Juicy Meat Delights: The Kings and Queens of Roasted Pork Ramen
When it comes to ramen, the one noodle soup dish that we all can’t get enough of, chashu, Okinawa-style roasted pork, is one of the most sought-after toppings in Japan. Just imagine piping hot broth and noodles firm to the bite, and a pile of juicy pork sitting on top of this cup of bliss…mouthwatering, isn’t it? Because chashu has a huge fandom both in Japan and abroad, it was about time to crown the very best chashu ramen places, from Kyushu to Tokyo - join us on our pork pilgrimage!
1. The Battleground of Nakano: Tasting Pork Rib Ramen
In recent years, Tokyo’s cozy neighborhood of Nakano has turned into a steamy battlefield of chashu ramen shops, trying to best each other with their juicy pork creations. One of the fiercest contenders for the ramen crown is a shop called Barasobaya, specializing in pork back ribs called bara in Japanese. And when it comes to chashu, the most delicious item on the shop’s menu undoubtedly is the “Tonkotsu Bara Chashu”, a pork bone broth style ramen topped with layers upon layers of thin-sliced pork rib. The meat is so juicy and accompanies the broth so well, we promise you won’t get enough of this particular ramen bowl! But try to not overeat: Nakano has a lot of amazing ramen shops to offer that just wait to be visited by you! Which one will become your favorite?
Barasobaya
5-59-14 Nakano, Nakano-ku, Tokyo-to 164-0001
Menya Shota
1-12-17 Mutsuura, Kanazawa-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken 236-0031
Mendokoro Issho
1-9-5 Asagayaminami, Suginami-ku, Tokyo-to 166-0004
Noodle Works
2-15 Motomachi, Chigasaki-shi, Kanagawa-ken 253-0043
Senju-Mendokoro Ibuto
3-6 Senju, Adachi-ku, Tokyo-to 120-0034
2. Falling in Love with a New Flavor: Savoring Pork, the Abura Soba Style
Gifu Prefecture is the next stop on our pork pilgrimage and this time around, we focus on ramen restaurants that serve excellent home-made abura soba, without any additives or other preservatives – every order is freshly made! Abura soba literally translate to “oily noodles” and basically refers to soupless ramen. Instead of broth, the noodles are coated in a fine, savory oil and are a huge recommendation for every ramen fan! At the ramen shops recommended below, you can expect this very delicacy topped with around 1cm thick slices of juicy roasted pork. One you try, we promise you that you’ll want to come back over and over again!
Rikido
2-53 Shimasakaemachi, Gifu-shi, Gifu-ken 502-0904
Hakutai
7-1-1 Hinominami, Gifu-shi, Gifu-ken 500-8212
Taishoken
1-3-3 Nihonbashihoncho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo-to 500-8268
Arakiken
3-123 Miyake, Ginan-cho, Hashima-gun, Gifu-ken 501-6002
3. Taking a Break from Pork: Chicken Chashu in Hyogo Prefecture
After Tokyo and Gifu, our next stop is Hyogo Prefecture, which is not only famous for Himeji Castle or Kobe and its Chinatown but also for salt broth ramen. And there’s hardly any topping that goes better with salt-based ramen than chicken. Hyogo has a lot of ramen shops to offer that have mastered the art of incorporating chicken chashu, roasted chicken, in their bowls. One of them is Gafuan, a restaurant that serves incredibly tender roasted chicken breast that has been cooked at low temperatures, making it melt in your mouth rather literally!
Gafuan
2-1-11 Nishidai, Itami-shi, Hyogo-ken 664-0858
Dashitomen
2-7-10 Kamiyamaguchi Yamaguchi-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo-ken 651-1421
Horenso
2-1-28 Narai, Yamaguchi-cho, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo-ken 651-1411
Rock’n’Billy S1
3-29-13 Minamitsukaguchi-cho, Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo-ken 661-0012
Minatoya
27 Nishidemachi, Hyogo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo-ken 652-0822
Kobe Ramen Daiichi Asahi
1-3-2 Tamondori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo-ken 650-0015
Chuka-Soba Nanamaru
1-1-16 Kokubo, Akashi-shi, Hyogo-ken 673-0005
Nishiwaki Ohashi Ramen
432-7 Ueno, Nishiwaki-shi, Hyogo-ken 677-0044
Tansuiken
2-138 Motomachikokadori, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo-ken 650-0014
Kotetsu
337-1 Agake, Sasayama-shi, Hyogo-ken 669-2205
Nagomi
2-19-3 Mukogawa-cho, Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo-ken 660-0084
4. The King of Juiciness: Kansai’s Rolled Pork Ramen, Jiro Style
Ramen Jiro is one of Tokyo’s most famous ramen shops, known for its massive piles of meat and vegetables in its extremely delicious soup. Jiro’s glory has spread far beyong the Japanese capital, though, and this time around, we’ll take a look at the gourmetastic region of Kansai and the ramen restaurants that have been inspired by Ramen Jiro. One of them is Dokamori Macho, a ramen restaurant that has gained many fans by the huge heap of rolled roasted pork, deliciously seasoned, on top of noodles that are wonderfully firm to the bite. All kinds of meat delights can be enjoyed at Dokamori Macho, though, but beware of the massive portions!
Ramenso Yume o Katare
48-1 Ichijoji, Nishisuginomiya-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu 606-8112
Nosta Osaka
8-5 Nanbasennichimae, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu 542-0076
Dokamori Macho
2-7-22 Nipponbashi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu 542-0073
Ramenso Rekishi o Kizame
5-1-59 Shimoshinjo, Higashiyodogawa-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka-fu 533-0021
Ramen Dai
17-2 Fukakusa, Noda-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu 612-0024
Ikedaya
33-9 Takanotamaoka-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto-fu 606-8106
5. Bend Your Knee and Meet The King of Kumamoto’s Pork Ramen Scene
Operating for over 30 years now, Ramen Daishogun is an absolute favorite among the locals of Kumamoto Prefecture. Its signature tonkotsu soup is so savory and delicious, you won’t be able to put down the spoon even for a second. The roasted pork that tops the delicious bowl is so amazingly soft and tender, you can almost use your spoon to break it down if you so desire. Its flavor spreads gently in your mouth, leaving behind a most pleasant aftertaste. This is a must for every ramen fan.
Ramen Daishogun
1-3-6 Minamikumamoto, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto-shi, Kumamoto-ken 860-0812
