My journey to try out all the different Ichiran variations in Fukuoka continues, and today’s search has led me to Dazaifu to try out Ichiran’s Gokaku Ramen. Located right around Dazaifu’s Tenmangu Shrine, where students often come to pray for success in their exams, this store features a couple of little changes to the Ichiran experience designed to provide luck and success to those who visit – from pentagon shaped seats and ramen bowls, to a slight spin on its Hakata-style noodles. Out of all the Ichiran variations, this one doesn’t differ too much from the classical formula. But what exactly are some of the differences you can find here, and is it worth the visit? Let’s get to it. How Good Is Ichiran Dazaifu Sando Actually?

–Ichiran Dazaifu Sando Store & Gokaku Ramen History–
–Ordering System–
–Interior Design-
–Ichiran’s Gokaku Ramen–
–Differences Between Ichiran’s Classic & Gokaku Ramen–
–Add-Ons: Chashu & Kaedama–
–Secret Message–
–Verdict–
–Getting There–

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🍜 Ichiran Dazaifu Sando 🍜

Ichiran Dazaifu Sando is located right around Tenmangu Shrine, popular among students wishing to pass their exams. (Details on getting there below.) Wanting to also support the students who visit the nearby shrine, this Ichiran was also modeled around the same concept – to provide visitors with meals that grant success. 

In Japanese, the pronunciation for “合格” / “To Pass” (Gokaku), is very similar to “五角” / “Pentagon” (Gokaku), as well as the number “59” (Go-Juu-Kyu /~Go-Kyu.)

With this knowledge in mind, once you arrive at the store, you’ll begin to notice that a lot of Ichiran Dazaifu’s decorations are specifically designed to reference these lucky phrases. I’ll go into detail about all the elements I could discover below. But first, let’s actually order some food!

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📋 Ordering System 📋

There’s a good chance you’ll have to wait in line at this store, so you’ll be given their Ordering Sheet while you queue up.

On the sheet, you can customize the ramen to your own personal tastes, from the Tonkotsu’s strength and richness, the texture of the noodles, and any other included toppings. Go for all the heavy options for a filling meal, or a light order for a quick bowl. (And if you’re unsure, just follow their recommended options.)

You have the final say, of course, so experiment around to see which combination works best for you. 

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🍜 Interior – Dazaifu Sando Store 🍜

Heading into the store, you’ll notice that this Ichiran is fitted with a bunch of little changes here and there featuring the number “5” and other lucky elements.

From pentagon-shaped chairs and seating numbers, to their 59cm ruler (we’ll get to this soon) and the staff’s Ema-shaped name tags. 

Special mentions to their pentagon-shaped chopsticks as well, which was a really nice touch. The form factor is a little different compared to the usual chopsticks (not too noticeable, of course,) but regular wooden chopsticks are also available by the table should you prefer.

Everything else inside the store is the usual Ichiran experience, of course. From individual “Ramen Focusing Booths” for convenient individual dining, water dispensers by the table, and coat hangers, tissue dispensers, and toothpicks available behind your seat.

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🍜 Ichiran’s Gokaku Ramen (¥980) 🍜

Here it is. Ichiran’s Gokaku Ramen.

Only found at Ichiran Dazaifu’s store, this ‘Gokaku’ pentagon-shaped bowl is lined with some unique decorative elements, from Ume flowers symbolizing the city of Dazaifu, to Ema wishing plaques that read out “合格” / “To Pass.” (Plus a special message if you finish the bowl ‘till the last drop.)

Here’s a look at how I customized my ramen today.

🍜 Dashi / Tonkotsu Broth 🍜
Strong
🍜 Richness / Oil 🍜
Extra Rich
🧄 Garlic 🧄
1 Clove
🌱 Green Onion 🌱
Green Onion Only
🍖 Chashu Sliced Pork 🍖
With
🌶 Original Spicy Red Sauce 🌶
Mild (1/2 )
🍜 Noodle Texture 🍜
Extra Firm
🍜 Extra Order 🍜
Kaedama (Extra Firm)
🍜 Extra Order 🍜
Chashu Sliced Pork

Clearly, my preferences lean towards the stronger side of things. I’m a really big fan of Ichiran’s big, bold flavors, so that’s what I like to go for. I’ve had friends say that my order can be rather extreme… Try my combination if you’re interested though!

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Side Note: I’ll only be highlighting the main differences between the Gokaku Ramen and the standard Ichiran Ramen here. For a detailed review on Ichiran’s flavors, check out this review of their original store here

Full Review: Ichiran Nanokawa

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🍜 Gokaku Noodles 🍜

The main difference between the classic Ichiran Ramen and the Gokaku Ramen lies in their noodles.

Flavor-wise, it’s the exact same as any other Ichiran. But lift up the noodles, and you should be able to see the difference.

Longer noodles are associated with longevity and prosperity, and at this Ichiran, the noodles are twice Ichiran’s usual length, reaching as high as 59 centimeters! 

If you wanna test it out for yourself, you can always compare your noodles to the ruler at the table. Just make sure not to slip and drop the noodles from that height.

The rest of the bowl is the exact same Ichiran experience as any other. The Tonkotsu broth is deeply flavored and creamy, their Secret Red Sauce adds that hint of warmth, the sliced Chashu Pork provides the dish with some protein, and the green onions add a nice crunchy contrast to the meal.

In all, a very rich tasting bowl full of wonderful flavors. 

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🍖 Extra Chashu (¥260) 🍖

As much as I enjoy Ichiran, the meal can get carb-heavy at times. The standard bowl only comes with 2 pieces of Chashu, so I always order extra (¥260) to get some additional protein in my diet.

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🍜 Kaedama (¥210) 🍜

A Hakata-ramen custom of ordering extra noodles, you can also grab some Kaedama refill noodles at this Ichiran.

The ordering procedure is the exact same as any other. Just place the Kaedama plate over the sensor. You’ll hear a little jingle play in the store, and your extra serving of noodles should arrive in about a minute.

Oh… If you were wondering about the length of the Kaedama noodles, apparently they’re the standard Ichiran length. (Interesting that they keep two different noodle types in their inventory.)

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🍜 Triumph! 🍜

When you finish your ramen, you’ll be treated to a little message of ‘決定’ or ‘triumph’ at the bottom of the bowl. So if you’re here for some good luck, make sure to enjoy the ramen ‘till the last drop!

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⭐VERDICT⭐

So how good is Ichiran actually? Like I mentioned in my previous review, Ichiran is really good! Between the richness of the Tonkotsu, the warmth of the Red Sauce, and the various toppings – not to forget the Extra-Firm Hakata-style noodles – it’s just a really well-made bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen. It can be a bit pricey compared to some other ramen shops (especially when factoring the toppings you get,) but for the overall experience, it’s definitely worth the money!

As for if you should visit the Dazaifu store specifically? Well, the only meaningful difference to the ramen is the length of the noodles and the little decorations around the store. If you’re here just to taste the ramen, I wouldn’t say that this Ichiran is a “must-visit” by itself, considering the travel time and minimal difference compared to any other Ichiran around the city.

But if you’re interested in the 59cm long noodles and the success this store brings – or want to explore a bit of Dazaifu during your visit – on top of experiencing some good Tonkotsu ramen, definitely stop by Ichiran Dazaifu Sando and try out their Gokaku Ramen.

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🚗HOW TO GET THERE 🚗

Ichiran Dazaifu Sando is located right by Dazaifu Station (Dazaifu Line.) To get here via train, start off at Nishitetsu Fukuoka (Tenjin) Station – or any station by the Nishitetsu Tenjin-Omuta Line – and make your way towards Nishitetsu Futsukaichi Station.

Once there, change over to the Dazaifu Line, and ride two stops over to Dazaifu Station. (30 minutes, ¥420)

Once you arrive, head over to exit gates and leave the station. Take a right turn and you should see Ichiran right in front of you.

Alternatively, you can also take a bus to Dazaifu from Hakata Bus Terminal. This option takes around 40 minutes, but it can be pretty convenient if you’re around the Hakata area.

Ichiran Dazaifu Sando

🌏 Location 🌏
2 Chome-6-2 Saifu, Dazaifu, Fukuoka 818-0117, Japan
🗺 Map 🗺
https://goo.gl/maps/axPFWp7hJ52brE2a8
⏰ Opening Hours ⏰
10 A.M. to 6 P.M.
💻 Website 💻
https://en.ichiran.com/index.php
🏠 List of Stores 🏠
https://en.ichiran.com/shop/area-index.html
📖 Online Menu (English) 📖
https://en.ichiran.com/shop/kyushu/dazaifu-sando/

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💬 Final Words 💬

Can I just say? Having the vending machines right under Ichiran’s bright red sun shades made it incredibly hard to take photos of it without having the photos be completely red… Anyways, this Ichiran was a fun one to review, since I’ve been wanting to test out the noodle’s length for quite some time now. Definitely check this shop out if you have the free afternoon, and have a little tour around Dazaifu while you’re at it. Thanks for the read! Up next is Ichiran’s Premium Kamadare Store.