In the heart of Osaka, Japan, where ramen restaurants are abundant, the popular hole-in-the-wall dining destination Hanamaruken Ramen stands out with its Signature Happiness Ramen bowl, which includes Hakata-style noodles in tonkotsu and shoyu-based broth and topped with torokotsu, or soft-bone pork rib, known for radiating optimistic and cheerful vibes.

Opened in 1982 by Takaku Arakawa of the Arakawa Pork Company, Hanamaruken Ramen was built to showcase the pork products of the company and to enable its founder to share his newfound ramen recipes. “I put my whole soul and passion into the ramen, which I hope will make ramen lovers happy,” says Arakawa. Having over 40 branches in Osaka, Hanamaruken Ramen is a favourite destination of ramen-lovers because of its straightforward ramen made special with its unique cookery and quality pork ingredients. “I believe skills are important in making ramen, but the ingredients and quality we choose to use are the secret to making it delicious. When I enter the restaurant, I want to see my customers with a smiling after eating our ramen,” Arakawa said

The ramen house finally brought its Signature Happiness Ramen bowl, together with new ramen recipes by Arakawa, by opening its first international branch in the Philippines in November 2013. The Zen-styled interior of the restaurant is different from the Osaka branches and gives off a calm dining atmosphere, contrasting the hustle and bustle of the commercial mall where it is located. A glimpse of the nostalgic shogun era is found in some of the images on wooden canvas but accented with floral elements that are artistically placed in midair. The floral details are inspired by the name of the restaurant, which means flower (hana) round (maru) house (ken).

Besides the cosy and homey ambience, diners will enjoy in Hanamaruken Ramen the authentic Japanese ramen experience. Besides the Signature Happiness Ramen that can be enjoyed in all Hanamaruken Ramen in Osaka, the restaurant also offers dishes by Takaku Arakawa that highlight different pork cuts. Although the ramen dishes have the same broth and noodles, the different pork cuts infuse varying flavours. Its quality ramen cookery handed down by Arakawa before the branch opened last year, the ramen house lives up to the other definition of its name, which is excellent (hanamaru) restaurant (ken).

Hanamaruken Ramen also offers appetisers and side dishes like gyoza, tiger prawns tempura, Edamame beans, and chicken karaage. And what diners must try are any from its selection of ramen and rice bowls.

Signature Happiness Ramen. It is topped with the soft-boned pork rib, which is slowly cooked for almost a day, making the cartilage easily cut by chopsticks. The signature nori with an edible inscription means “love knot” or “marriage” and can be found in all Signature Happiness Ramen bowls in all restaurant branches.

Happiness Rice Bowl. It is topped with the soft-boned pork rib, a counterpart of the Signature Happiness Ramen.

Salary Man Ramen. Named after the working class in Japan, this ramen is a perfect treat for young professionals. It is topped with sliced pork shoulder, which has no fat giving the ramen with a meatier flavour.

Drunk Man Rice Bowl. Ramen is a favourite of diners especially when the weather is cold and damp. This rice bowl is also perfect for diners who have a hard time getting through their hangovers as the steaming rice topped with sweet shoyu-braised pork with fried eggs and chilli awakens the senses.

Hanamaruken Ramen, Level 2 Garden Restaurants, Trinoma Mall, North Avenue, Quezon City, +632.720.9283