Noodle Journey Episode 136: Marutai Ikkosha Tonkotsu Ramen

Marutai Ikkosha Tonkotsu Ramen is the second of Marutai’s restaurant collaborations I’m reviewing this go-round, this time supervised by Ikkosha, a ramen shop based in Hakata with additional locations in Los Angeles, Torrance, and Costa Mesa. The recipe promises a concentrated tonkotsu broth meant to highlight the natural flavor of pork bones.

I paid $5 for this single-serving pack from Yamibuy. Like the other restaurant collaborations, it’s one serving only, which makes it quite expensive compared to standard Marutai packs. Sodium is very high at 2520mg, about 110% of your daily allowance. Inside are thin Hakata-style noodles, a liquid broth packet, and a flake packet. The broth contains pork fat, soy sauce, garlic, and gelatin, with no chicken or fish extracts like other tonkotsu you might find – this is pork-only. The flakes are scallions and wood ear mushrooms.

When prepared, the broth was dark, rich, and aromatic with strong pork and garlic notes. The green onions added a fresh aroma.

Noodles:
Thin, Hakata-style, with a pleasant texture and excellent ability to cling to the broth. High quality as expected from Marutai.
• 10/10

Spiciness:
None. This is a mild tonkotsu.
• 0/10

Overall:
This ramen knocked me off my feet. Going in, I had the same hesitation as with the last restaurant collaboration: is it really worth paying $5 to $6 for a single serving when Marutai already offers so many excellent tonkotsu varieties at half the price? The answer here is a resounding yes. The broth is everything you’d want from this style of tonkotsu: thick, oily, and rich, with a deep pork flavor that hits hard without ever crossing into gaminess. It’s a pure pork broth, no chicken or fish extracts to soften it, which makes it stand out as one of the boldest and most concentrated tonkotsu profiles I’ve tasted in instant form. The garlic and soy sauce are present at just the right levels, pushing the broth into that sweet spot where the richness is cut with savoriness. The flake packet is abundant: the scallion flavor permeates the broth with a fresh, sharp onion flavor, while the wood ear mushrooms provide a satisfying crunch that adds to the overall texture. The combination of broth, noodles, and toppings creates something that honestly could rival your local restaurant ramen depending on where you live. While the price is high, the execution is flawless, and I can’t find a single reason to deduct points. This is quite possibly the best instant tonkotsu I’ve ever reviewed, a perfect showcase of pork-forward instant ramen done right.
• 10/10

Notes since filming:

As I write this, this is probably tied for first place (or is maybe a close second) as the best tasting instant tonkotsu I’ve reviewed so far. The only reason this one isn’t on my Top 10 list is price and availability.