Ramen term
Tonkotsu 豚骨
Tonkotsu is the rich, cloudy ramen broth simmered from pork bones for as long as a day until the collagen and fat emulsify into something silky, milky and deeply savory. It's the broth that made ramen a global obsession.
Hours of boiling
The pork bones are boiled hard and long so the marrow and collagen break down and cloud the soup — that opacity is the sign of a properly rendered tonkotsu, not a flavoring added at the end.
A Kyushu original
Tonkotsu comes from Fukuoka on the island of Kyushu, home of Hakata ramen — thin straight noodles, rich broth, and the option to order kaedama (a fresh noodle refill) for your leftover soup.
Insider tip. Order kaedama — an extra portion of noodles for the broth you have left — the way they do it in Fukuoka.
Where to try Tonkotsu near you
Top-rated ramen spots on Yes Ichiban with real, orderable online menus:
Yoshi Sushi Ramen
Pearland, TX · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.9
Flame RamenMemphis, TN · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.8
Kawa Ramen & SushiMilwaukee, WI · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5
Airi Poke & RamenNew Caney, TX · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.5
Airi RamenCypress, TX · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6
Airi RamenBaytown, TX · ★★★★★★★★★★ 4.6