Recommended bowl: Pig head soup

Master Ryuta Kajiwara previously worked as a salaryman before learning the basics of ramen at Ippudo. He then went on to start a successful ramen group all of his own. Tatsunoya began with a single shop in Kurume in 1999, but the brand now has over 10 shops in Japan and one in California. Kajiwara-san also runs a second successful ramen brand, Ibuki, which boasts at least another seven shops in Japan. The soup at Tatsunoya is made from pig heads and water only. Rich, fatty and creamy, this is a Kyushu-style tonkotsu soup. Noodles come straight from the company's central kitchen, made using a special brand of original wheat. Most customers go for the standard Kokuaji, but this Shinjuku branch is the only location that offers Motsu Tsukemen, made with bits of fatty pork intestines. A popular shop with tourists, quite often with a queue at peak hours.