[Tokyo] While many tourists craving Hakata-style ramen in Shinjuku may gravitate towards Ichiran, Ramen Tatsunoya is a well-known spot for tonkotsu ramen and worth your buck.
Ramen Tatsunoya ラーメン龍の家 is located on Shinjuku’s Otakibashi-dori, between the chaos of Kabukicho and the calmer stretch of Okubo.
The shop originates from Kurume in Fukuoka Prefecture, which is one of the places known for serious tonkotsu ramen.
You might walk past it if you weren’t looking for it.
It is just a small, understated shop with a queue of locals and tourists alike.
Inside, it’s tight on space, like most ramen shops in Tokyo. Counter seating only, close enough that you can hear every slurp and clink of chopsticks.
Ordering’s easy. There’s a ticket machine near the door with English, Chinese, and Korean options.
Soup ramen choices include the Koku (¥1000) rich pork bone broth with garlic oil and miso; Jun (¥950) which is a lighter pork broth with milder flavour; and Spicy Tonkotsu (¥1200) with a kick of chilli and spicy miso.
I went with the rich Koku. The broth came out steaming, with a glossy layer of black garlic oil floating on top.
It smelled like roasted pork and toasted garlic (features burnt onion oil as well). Thick and creamy but not greasy.
The kind of broth you want to drink to the last spoonful even though you know you shouldn’t.
Side note: I thought that overall, it really reminded me of Ichiran, but perhaps with its own distinct personality.
The noodles are Hakata-style which are thin, straight, cooked firm (I asked for ‘super hard’ and no regrets).
The chashu is sliced thick, a good fat-to-meat ratio, and a proper char that added a smoky edge.
I don’t say this lightly, but it might’ve been one of the better tonkotsu ramen I’ve had in Tokyo.
There’s a tsukemen on the menu too, which includes seared offal in the dipping broth.
It’s called the Tsukemen Motsu (¥1000 for small) which includes cold noodles served with hot dipping sauce and seared giblets. These infuse the broth with a nutty, roasted aroma.
For dessert, they offer a limited-edition coconut milk pudding served chilled (¥350), and it was surprisingly decent—light, sweet, and refreshing after all the salt and fat.
The only downside is the wait. It’s popular, especially during meal times, and the space is limited.
Ramen Tatsunoya Shinjuku ラーメン龍の家 新宿小滝橋通り店
1 Chome-15-6 Nishishinjuku, Shinjuku City, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
〒160-0023 東京都新宿区西新宿1丁目15-6
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Google Maps – Ramen Tatsunoya Shinjuku
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