Hakata Gensuke

Regent Place on George Street added a heavy hitter to its growing list of Japanese restaurants with the arrival of Hakata Gensuke in 2023. The global ramen chain first hit Australian shores in 2014 with a spot on Melbourne CBD’s Russell Street, which quickly gathered lines of die-hard fans willing to queue for a bowl. Seven more stores in Victoria and Western Australia followed.

The chain is known for its signature tonkotsu ramen, with a broth made with pork bones boiled for 12–16 hours, a trio of soy sauces from Fukuoka, and seafood stock. The result is a creamy, collagen-rich soup packed with umami. Gensuke’s recipe was developed by the chain’s founder, Japanese celebrity chef Kousuke Yoshimura, whose Ikkousha Ramen chain won Singapore’s Ultimate Ramen Championship back to back in 2011 and 2012.

Sydney has received the classic menu, which includes 10 iterations of tonkotsu and a collection of side dishes including karaage chicken and pan-fried pork gyoza. The most popular ramen is the Special Signature Tonkotsu, which features pork broth and thin house-made noodles with chashu (braised pork slices), soft-boiled egg, seaweed and menma (fermented bamboo shoots). Another favourite is the God Fire, a choose-your-own-adventure with five levels of spice ranging from an approachable 0.5 to a 4.

The city digs are easy to find under an illuminated cherry-red sign on Bathurst Street. Inside, there’s room for 40 with simple wooden stools and no-frills tables allowing the soup to star.