Rather than perorate needlessly, I simply recommend that a traveler hit any of the branches of Ichiran, which styles itself as “the most dedicated Ramen Company to the study of Tonkotsu Ramen in the whole world,” as well as the more local Shin-Shin. Sit yourself down, order your bowl, and observe as bite by bite, slurp by slurp, your mind gets blown. Every bowl of ramen is said to contain a universe, and this universe is a celestial symphony of tender noodles, farm-fresh green onions, and pungent porky splendor.

Steps north of Tenjin Chikagai is one of the city’s most famous ramen shops, Shin Shin (open 11am until late night; unless you’re there before noon, there will be a line). If you prefer not to wait, head to Hacchan (10am to 6pm; closed Sundays), where you’ll place your order using a ticket machine, find a seat and wait for your bowl. If you’re feeling hungry, order kaidama (extra noodles, $.75).

As a part 2 dinner after our trial of Motsunabe, we decided to head for the best bowl of ramen and settled on Shin Shin on my long list of ramen joints to check out. We went to the one in Tenjin (3 Chome-2-19 Tenjin, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka, 810-0001, Japan) a short taxi ride away, and thank goodness there was not a queue yet at 8.30 pm when we arrived. We shared a bowl of dry style ramen and ordered the classic soup with lots of spring onions.

Widely referred to as the “Ramen Capital of Japan”, Fukuoka is famous for its Hakata ramen, a type of tonkotsu ramen. The main difference here compared to regular tonkotsu ramen is that the noodles are thinner, but the creamy, rich pork soup base is similar for the most part. There are too many places to head to, including Ichiran’s main store (since it was founded in Fukuoka), but my favourite has got to be Shin Shin.

The original location, a hole-in-the wall in the Tenjin area’s backstreets, has walls covered in signed cards and posters from Japanese celebrities. Shin Shin’s broth is just slightly lighter than some of my other favorite ramen spots but with no sacrifice in taste, and their noodles are pretty similar to Ichiran’s. They have a few more locations beside Tenjin’s with two conveniently located in Hakata station.

A good sign that Shin Shin is worth a visit is the long queue of people lining up to enter, that includes locals. What makes Shin Shin popular is how they keep the tradition alive by staying true to each recipe that’s been known for generations. They use pork bone broth that’s boiled for more than eight hours before being served, creating a rich and thick soup that brings about the taste of ramen in the bowl.

Without a doubt, this is one of of the best ramen shops you will ever visit. Shin Shin is Hakata ramen that anyone can eat — a soup that is just heavy enough to be popular among kotteri-loving Fukuokans and light enough to make it highly accessible to out-of-towners who are used to lighter (more assari) soups. The noodles are superb, and the ingredients placed on top perfectly complement the ramen’s taste.

Shin Shin is a must-try after spending a day exploring Fukuoka. At night, the street becomes a lively place where young people flock to party in a variety of establishments that serve alcoholic beverages, and then visit their go-to restaurant for a late-night snack. Shin Shin is popular because it’s known to attract celebrities and serves delicious ramen until three in the morning.

If the walls could talk… they would probably say all the things that have been posted on the walls… plenty of customers have left their comments of admiration for this Ramen shop which have been posted on the walls!. Surely that should be an indicator of this shop’s steady fame. Hakata Ramen Shin Shin is a gem known for its velvety Tonkotsu broth.

Hakata Ramen is one of the most famous types of ramen in Japan. Hakata ramen contains rich pork broth from the bone and thin noodles with curls and this restaurant is very popular amongst locals and tourists alike. The special soup here serves the broth with chicken bones, vegetables, and umami to bring out the flavour of the soup.

ShinShin is a well-known ramen place in Fukuoka that always has a long line of people. They use a tonkotsu (pork broth-based) soup, but they blend it with chicken and vegetable soups, so the soup has a nice and light aftertaste. The noodles are thin, so it is easy to eat, especially for women who don't usually eat tonkotsu ramen.

There is a reason why people stand in line to get a bowl of Shin Shin ramen. It is one of the popular best Hakata ramens in Fukuoka and highly recommended by locals for a better taste of ramen. It got a unique taste compared with the normal creamy rich pork broth, dissimulated by the sesame oil, sesame seeds, and pickled ginger.

Shin Shin is a popular ramen restaurant in Fukuoka that can have long lineups during lunch and dinner times. The broth is a bit lighter and less heavy than some other ramen places, which may suit some travelers’ preferences. Besides having fantastic ramen, the restaurant also serves a customer-favorite - gyoza and fried rice.

While touring the bars of Oyafuko Dori, the main party street in the Tenjin neighbourhood, locals always have the same recommendation: Shin Shin. Upstairs from this side-street eatery, a boy band is practicing its dance moves in the middle of the night. The restaurant’s walls are scribbled with graffiti by local bands.

This came highly recommended by a friend living in Fukuoka so I was extremely excited to fill my face with it. Thankfully, they have a branch not too far from our hotel. I dragged my sister and brother-in-law into it and were bombarded with autographs of prominent people who have dined here.

My first experience with Shin Shin came in the form of a tonkotsu ramen kit that we brought home from Fukuoka Airport. Inside the box were noodles, powder, and a sauce to make the broth. It was delicious so I knew that having it freshly made at their Fukuoka restaurant would be even better.

Locals find it extremely challenging when I ask them what their favorite ramen is place, but Shin Shin almost always makes it to the conversation. It specializes in Hakata-style ramen as well, but here, you can find a milder version of the usually very rich and creamy pork-based broth.

After waiting out the typhoon overnight, I arrived just before their opening at 11am. At 10:50am, the line was already 10 people deep, with more people quickly arriving after me. That’s how you know you’ve landed at a good spot.

Shin Shin 福岡の博多純情らーめんの店 has a few outlets around, including the Tenjin main store (Chuo-ku area at Tenjin 3-2-19), Hakata Menkaido (situated in Hakata Station), and Hakata Deitos (1-1 Hakataeki Chuogai, Hakata).

This classic tonkotsu is well-loved by both locals and visitors. The broth is thick but not-too-thick, and the sliced pork is notably good. Try it out for an introduction to Fukuoka’s tonkotsu ramen.

It just gets it right—balanced broth, honest noodles, and a space that doesn’t try too hard. It’s earned its place not by flair, but by doing the work. A local favorite that welcomes you like one.

Hakata Ramen has a rich pork bone broth (Tonkotsu), and thin and non-curly noodles. There are a lot of Ramen restaurants in Fukuoka. However, we highly recommend this Ramen restaurant!

Fukuchan serves a heavier, porky bowl while Shin Shin serves a gentle-tasting one. This is partially due to the chicken bones they blend into the soup.