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Happily, summer’s smooth entry feels almost imminent in the city, as the days extend, and Adelaide residents shed their dark wool winter uniforms.
It’s time to say goodbye to cracked lips and runny noses, and hello to salty chaffing and sunshine.
Before it’s suddenly 45 degrees and the thought of hot noodles makes most people want to weep into their paddling pools, Glam Adelaide asked keen Adelaide Ramen eater Jarrad White (@yeahramen) to tell us a few of his favourite spots for tonkotsu ramen in the city.
Do yourself a favour, and grab a bowl.
Tuno Izakaya
It’s difficult to overstate the quality of Tuno, often cited as the best place for ramen in the city. Everything here – bitey noodles, rich broth, scant toppings – comes together to create a bowl that’s more than the sum of its parts.
“This is the closest thing to traditional tonkotsu that I’ve eaten in SA,” explains White, who loves the intense mouthfeel of pork fat the bowl offers. It’s a quality that results from the care given to hours of cooking Tuno’s signature stock.
Find Tuno Izakaya at 4/145 O’Connell St, North Adelaide.
Hakata Ryumon
Relative newbie Hakata Ryumon takes its name from the local Fukuoka dialect where tonkotsu was invented. There, they call it hakata ramen, and unsurprisingly, this neon-lit, polished joint specialises in just that.
White says the highlight here is the noodles which are “thin and chewy so hold the broth particularly well.”
Find Hakata Ryumon at 16 Hindley St, central city.
Black Dog Gallery
Black Dog’s menu is endlessly customisable, something ramen aficionados don’t always agree is a good thing. One clear upside for us and White, however, is the playfulness of textures that comes with being able to choose your own floaty bits.
He loves this about the spicy jigoku ramen, which has long been a mainstay on the menu here and combines a deep broth with thick spicy pork and al dente noodles in each satisfying mouthful.
Find Black Dog Gallery at 4/455 B26, Tusmore.
Ryo’s Noodles
Skip breakfast if you’re going for the tonkotsu at Gouger St stalwart Ryo’s. “Their broth can be pretty heavy,” explains White.
The serves are also generous. It’s the egg you’re here for, which is jammy, perfectly seasoned and, according to White, the best in Adelaide.
Find Ryo’s Noodles at 80 Gouger St, central city.
Himeji Ramen and Izakaya
Don’t let the vast menu fool you, Himeji Ramen and Izakaya, which shares a name with Adelaide’s Japanese sister city, “consistently delivers” on high quality ramen, says White.
He’s most fond of their tsukemen dipping noodles, but “can confirm the tonkotsu is a winner too,” he says. We agree. The expertly cooked noodles are always very fresh, and complement the richness of the broth.
Find Himeji Ramen and Izakaya at 22 Grote St, central city.
Quality Noods
Justin Healy (ex-Orana) is an absolute gun, realising his idea for an ethical fortnightly ramen pop-up at The Exeter Hotel this year in understated style.
It’s been booked out every week he’s been there so far, thanks in no small part to the quality and care taken in each thoughtful bowl.
This is posh ramen, using fairly grown, quality ingredients.
Find Quality Noods at the Exeter Hotel, 246 Rundle St, central city, @_qualitynoods_
Follow Jarrad White on Instagram at @yeahramen.
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