Genkotsu Ramen

Best ramen in Brisbane. And I say this as a fat prick who has eaten several bowls of hearty ramen across Japan.

It was a Saturday evening and I’d convinced my three ramen-​loving friends that Runcorn wasn’t too much further than Sunnybank so we tripped out to a relatively foreign area to us all to Runcorn Plaza. There’s a large parking lot but it was remarkably full for what looked like a quiet shopping centre that didn’t seem to have too many restaurants. Clearly they’re all popular though as each that we passed on our way to Genkotsu (on the outer edge of the complex) looked full of diners.
There were people milling about outside the tiny restaurant when we arrived and we worked out with the help of another waiting group that first you line up and then you are called in to order when you are close to getting a table and given a number to wait outside again until your table is ready. There is only a small amount of seating — under 20 seats. As we waited in line we peered at the menu posted outside. There’s a large range of ramen with 9 different types, 4 of which you have the option of broth flavour — salt, soy or miso plus gyokai (I think it’s the seafood flavour) for the Tsuke Men (noodles come separate to soup which you dip them in). I was torn between trying the standard Genkotsu Ramen vs the interesting sounding Black Garlic Ramen with black garlic oil, pork chashu, shallots, bean shoots and boiled egg. The Black Garlic won out and I decided to go with the soy flavour based on the recommendation of the waitress.
A short while after ordering we were seated and about five minutes later our ramen arrived. Mine was a giant bowl of creamy soup with a large pool of black garlic oil, filled with ramen, plenty of thick bean shoots and several slices of thick pork. Chopped shallots and a slice of dried seaweed topped it along with the best looking soft boiled egg I’ve ever seen — it had a solid white with a perfectly thick gooey dark yellow yolk. Sesame seeds, chilli oil and pickled ginger is available to add in at each table. The soup was some of the most flavoursome broth I’ve ever had, reminiscent of that I tried in Japan. The black garlic oil added an incredible flavour that wasn’t overpoweringly garlicky, but I say that as a lover of garlic who amps it up every time with little regard for the people around me (sorry friends). The noodles were good and although they didn’t stand out especially, I ate almost all of them. There was a generous amount of thickly sliced chashu pork which had little fat attached, unusual for ramen I’ve found. The boiled egg was as good as it looked and I wanted more. Note: you can get an extra for $ 1 more. The bean sprouts were unlike others I’d had — thick and dense and slight chewy. Altogether, one amazing ramen and I ate far more than what my stomach would have preferred. I sampled some of the salt version of the black garlic and there was a significant different flavour which was perhaps lighter but I preferred the soy.
I’m not sure if other drinks are available and I just missed them but water is self-​serve from large dispensers along the wall. Several side dishes including gyoza and takoyaki are available plus small servings of edamame for $ 1. We tried the wakame ($ 4) which was great but nothing different to any other seasoned wakame I’ve tried. There are a few mini rice dishes which I’d love to try (especially the mentaiko rice) but I can’t imagine I could eat it plus a ramen and if I was making the trip out, there’s no way I’m not getting that ramen!
It’s not exactly a place you’d feel comfortable hanging out for a long time, especially if there are people waiting, but you could always move on to the dessert café at the other end of the complex (stopping at the Happy Time grocery shop to stock up on all those Asian groceries you’ve never heard of before). Genkotsu also have a loyalty card where you can rack up freebies after a certain number of visits. The best part? You can leave your card there so it doesn’t take up precious wallet space — WIN. If you haven’t already tried Genkotsu and you love ramen, get down there!

This could be the most authentic ramen I’ve tasted this side of Tokyo. Seating perhaps only 15 – 20 diners at any time, Genkotsu has that Tokyo backstreet ramen restaurant vibe and the dishes to back it up.
We arrived as a party of four on a Saturday evening, a public holiday to boot, and were only just able to be seated at the bar seats overlooking the kitchen. The line outside becoming a steady flow and rotating as diners finished and new ramen hunters sat down. There’s a sign on the door that sets the expectation of a potential wait outside while seats become available.
Ordering your ramen happens as soon as you enter so make sure you’ve taken a look at the menu before entering. There’s several styles of ramen including salt or miso. For $ 11-​$ 12, your bowl of broth is an affordable morsel of soul restoring food.
Totemo oishii desu!