WHAT WE ATE
- Ramen – 85/100, Tokyo, 5 April 2025
Hakata Tenjin is a popular ramen chain in Tokyo known for serving up classic Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen. With multiple outlets in busy neighborhoods like Shinjuku and Shibuya, it’s a go-to spot for a quick, satisfying bowl of noodles—especially for those craving a late-night fix.
The signature here is their creamy pork bone broth paired with thin, firm noodles, staying true to the Hakata style. Customers can top up with free noodle refills (kaedama), and while the setup is simple and no-frills, the flavors speak for themselves. It’s all about rich, comforting ramen without the fuss.
Ramen: 85/100
Noodle: 35/35
The noodles are thin, straight Hakata-style with a pale yellow hue—classic stuff. Served al dente, they’re low hydration, super dense, and deliver a clean, snappy bite. You get a nice earthy, wheaty aroma without any weird alkaline taste. Honestly, they’re spot on and easily one of the best parts of the bowl.
Pro tip: first round of kaedama is free so forget about rationing your noodles with the soup. Slurp away fast and call for your extra noodles before the soup turns cold.
Soup: 30/35
The soup is creamy in appearance and surprisingly light on the palate. It’s milky and savory with subtle nutty undertones and a gentle sweetness in the finish. There’s a visible oily sheen on top, but it doesn’t feel greasy at all—it actually tastes really clean for a tonkotsu broth. Despite hitting 14 brix, it’s not overly porky or gelatinous, which makes it super drinkable.
Pro tip: add the pickled ginger—it brightens the broth and brings out more sweetness with a bit of zing.
Meat: 15/20
This version comes with just one small slice of chashu since it’s the cheapest ramen on the menu, but don’t write it off. The cut is decently thick, really soft, and surprisingly tender. The seasoning is light but lets the pork’s natural flavor come through nicely.
Topping: 5/10
Simple Hakata-style toppings:
- Fresh negi that gives little bursts of sharpness
- Crunchy black fungus for texture
- A single piece of seaweed that delivers a nice umami hit
Pro tip: help yourself to the free table toppings like pickled ginger and spicy pickled spinach—those really help amp up the flavor as you go.
Overall: This is a super solid, back-to-basics bowl done right. The noodles are excellent, the broth is rich yet clean, and while the toppings are minimal, they work well with the overall profile. It’s a great example of how a no-frills ramen can still hit hard when the fundamentals are on point.
DISCLAIMER
One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
Find out more about our palettes and how we evaluate our ramen here. 😉
