Tengaiten

Tengaiten is a popular Kumamoto ramen shop in Kumamoto City that almost always has a line. At the main store, they strictly serve only the day’s prepared amount; once it’s gone, they close. There are also locations in the Higo Yokamon Ichiba and in Kumamoto City’s Chuo Ward. The ramen features a white soup with lots of garlic and chashu, paired with medium-thin straight noodles, making it easy to eat surprisingly quickly. It’s a common stop both before and after drinking, drawing many people. Tourists and many overseas visitors also line up. If you go early, they may have onigiri. It’s a very approachable tonkotsu-style ramen, and adding plenty of garlic powder makes it especially tasty. The fact that it has many female fans as well speaks to its flavor. The main store is inside a building within Renseiji Park, and because it’s in a downtown area, pairing it with a night out is recommended. Access: about a 2-minute walk from the Kumamoto City Tram Suidomachi stop.