Recommended bowl: 'Drive safely'

This legendary Kyushu ramen shop was opened by original master Hoshino-san back in 1958. The Kurume tonkotsu style bowls are made with 100% pork bone yobimodoshi soup, still using the mother pot which started over 60 years ago. The noodles are special ordered but from where, is kept a secret. Ramen costs just 450 yen, and there are numerous free side dishes put out each day in which customers can help themselves. In regard to the shop name, 'maru' means circle representing the sun, and 'hoshi' (or boshi) means star representing the night. Hence the shop is open 24 hours a day. Located on a major road, this shop has long been visited by truck drivers, many of whom have been eating here for decades. At the bottom of each bowl it reads, 'drive safely.’