what is tonkotsu ramen

Tonkotsu ramen is a Japanese dish that originated in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture on the Kyushu island of Japan, and it is a specialty dish in both Fukuoka and Kyushu. The soup broth is based on pork bones and other ingredients, which are typically boiled for several hours, and the dish is traditionally topped with chāshū (sliced pork belly) and served with ramen noodles that are hard in the center. The broth for tonkotsu ramen is prepared by boiling pork bones in water for a significant amount of time, up to eighteen hours, and the broth is typically cloudy in appearance. Additional broth ingredients can include onion, garlic, spring onions, ginger, pork back fat, pigs trotters, oil, and chicken carcasses. The traditional preparation method for the ramen noodles used in tonkotsu ramen is for the noodles to be hard in the center, but some ramen shops allow customers to select the level of firmness for the noodles. Tonkotsu ramen is usually served with toppings such as chāshū, soft-boiled eggs, scallions, sesame seeds, and bean sprouts.