Ippudo Essex Road

Ippudo was established by founder Shigemi Kawahara, otherwise known as 'Ramen King', in Hakata in Fukuoka City in Japan back in 1985, before going on to open its first Kanto-region ramen shop in the Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum in 1994. Since then it's been non-stop and Ippudo has won multiple awards around the world for its delicious, hot bowls of ramen.

Now, there are dozens of restaurants worldwide, including several London restaurants. Each bowl of soupy noodles tells a story with Ippudo ramen, and Kawahara is not only inspired by flavours, but by music, movies and books too.

Opt for the Shiromaru Classic served with homemade thin noodles, creamy tonkotsu pork broth and pork belly chashu, or keep it contemporary with the Akamaru Modern, which has been enhanced with Ippudo's special-blended miso paste.

Daniel Sheppard