Have you heard of Katsuura Tantanmen, a local ramen from Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture?

It is a noodle dish with a reddish soup containing diced onions and minced meat, and is now sold as cup noodles, becoming famous nationwide.

This time, we will introduce the history, characteristics, and deliciousness of Katsuura Tantanmen, a dish that has long been loved in Katsuura.

What is Katsuura Tantanmen?

This local ramen originated in Katsuura and consists of a light soy sauce soup topped with ingredients stir-fried with chili oil and chili peppers.

When you hear "Tantanmen," you might imagine a spicy noodle dish with minced meat in a sesame-flavored soup, but Katsuura's tantanmen also contains finely chopped onions and minced meat.

Some restaurants add meat and miso, green onions, or Chinese chives, and recently there have been variations on the menu that combine it with miso and pork bone soup.

The origin and history of Katsuura Tantanmen

The original Katsuura tantanmen is said to be the tantanmen from the popular restaurant Ezawa, which was founded in 1954.

At the time, the owner of the restaurant wanted to make dandan noodles, a Sichuan dish, but was unable to get hold of the seasoning sesame paste, so he decided to recreate the dish in his own way.

In Katsuura, where fishing is thriving, fishermen and female divers would enjoy eating Katsuura tantanmen to warm up their cold bodies after work, and it is said that this popularity spread and became established as a local ramen.

In 2011, a citizens' group was formed to spread the deliciousness of Katsuura tantanmen, and in 2015, the dish won the B-1 Grand Prix, a local gourmet festival, and a number of other events helped to increase its popularity.

Currently, it is available at 40 restaurants (as of November 2023) both within and outside the prefecture, and is served not only in Chinese restaurants, but also in yakiniku restaurants, coffee shops, and more.

Ingredients and recipe for Katsuura Tantanmen

From here, we will introduce the ingredients and how to make Katsuura Tantanmen. Katsuura Tantanmen is made with a soy sauce base soup, Chinese noodles, and a spicy soup containing chili oil.

First, there is the base soy sauce soup. At the original restaurant, it is made by combining chicken bones, pork knuckles, and seafood broth with a homemade soy sauce sauce.

Also, the way the spicy soup containing chili oil is prepared and the ingredients used vary depending on the restaurant.

The general method of making it is to put sesame oil and chili bean paste in a pot, add the minced meat when the aroma comes out, add diced onion and minced garlic, and stir fry some more. When the onion has softened, season with soy sauce and sugar, and finally add chili oil to finish.

When serving, the noodles are boiled in soy sauce soup, and a generous amount of the spicy soup made with chili oil is poured over it. Top with shredded green onions to complete the dish.

There are many Katsuura tantanmen that use homemade chili oil and soy sauce soup, and each has slightly different chili oil aroma and soup flavor. Be sure to try out the unique flavors of each shop.

The deliciousness and appeal of Katsuura Tantanmen

Katsuura tantanmen uses a lot of chili oil, so you might be curious about how spicy it is.

At first glance, the vibrant red soup might make you hesitate to eat it, but in fact it brings out the sweetness of the onions and the spicy kick of the chili oil makes for an addictive flavor.

In addition, the light soy sauce soup is matched with the richness of chili oil and the umami of the minced meat, and the aroma of shredded spring onions adds a nice accent. The spiciness of tantanmen can be chosen depending on the restaurant, so even first-timers can enjoy it with peace of mind.

Also, at the beginning there are two layers of soup: a soy sauce soup and a soup containing chili oil. The key to enjoying it is to mix it well from the bottom and eat it without slurping.

The flavorful, slightly spicy soup goes perfectly with the noodles, so be sure to try it at a local restaurant.

Recommended sightseeing spots around Katsuura

From here, we will introduce recommended spots around Katsuura. Katsuura city, located in the southeastern part of Chiba prefecture, is home to Katsuura Fishing Port, which boasts the second largest fish catch in the prefecture, and the surrounding beautiful sandy beaches and ria coastline have been selected as one of Japan's 100 best beaches.

Among them, Ubara Beach, located in Minamiboso Quasi-National Park, is one of Chiba's most scenic spots, and its large "white torii gate" is a popular photo spot regardless of the season. The atmosphere changes depending on the time of day, such as on a sunny day or at dusk, making it a view you'll want to view multiple times a day.

You can also enjoy hiking at Ubara Rural Village, located further along Ubara Beach.

The "design bench with a bell" at Taoyamedaira is a great place for taking commemorative photos.
You can see a lot of natural scenery that can only be seen here, such as the sparkling blue sea and the steep island called "Hitotsuyama." If you want to take a leisurely stroll, be sure to visit Ubara Beach.

Access to Katsuura City

From here, we will introduce how to access Katsuura City.

If you are coming from Tokyo by car, it takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes via the Keiyo Road Tateyama Expressway, Ichihara IC, and National Route 297. If you are coming from Kanagawa, it takes about 50 minutes via the Aqua-Line and Ken-O Expressway, Ichihara-Maizuru IC, and National Route 297.

If you are coming from Tokyo by train, take the JR Keiyo Line from Tokyo Station to Soga Station, then transfer to the JR Sotobo Line to Katsuura Station, the shortest journey time is 1 hour and 30 minutes.

If you take an express bus, you can go from Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal in Tokyo via Tokyo Station to Ichihara-Maizuru Bus Terminal. From there, it's about a 50-minute journey via National Route 297.

From the Kanagawa area, go via Yokohama Station and Haneda Airport to Ichihara-Maizuru Bus Terminal, and then take National Route 297, just like from the Tokyo area, for a journey of about 50 minutes. Please use this as a reference when traveling.

Location of Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced Katsuura Tantanmen, a local Chiba delicacy.

Katsuura tantanmen, which was born from a small opportunity, has become a support for people who work on the sea and is still a local gourmet dish that is loved by locals today.

Be sure to try this dish, which combines the spicy chili oil, sweet onions, and rich flavor of minced meat, at a local restaurant.

\ We are looking for Tempo Star affiliates! /