Ganso Nagahamaya (元祖長浜屋) Fukuoka

Recommended bowl: Famous Fukuoka shop

A legend in Fukuoka, Ganso Nagahamaya's story goes back to 1952 when the OG master Sakakibara-san started a street-side yatai (food cart) after learning how to make ramen from a Taiwanese black market in Nagoya. He first opened his yatai in front of Hakata station and then moved to Nakasu, but didn't get many customers. A relocation to the fish market helped though, as he soon became popular among the workers who would often stop by for breakfast. The soup Sakakibara-san became famous for is pure tonkotsu ramen, but it's notably lighter and milder than most shops in the area. Ganso Nagahamaya also became the first-ever Fukuoka shop to use super-thin noodles and incorporate the kaedama (noodle refills) system of ordering, both of which are now integral elements of Hakata ramen culture. Sakakibara-san opened the current official shop location in 1974, and ran the establishment until he passed away in 1984. During his final days in the hospital, his wife would bring him the day's soup from the shop so he could check the quality. He always said the most important thing is speed, and serving the ramen quick. For that reason, the shop still serves just his one signature menu item: classic Hakata-style ramen, with kaedama on tap. Open super early, closes super late. Less