Hakataya Ramen

I’m a definite fan of the Hakataya Ramen shops, and have dined at the Myer centre location numerous times.
I find the tonkotsu broth at this location to be more variable than the broth at the indooroopilly or garden city stores, but it is still enjoyable. For those people saying there is not enough to choose from on the menu, I think this is actually a good thing. Hakataya has a limited menu and focus their efforts on making those dishes awesome. I prefer this quality over quantity style menu.
I’m not crazy about the takeaway tray things that the meals are served in at this store. They are large, awkward and seem unnecessary and wasteful.
The surrounds are a little lack lustre (its next to the bus station) however it is convenient and centrally located.

Don’t expect to be wowed by the choices or quality. However, I will probably return because the staff is extremely friendly, the service is quick, and this place has much longer hours into the afternoon than other, nearby ramen-​ya restaurants.

This is decent Japanese Ramen at a reasonable price. They even give you extra noodles for free, if you ask. The highlight of the meal is the Japanese pickles on the side, far better than the ones I have tried in any other restaurant. However, the taste of the soup stock is nothing special compared to Ramen shops I have tried in the United States.

I am completely addicted to this ramen! Hakataya does tonkotsu style noodle soup, served with a side of spicy Japanese pickles. I always go for the karaka men (spicy pork broth noodle soup, number 3) and add a good grind of sesame seeds, some vinegar and both ground chilli and the chilli oil. It is delicious, rich and spicy.
You must wait until you have received your meal before you can order a free serve of extra noodles, but they are always prompt. Sit at the counter and check out the ramen chefs’ speedy ramen making skills. Is every day too often for double noodle ramen?

If you want delicious japanese ramen in CBD, this is the place. Only issue is it’s face to the bus stops and not enough spaces to seat. Still it has decent taste.

Ok ramen. Better than insta ramen, but not something you would go crazy for. Only come here if you have intense ramen craving and no better alternatives.
Also, pretty rude service for no good reason.

If the word on the street and broth don’t get you there, your feet should.
This is the best ramen in the foodcourt. Authentically Japanese, staff, food, meals, cost. My favourite is the Charsiumen… the pork melts in your mouth, in your soup and on your chopsticks. The picked side is best dumped in and mixed into the broth and make sure you get every little one of those ramen suckers because they are always cooked really well… aldente. Not too soft or hard. Chewy.
I’m a big fan of places that are clean, consistent with their flavours and have friendly staff. This ticks those boxes and get in early, they are pretty busy at lunch time.

It might not be the fanciest ramen shop I’ve ever been to, but it definitely has the spirit of a proper Japanese ramen-​ya!
It’s always busy. Honestly, I haven’t had a chance to be there when it isn’t.
But it doesn’t mean it’s not worth it!
So let’s start with the shop. I highly recommend sitting by the counter if you want to have a proper ramen-​ya experience. It’s quite narrow, but you will have a first row view on the cooking part of the shop!
If you rather prefer some more personal space, there is several tables around. And you can also get your noodles in take away version.
Food is very reasonably priced ($ 10.50 for basic ramen, which is also my favourite), and you get a little plate of pickles with every order. Also! If you want, you’ll get second serving of noodles for FREE!
Also if you go there on your birthday, you’ll get your lunch/​dinner for nothing, you just need to show your ID :)
If you order «number 1» (Nagahama ramen), you can expect a bowl of very tasty noodles with few slices of pork. This pork is most delicious ever! It’s so nicely cooked, it falls apart when you eat it. Almost melting in your mouth.
So you know. Go and try, huh? It’s tasty, it’s cheap, it’s like having a little piece of Japan in Brisbane :)

Look, if there is a better CBD food court lunch option I certainly hadn’t heard of it. It’s ramen. It’s delicious. It’s reasonably priced, you can get seconds of your noodles and it’s much closer to is northsiders than Sunnybank.

Today was the grand opening for the CBD Hakataya Ramen store! There was a massive line as they are giving away free Nagahama Ramen for three days. They had an area blocked off to keep the line orderly and to also allow foot traffic to other customers catching a bus or grabbing lunch elsewhere.
They were prepared for the day and had extra staff on hand. There were staff handing out menus to those in line. They had staff bringing bowls of kaedama (extra noodles) to customers sitting at the tables. The open station/​kitchen was for all to see as the staff hurriedly prepared each bowl of ramen.
WIth the demand, they were served in plastic to-​go bowls that you could put a lid on it and eat elsewhere. I’m not sure if they will use the plastic after the grand opening and I kind of hope not because eating my ramen in a proper bowl versus a plastic to-​go one gives me a different feeling. I liked the ramen but i didn’t love the ramen. It was the grand opening and I didn’t get to doctor my bowl of ramen with chili oil as I normally would. To those who aren’t too familiar with Hakataya Ramen, this ramen comes from the region of Kyushu. The northern area is called Hakata hence Hakataya. They are famous for tonkatsu ramen which is a rich pork bone broth served with non-​curly noodles and topped with pickled mustard greens, sesame seeds, and pickled ginger if you please. The broth wasn’t as rich as I would ilke it but it just opened so I will go back and try another bowl.
This store is in a food court so I know that it is a different atmosphere and vibe than the other locations. it’s nice to know that if I am craving a bowl of tonkatsu ramen, I can just head to the city without needing to make the trek to Sunnybank.