. Anyway, I felt like something different but still considered Hakata. So I ordered the tsukemen from Hakata Gensuke. It definitely didn't feel like Hakata, but I guess I can now say that I've tried Hakata-style tsukemen at the Raumen Stadium 2. Sweet!
After checking into my hotel and taking a short break while watching the rain soak the street below my window, I finally decided to go get out and get wet myself. So it was back to Canal City, but this time I headed for the basement. I had heard about Ichiran and its private stalls before but never experienced it first hand. The ramen was great and the experience was one-of-a-kind. Although I did miss being able to observe the hustle-and-bustle of a ramen-ya.
I then set out to find the yatai Ichiryu in honor of a true rameniac, but it wasn't where it was supposed to be. I spent about an hour walking around Nakasu, asking just about every conbini and they all pointed me to the same direction. But I swear, it wasn't there. So after my 5th time walking by, I finally just settled with Hakata-Nagahama Ramen Yamachan. It probably wasn't the greatest ramen in the area (though it was the most crowded), but there's something about just being there that makes it special. The whole mood of sitting at a yatai at night next to a river in Hakata is unfathomable, yet very explicable. It's gonna be hard to fight this addiction.
I leave you with the rest of my pictures from my day in Hakata. As I much as I don't want to leave, I've been looking forward to tomorrow for a very long time. I hope to see you then. Oyasumi!
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