Warm up with porky broth - Restaurant: Haru Ichiban

Once in a while, a craving creeps up on me so suddenly yet so intensely, my life nearly comes to a halt until that craving is satisfied. The cold and gloomy weather last week brought on such an all consuming craving for ramen. Not just for any ramen either, my little heart was set on a steaming bowl of chewy noodle swimming in a rich tonkotsu broth.

For days, I just couldn't get my mind off the luxurious porky broth, almost creamy white from having extracted all the wonderful piggy goodness in the stewing bones, trotters, and other wiggly parts. Sadly, I had nowhere to go near my downtown office or midtown home for a bowl. After failing miserably at trying to fight off the craving, I finally made the long drive to Duluth to get what my stomach so desperately desired.

This would be my very first time trying the ramen at Haru Ichiban. On previous visits, other items on the vast menu such as miso grilled cod always appeared more attractive. On this visit, I was a woman on a mission. Nothing but tonkotsu ramen would do.

The happiness of finally having the boiling hot bowl of salty piggly goodness close enough to give me a facial was only topped by the pleasure of taking that first sip. Intensely savory, perhaps a bit too salty, but with a depth of flavor only the noble pig could deliver. Hog essence, it's a beautiful thing. The add-ins were also good, especially the slightly crunchy bamboo shoots. They introduce a bit of that pickled flavor, which helped to cut through the richness of the broth and textually compliment the chewiness of the ramen. The funny thing was while I get full rather quickly on pasta, I slurped down the entire bowl of ramen without feeling a thing. Go figure.

Haru Ichiban
3646 Satellite Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 622-4060