Gyorantei Uomachi ぎょらん亭 魚町店 (Kokura, JAPAN) ★★★☆☆

Founded in 1946, Gyorantei (ぎょらん亭) has long been the pride of Kitakyushu, thanks to its exceptionally rich ramen broth, made by simmering pork trotters for over 10 hours. Since we were strolling through Kokura Chuo Shopping Street (小倉中央商店街), I thought we should stop by its Uomachi outpost (魚町店) for a quick visit.

Gyorantei is so well-loved here that they even offer their own take-home noodle packs for those who want to enjoy their ramen in the comfort of home.

Here they offer three types of broth: "Kottori" (rich), "Yaya Assari" (slightly lighter), and their signature "Doro Ramen" made with a ultra thick and creamy broth.

"Yaya Assari" Ramen (1,000 yen) – As I have never been a huge fan of the thick pork-bone soup, I went with this lighter version.

The broth was noticeably lighter in color almost like a clear soup and the flavor was mellow with a slight sweetness, making it much easier on the palate.

You can mix and match with different noodle types, and I opted for the thinner variety, which paired nicely with the lighter broth.



As with most tonkotsu ramen, toppings were minimal except for a few strips of black fungus.

And soft-boiled egg.



Only one thin slice of fatty pork belly.

Kokura flourished as a castle town during the Edo period (17th century), with Kokura Castle (小倉城) built by Hosokawa Tadaoki as its centerpiece. Today, its historic center offers a charming blend of rich samurai history alongside modern shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Right next door, Riverwalk Kitakyushu (北九州河畔步行街) serves as a cultural and culinary hub, known for its lively atmosphere and vibrant mix of shops and restaurants.

Food Rating: 6.4/10

Price: ￥￥

Address: 3-2-17 Uomachi, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, 802-0006 Japan

Closest Train Station: Kokura

Tel: +81 (0)93-522-0020

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 12:00am daily