Evan J. LancasterMarufuku Ramen, the Bay Area’s well-known purveyor of authentic Japanese ramen, featuring a silky, smooth, 20-hour Hakata-style broth, has recently opened a new location in Irvine’s Los Olivos Marketplace.
While Orange County is already supplied with a wealth of top-notch ramen joints, Marufuku’s approach differs when it comes to the Hakata-style tonkotsu broth, which is the centerpiece of the entire Marufuku experience.
The attention to detail at Marufuku does not end with the broth, but rather begins. One slurp, and you will understand. 
Photo courtesy of Marufuku Ramen
The key process behind Marufuku’s luscious tonkotsu broth is a 20-hour cook time. In order to fully extract the umami flavor, this authentic broth is made by slow boiling pork bones. This slow-cooking process results in a combination of oily broth featuring a thick, milky layer of umami.
Swimming in this thick hakata-style broth are specially selected “ultra-thin artisanal noodles.” Here, guests can dictate their own experience from the style of ramen, to the choice of protein and even the firmness of the noodle itself.
The two main protein choices on Marufuku’s menu are chashu pork and chicken paitan. The melt-in-your-mouth chashu pork, which is simmered pork belly, provides a much richer mouth-feel, and all-around more fatty flavor.
If you go, a trusted order would consist of Marufuku’s fried squid legs, known as Geso Fry, served with a delightful mayo, followed up by the popular Hakata Tonkotsu, featuring chashu pork, a seasoned soft boiled egg, green onions, kikurage mushrooms and bean sprouts.
If you like spice, you can go medium spice and get extra spices on the side. The spice served is cayenne pepper, which does not alter the flavor of the food.
Photo courtesy of Marufuku Ramen
“I am extremely proud of our team’s ability to execute this restaurant opening, even in the most unpredictable times,” Mochizuki said. “We look forward to serving Southern California with our Hakata-style-Ramen!”
Overwhelmed by the flavor of the broth upon first bite, I looked at this over-sized bowl of ramen piled with huge slabs of pork belly, and a soft simmer egged. I wondered how I would finish this gigantic portion – embarrassed that I might have taken on more than I could chew.
Then I realized – the ramen was so delicious it actually made me forget for a split second – that to-go containers existed.
Marufuku Ramen
电话：949.418.7448
地址：8543 Irvine Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618
官网：www.marufukuirvine.menu
