Ichiran is the ramen chain founded in Fukuoka in 1960 and known for customizable tonkotsu ramen and individual dining booths.
The business began as a ramen stall called Futaba Ramen in 1960 and adopted the name Ichiran in 1966. Its modern restaurant concept emerged in 1993, when the company opened a store designed around focused, solo dining.
Ichiran’s signature tonkotsu broth is made from pork bones, while customers customize richness, garlic, onion, spice, and noodle firmness on a paper order form. The ramen is delivered through a small service window, and a curtain can be closed to give diners privacy.
A common mix-up is Ippudo, another famous Fukuoka-born tonkotsu chain. Afuri is especially associated with lighter yuzu-shio ramen, while Santouka originated in Asahikawa. Ichiran’s combination of solo booths and detailed customization makes it the canonical answer here.