Torisoba @ Torisoba Toriden, KITTE, Hakata, Fukuoka

 

I always like a good bowl of chicken noodle soup. Well specifically, I ma talking about ramen. There is something different about chicken base broth. It has a more soothing and calming taste as compared to the more pungent and punchy porky counterparts. With that in mind, I would like to introduce to you to Torisoba Toriden.  

Look at that!

This amazing establishment was originally a tantanmen specialty, where their spicy noodles can kick your teeth out. Like literally. There have been a few times where a bowl here felt like fighting, which was great if you like to have a roller coaster ride for a meal. As such, I do not go there often. But when I do, it would be an enjoyable ride. So it was a disappointment when I saw it closed. But to my surprise, it was given new life, and the main specialty is the torisoba, or literally translated to chicken noodles. It should be noted that the original Toriden does use a full-chicken recipe. But since the tantanmen was a spicy beast where the heat and flavours take centerstage, they are not seen as torisoba. 

Gorgeous

Excited at the prospect of some delicious noodles, I ordered their special bowl which stood for 1500 yen. This is a hefty bowl! However, I felt that what I got was worth the price. Off the bat, the bowl was like art manifested into something edible. The golden hue of the soup, accompanied with the sunlight-like noodles and all the colourful bits in between, sheer bliss. 

Liquid gold!

The taste was just as good as it looks too. The soup was velvety smooth and felt like you are having a cream made out of chicken bones. It has a soft and soothing flavour but at the same time, full of body and creamy. It was so creamy that it felt like melted ice cream. It was a bit fatty though, but then again no doctor recommends ramen more than once a month. I am no doctor, but I would eat this more frequently if there are no health complications. Probably a brisk run can help break down the calories but I digress. 

Tender. 

The toppings are also top notch. Two types of chicken were provided, one is boiled chicken breast slices and another are grilled chicken thighs, which works more like charshu. This I really like. it gave the meal a different dimension, although still keeping to the theme of being a chicken dish. The chopped fresh onions and pickled menma bamboo on top help cut through the fat of the chicken meat and the soup, which I liked. It was indeed balance in all things. The egg was also alright. It was not bad, but the rest of the elements here were so stellar, that it somehow faded to the background. 

Look at the strands! You can even see the wheat husks there. 

The noodles, were chewy, springy and just a delectable delight to slurp to the bitter end. There was this nutty flavour as well, which comes from good quality wheat. My mind might be slipping, but there was some form of flaxseed-like aroma too. The depth of the flavours in the carbs lend itself quite well to the broth that has enveloped it like some sludge, but in a good way, as each strand was just flavourful. 

No better endorsement

And within mere minutes, this bowl was literally crushed. Words cannot describe how amazing this was. All I can say is that if I am looking for a hearty bowl of noodles that is not tonkotsu, this will probably be my next pick. So if you are a fan of chicken, noodles, or even just someone who likes good food, then you should give this a try, especially if you are within the Hakata Station complex. The address is as follows:

〒812-0012 Fukuoka, Hakata Ward, KITTE Hakata eki chuogai, 9−1 B1 

Front of the house. Definitely coming again soon.