Noodle Journey Episode 184: Marutai Ganso Nagahama-ya Tonkotsu Ramen

Continuing on with my run of Marutai reviews this year is my third tonkotsu review in a row, and this one is a collaboration between Marutai and a long-running ramen shop in Fukuoka called Ganso Nagahama-ya. I reviewed several Marutai restaurant collaborations last year, and they ended up being some of the best instant ramen I’ve ever had from the brand, even if they were a bit more expensive than usual. This particular shop is known for a very traditional, no-frills tonkotsu style, and the goal here is clearly to replicate that experience as faithfully as possible in an instant format.

Read more: Noodle Journey Episode 184: Marutai Ganso Nagahama-ya Tonkotsu Ramen

Ganso Nagahama-ya has been around since the early 1950s, and from what the Internet tells me, their ramen is typical of the area, featuring ultra-thin noodles, a very rich pork broth, and a small but specific set of toppings. I was able to buy this pack from Yamibuy for about $4, and unlike most Marutai products, this is a single-serving pack rather than two servings. That price is higher than average for instant ramen, but the whole pitch here is getting something as close as possible to a real ramen shop experience at home. This pack immediately stands out from other Marutai tonkotsu varieties because of how much emphasis it places on toppings and authenticity. Rather than a simple soup base and noodles, this one includes multiple packets designed to recreate exactly what you would get if you ordered a bowl at the actual restaurant.

The sodium level here is extremely high, with a salt equivalent of 7.1g, which works out to roughly 2800mg of sodium. Inside the pack are ultra-thin wheat noodles, a liquid broth packet containing pork extract, soy sauce, seasoning oil, and unlisted spices, a dried topping pack with sesame seeds, green onion, and actual dehydrated seasoned pork, plus a separate pouch of pickled red ginger intended as a garnish. The noodles only require a 90-second boil due to their thinness, and the instructions specify adding the soup base and toppings at the end.

Noodles:
These are some of the thinnest noodles Marutai makes, thinner than anything else I’ve had from them, but they still manage to retain a bouncy, satisfying texture. They’re a perfect example of what instant ramen noodles can be, even at this thin gauge, and they hold up wonderfully in the rich broth.
• 10/10

Spiciness:
There is no heat here at all. The only sharp note comes from the pickled red ginger, which is tangy rather than spicy and can be omitted if that’s not your thing.
• 0/10

Overall:
This is phenomenal. I went into this a little cautious after reading that the real Ganso Nagahama-ya ramen can come across as too traditional or even boring to some people, but if this is what “boring” tastes like, I’m fully on board. The broth is rich, well-balanced, and deeply savory, with a slight sweetness and a satisfying level of salt that never feels harsh despite the sodium numbers. There’s a gentle garlic and sesame presence supporting the pork flavor rather than overpowering it. The toppings are where this really separates itself from most instant ramen. The green onions rehydrate well and taste fresh, the sesame seeds add texture, and the thin slices of pork are genuinely impressive. They don’t taste like jerky, they soften quickly in the hot broth, and they bring real pork flavor and a pleasant bite. Even the pickled red ginger, which I don’t normally love, works as a bright, briny contrast that ties everything together. What’s I love most is how closely this mirrors an actual restaurant bowl, from the simplicity of the presentation to the specific combination of toppings. This is one of the easiest perfect scores I’ve ever given and stands out as the best instant tonkotsu ramen I’ve had to date.
• 10/10

Notes since filming:

This is it, folks: the best instant tonkotsu I’ve ever had. Ichiran can’t hold a candle to this. Real pork slices, a simple broth packed with flavor, and some great garnishes are all included in this pack. It’s expensive to import, but it’s still cheaper per serving than Ichiran (generally speaking) and it tastes amazing.