Taiho was one I had read about online and in a magazine, so I figured that while I was going down to Fukuoka, I may as well make a stop in Kurume to check it out. From half a block away the whole place stunk of pork bone. It's a smell I couldn't stand but a year and half ago, but now I associate it with delicious if oily tonkotsu ramen. I walked in, sat down, and ordered the standard ramen.
Information
大砲
The Bowl
I've had some thick tonkotsu in my time, like Muteppo or Hidechan, but this was different. The broth was quite thin, though it was not lacking in oil. I was expecting it to taste somewhat similar to famous chains Ippudo or Ichiran, and while there were similarities, Taiho was much richer, and tasted just like it smelled. At tonkotsu shops like this you can often pick how hard the noodles are; I normally go for hard, but I got regular here, which were thin and chewy. There was just a slice of egg in the ramen, and a few thin slices of chashu. The chashu may not have been the thickest or juiciest I've had, but having sat in the broth for a while it tasted very strongly of tonkotsu.
Would I Go Again?
The strong scent of tonkotsu can still sometimes be a turnoff to me, and Taiho was stinking in it, but the ramen was delicious. It's not my favorite tonkotsu, and not my favorite ramen of my Kyushu trip, but I respect the richness of it. If I make it down to Kurume again, I'll definitely stop by.
Should You Go?
Not everyone will love the strong tonkotsu flavor, but everyone should try it at least once, and there's not really a better place than Taiho to do it. If you ever find yourself in Kurume, that is.