Comments on: Tonkotsu Ramen search: calling all London ramen fans!

Question: Tonkotsu Ramen search: calling all London ramen fans!

0bvious — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 03:59:36 -0800

Ramen Filter: I live in London. I desperately crave tonkotsu ramen, the pork-based variety popular in Japan's Kyushu region (sometimes known as Hakata ramen). I have found NOWHERE in the UK that makes or sells it. Have I missed somewhere? Is there anywhere online I can buy Tonkotsu soup stock? Help!

I can get shoyu, miso and chicken based ramen real easy in London, but not Tonkotsu.

I have found recipes that teach you how to make it, but I live with vegetarians who wouldn't take too kindly to a house smelling of pork offal.

How can I fill my tonkotsu void?! Why has this perfect food source not made it overseas yet?

By: Katemonkey

Katemonkey — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 04:50:11 -0800

Are you talking actual already-made restaurant tonkotsu ramen or packaged, easy-to-cook store-bought ramen?

Because the latter's all over the place in Chinatown. You want Demae Ramen, in the green packaging (I can't remember if it's light green or dark green).

Try Oriental Delight in Chinatown.

As for restaurant, you might want to try Zipangu. I can't remember if they have it (generally going straight to their tonkatsu curry), but it's worth a shot for such deliciousness.

By: 0bvious

0bvious — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:01:50 -0800

I want the proper stuff, not the instant ramen. Proper pork bone-marrow brothy goodness

By: thread_makimaki

thread_makimaki — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 05:06:38 -0800

If you're willing to settle for instant (...) you may want to try at Japan Centre in Piccadilly, which carries the better brands. (Demae Iccho is not.)

If you have money to burn, this Japanese company (warning: Japanese-only site) will EMS you vacuum packed nama-ramen packs from 'famous ramen-ya'. This one and this one are the Kyuushuu tonkotsu type you're probably looking for. The catch is that the EMS costs about 2-3x the product cost. But it's really good.

I would say, drive your finicky roommates out of the house and start cooking. You'll be dealing with bones and gelatinous trotters, not smelly offal, so you'll just have a pleasant aroma of sweet pork and veggies.

By: Not Supplied

Not Supplied — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 06:11:27 -0800

Presumably, the wagamama's pork and chicken broth is no good?

By: 0bvious

0bvious — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:59:38 -0800

Thanks MakiMaki... The links you posted got whittled down to just this one. What was the other?

By: 0bvious

0bvious — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 02:13:24 -0800

Any more ideas?

By: gen

gen — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 07:10:14 -0800

wagamama is not real ramen.

By: thread_makimaki

thread_makimaki — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:42:41 -0800

Sorry about that - here are the links to individual tonkotsu ramens listed that site. (There are 4 listed in the sidebar but one leads to a blank page.) You don't get any of the toppings btw, just the noodles and the soup.

From Kijijo-ji Hope in Kijijo-ji, Tokyo - it says the soup has garlic and back fat in it

From Manshuu-ya in Kurume - very concentrated/intense soup

From Daikoku Ramen in Kumamoto - also has garlic in the soup

Each pack comes with two portions of noodles and soup.

Now I am desperately hungry.