Nagoya City is located almost in the center of Japan. It is also known as the core city of the Chubu region, and is famous for its unique menu "Nagoya Meshi" that has been loved by the locals. In this article, we will introduce one of Nagoya's specialties, "Taiwan Ramen." We will also explain why it is called "Taiwan Ramen" even though it is a Nagoya specialty.

What is Nagoya's specialty "Taiwan Ramen"?

"Taiwan Ramen" is an irresistible dish made with spicy minced meat stir-fried with plenty of chili peppers and garlic. This dish combines vegetables such as bean sprouts and Chinese chives with flavorful chicken broth and is served at many Chinese restaurants and ramen shops in the city.

The name "Taiwan Ramen" may lead you to believe that it is a Taiwanese dish, but it is actually a ramen that originated in Nagoya. Its origin is said to be deeply connected to the history of Taiwanese ramen.

Why is Taiwan Ramen a Nagoya Specialty? The Origin and History of Taiwan Ramen

Taiwan ramen is said to have originated from a Chinese Taiwanese restaurant in Nagoya. Around 1970, the owner of the restaurant at the time started serving Taiwanese cuisine, "Tanzi noodles," made spicy to his liking.

The name "Taiwan Ramen" was named after a craftsman from Taiwan, and since there is no similar dish in Taiwan, it has since become known as a Nagoya specialty.

Also, Taiwan ramen was originally served as a meal for employees, but one day a regular customer asked to try it because it looked delicious, so the restaurant decided to add it to the menu. From there, with the rise of the super spicy food boom in the 1980s, Taiwan ramen suddenly became a popular menu item at the restaurant. Since then, the number of restaurants serving Taiwan ramen in the city has increased, and it is said to have gradually become established as a Nagoya specialty.

The deliciousness and appeal of Taiwanese ramen

Taiwan Ramen is an addictive dish with a deep red soup and a spicy kick. However, recently, it seems that new dishes have been released that can be enjoyed by people who don't like spicy food.

Mild spiciness is what makes it "American"?

At the original Taiwan ramen shop, you can choose from four levels of spiciness. We'll introduce them because their names are very unique. If you want something less spicy, we recommend "American." The name is said to come from American coffee, and although the amount of chili pepper is the same as regular ramen, the spiciness is reduced by using more soup.

For those who like spicy food, we recommend the "Italian." The bright red soup contains twice as many chili peppers as usual, and when you drink it, it spreads a deep flavor and a stimulating spiciness.

They also have a spicy dish called "African." The amount of chili peppers is the same as in Italian, but the spiciness is brought out by slowly simmering the soup. Some people describe it as "so spicy it brings tears to their eyes," but it's nice to be able to eat it at the spiciness that you like.

The appeal of Taiwanese ramen is not just its spiciness!

So far, we have introduced the appeal of Taiwanese ramen, but in fact, there is a lot more to it than just its spiciness.

The main ingredient, minced meat, is seasoned with sesame oil and soy sauce-based seasonings and simmered with garlic and chili peppers, giving it a very rich flavor and making it something of a versatile seasoning in itself.

The umami of the chicken broth is added to the spiciness, but the strong umami flavor is what makes it so appealing. After drinking up the soup, be sure to try the umami of each ingredient.

Tourist Spots in Nagoya

From here, we will introduce some recommended tourist spots in Nagoya.

Kinshachi Yokocho, a recreation of the bustling Edo period

Kinshachi Yokocho, which opened in March 2018, is a large dining facility that recreates the bustle of a castle town from the Edo period.

At the "Yoshinao Zone" near the main gate, you can enjoy classic Nagoya cuisine such as Hitsumabushi, misonikomi udon, and misokatsu. At the "Muneharu Zone" at the east gate, you can find creative dishes made with local ingredients and soft serve ice cream with gold leaf, as well as other unique dishes that are fun to look at and delicious to eat.

"Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium" boasts the largest area and scale in Japan

Next, we will introduce the Port of Nagoya Public Aquarium. It is one of the largest aquariums in Japan, and you can see over 50,000 sea creatures of about 500 species up close through large glass windows. It is divided into the North and South Buildings, and in the North Building you can see exhibits of animals such as dolphins, seals, and beluga whales that returned from land to sea life in ancient times and have undergone beautiful evolution.

In the South Hall, there is an exhibit that recreates a trip to Antarctica, where you can see sardine tornadoes in the waters off the coast of Japan, coral reefs in Australia, and rare deep-sea fish that are rarely seen. You can also enjoy a dynamic dolphin show and public training of killer whales on a large-scale screen.

Access to Nagoya City

From here, we will introduce how to get to Nagoya City. Nagoya is one of the three largest cities in Japan and can be accessed in a short time by Shinkansen, express bus, or airplane.

From Tokyo Station, it takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes to get to Nagoya Station by Shinkansen. From Osaka, it takes about 3 hours by highway bus, or about 2 hours and 20 minutes by car. If you are heading from Kyoto, it takes about 40 minutes by Shinkansen, or about 2 to 2 hours and 30 minutes by car or highway bus.

The easiest way to get to Nagoya from Fukuoka, Chugoku, or Shikoku is by plane or bullet train. It takes about 1 hour and 10 minutes to get from Fukuoka Airport to Chubu Centrair International Airport, the nearest airport. It takes about 3 hours and 20 minutes by bullet train from Hakata Station to Nagoya Station.

Also, it takes about an hour to fly from Matsuyama Airport or Kochi Airport to Chubu Centrair International Airport. From the airport, you can take a bus or train to Nagoya Station. Please use this as a reference.

Location of Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture

summary

This time we introduced "Taiwan Ramen," a Nagoya specialty. Taiwan Ramen is known for its delicious, spicy flavor, and the delicious meat and garlic aroma will have you coming back for more.

This is a specialty dish loved by locals, and the restaurant is bustling even on weekdays. If you have a chance to visit Nagoya, be sure to give it a try.

\ We are looking for Tempo Star affiliates! /