Beyond Kyushu: Discovering Himeji’s Heavy Tonkotsu Ramen at Zundoya

This is the tonkotsu (pork bone) ramen I had for lunch yesterday.

​When people think of tonkotsu ramen, they usually picture famous chains like Ichiran or Ippudo, and their homeland of Kyushu. However, Himeji City in Hyogo Prefecture is actually home to a large number of tonkotsu ramen shops as well.

​Zundoya originated in Himeji and has now grown into a major chain that even has locations overseas.

​Their style of tonkotsu ramen is heavy, punchy, and incredibly satisfying, featuring a rich pork bone broth enhanced with added seabura (pork back-fat).

​Apparently, Himeji used to be a town with many factory workers back in the day. The local culture of heavy tonkotsu ramen began because these workers preferred a strong, hearty bowl of noodles after a hard day's work.

​On the other hand, tonkotsu ramen from Kyushu comes in a wide variety of styles, ranging from light and smooth to rich and deep, with some varieties being subtle enough to eat every single day.

​Even within the same category of tonkotsu ramen, it's fascinating to eat a bowl while keeping these regional and cultural differences in mind.

​By the way, at Zundoya, you can actually choose the amount of back-fat you want in your soup.

​The highest level, called "Mamire" (meaning "covered" or "soaked"), is bound to be incredibly greasy, but if you're feeling adventurous, you should definitely give it a try!