A seamless dining experience at this self-service Japanese eatery

The Shiro bomb ramen offers a transformative ramen experience that is highly different from classic iterations of tonkotsu ramen. — Photos: IPPUDO EXPRESS

For decades, Ippudo has been regarded as the bastion of quality tonkotsu ramen (ramen typically made up of a rich, milky pork broth made by boiling pork bones). The chain restaurant was established by Shigemi Kawahara in Fukuoka, Japan in 1985 as a tiny 10-seater eatery and has been going strong since.

It is so ubiquitous in Japan that it is often regarded as one of the most famous tonkotsu ramen shops there and has bagged numerous awards on television shows throughout the country.