Ramen

Hourai Ramen

Rating88SCORE
WHY IT'S A MESHI MAP PICK
Locals keep coming back. That is the real proof.
地元の人が、通い続ける。それが何よりの証明。
Founded 1958, 67 years of history.
創業1958年・67年の歴史。
Origin shop where several Kumamoto Ramen 'Four Kings' trained.
熊本ラーメン四天王も修行した業界の源流店。
Devastated by 2020 floods, revived 2022.
2020年豪雨で被災、2022年復活。
Selected for Tokyo Ramen Street 2026 exhibition.
2026年東京ラーメンストリートに出店されるほどの実力。
Single menu item only, no PR deals, attracts fans from outside Kumamoto.
メニュー1種のみ、PR案件なし、県外からもファンが訪れる。
Popular Dishes
Ramen with black Kuma-style Ma-yu burnt garlic oil soup (single menu item)
ラーメン（マー油黒スープのみ一種）
What kind of place?
Fake reviews removed

Founded 1958. Iconic jet-black soup made with ma-yu (garlic burnt in sesame oil and lard). House-made noodles, generous bean sprouts and wood ear mushrooms. Single menu item: ramen at 750 yen. The pinnacle of Hitoyoshi B-grade gourmet with constant queues. Featured at Tokyo Ramen Street 2026.

Reviewers note it looks intimidatingly black but is surprisingly light. The garlic aroma stimulates appetite. Considered a sacred birthplace of Kumamoto ramen - several famous ramen masters trained here. Reopened 2022 after flood damage.

Business Hours
MonClosed
Tue – Sun11:00-15:00
Regular Holiday：Monday
Phone0966-22-3320Call
Access
Single menu item (ramen only), easy to order. Cash only. Closed Mondays. Damaged in 2020 floods, revived and operating again since 2022.
76 Shimoaoi-cho, Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto
English Menu：Not AvailableCredit Card：Not Available
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Links to reservation and restaurant-guide sites include affiliate advertising. If you book through a link, the operator may receive a referral fee — but this never affects which restaurants we list, how they rank, or how they are rated.

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Ramen

Hourai Ramen

Rating88SCORE
Popular Dishes
Ramen with black Kuma-style Ma-yu burnt garlic oil soup (single menu item)
ラーメン（マー油黒スープのみ一種）
Business Hours
MonClosed
Tue – Sun11:00-15:00
Regular Holiday：Monday
Access
Single menu item (ramen only), easy to order. Cash only. Closed Mondays. Damaged in 2020 floods, revived and operating again since 2022.
76 Shimoaoi-cho, Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto
Phone0966-22-3320
English Menu：Not AvailableCredit Card：Not Available
View larger map

Links to reservation and restaurant-guide sites include affiliate advertising. If you book through a link, the operator may receive a referral fee — but this never affects which restaurants we list, how they rank, or how they are rated.

Reserve on Hot PepperReserve on GnaviOpen in Google MapsView on Tabelog
WHY IT'S A MESHI MAP PICK
Why this place makes the list
Locals keep coming back. That is the real proof.
地元の人が、通い続ける。それが何よりの証明。
Founded 1958, 67 years of history.
創業1958年・67年の歴史。
Origin shop where several Kumamoto Ramen 'Four Kings' trained.
熊本ラーメン四天王も修行した業界の源流店。
Devastated by 2020 floods, revived 2022.
2020年豪雨で被災、2022年復活。
Selected for Tokyo Ramen Street 2026 exhibition.
2026年東京ラーメンストリートに出店されるほどの実力。
Single menu item only, no PR deals, attracts fans from outside Kumamoto.
メニュー1種のみ、PR案件なし、県外からもファンが訪れる。
88SCORE
What a score of 88 means
A measure of whether people truly want to return — not hype. Calculated after removing fake reviews.
Real reputation
Fake reviews removed

Founded 1958. Iconic jet-black soup made with ma-yu (garlic burnt in sesame oil and lard). House-made noodles, generous bean sprouts and wood ear mushrooms. Single menu item: ramen at 750 yen. The pinnacle of Hitoyoshi B-grade gourmet with constant queues. Featured at Tokyo Ramen Street 2026.

Reviewers note it looks intimidatingly black but is surprisingly light. The garlic aroma stimulates appetite. Considered a sacred birthplace of Kumamoto ramen - several famous ramen masters trained here. Reopened 2022 after flood damage.

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