restaurants

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen

Ikkoryu Fukuoka Ramen is a beautiful, hidden ramen joint in the heart of Melbourne. The brand concept was established by Yamagoya Ramen in 1970, with over 200 stores worldwide now. Their specialties include their famous Chikuho noodles, Tonkotsu soup bases, Gyoza, and Chashu. The noodles and gyoza skin are made fresh in store daily, and all the ingredients are of the highest quality, imported straight from Japan. Heading down the stairs to the basement, you’ll find yourself in an extravagant dining room. It’s clean, spacious, and bustling with customers. But the most breathtaking part is their private function room, which offers traditional horigotatsu-style (low tables with with a recessed floor) seating. An authentic Japanese dining experience that took me straight back to Japan! Ikkoryu offers a very special take on tonkotsu ramen. Their signatures include their unique Yuzu Kosho Tonkotsu (the only place in Melbourne to have it), and Black Garlic. The ramen is very customisable too - from the broth, the oiliness, the pork, the noodles to the toppings - so it can suit even the pickiest of eaters. A variety of Izakaya items are also offered on the side, as well as vegetarian/vegan and rice options too. I decided to go for their special Yuzu Kosho Tonkotsu with normal oil level and soup broth. It was one of the most unique broths I’ve ever tasted - it was rich with a deep flavour, very pepper-y, and had a very nice hint of yuzu citrus which cut through the richness and balanced it out perfectly. The colour is a beautiful green from the spinach base too. The noodles (normal) were perfectly cooked - soft, but still has a bite, and soaked up all the delicious broth. They also offer free kaedama (extra noodles) which is amazing! My friend had the Original Tonkotsu which was faultless. For toppings, I’d definitely recommend trying the Ajitama Egg and the Pork Belly/Slow Cooked Belly. The Egg is infused in a delicious soy sauce and the yolk is creamy and oozy as it should be. The Pork Belly was a highlight as it’s cooked till it’s so tender and melt-in-your-mouth. The layers of fat to lean meat are in the perfect ratio. The Izakaya sides are a must here. We tried the Karaage, the Gyoza and the Half Rack of Slow Cooked Marinated Pork Ribs. Fried chicken is everyone’s favourite, and the Karaage is so crispy, juicy and addictive. The Gyoza is amazing too - they make their Gyoza skin in-house so it’s super thin and delicate! It’s simple, light and the perfect side snack. And the Pork Ribs were some of the best we’ve had. Half a rack of the most tender, fall-off-the-bone meat, served with a side of wasabi mayo (which it doesn’t even need because the pork itself has so much flavour already). For drinks, we had three varieties of Umeshu - Choya Mutenka Umeshu (the original - sweet and fruity), Choya Green Tea (very light and refreshing, and Satsuma Kokuto Umeshu (deep and syrupy). I definitely recommend trying the Choya Green Tea as it’s so light on the palate and goes very well with the ramen and sides. Lastly, the service here was exceptional. The staff were so kind and attentive, and we were looked after throughout our whole meal. It may be slightly pricier than your average ramen joint, but it’s definitely shown through the high quality, the passion and the love that comes in everything they do. If you’re looking for an exceptional ramen experience, Ikkoryu is your place to go. I would highly recommend anyone to come and try this place, and I will most definitely be coming back! I would like to thank Ineke for having me here to try their delicious menu.