This is Morioka Reimen, not the greatest Sapporo Ramen. Don’t mess up with this! It is one of my favorite noodle dishes that come from Tohoku region.
People dwelling in Iwate are very proud of this because they all know it is their famous local specialty. I have not noticed people saying – this is just a waste of money and time after having a flat bowl of delicious Morioka Reimen.
Needless to say, everyone who was asked this “Is it delicious?” answered “YES”. I think this is the answer what you might have expected to be as well.
The dish sounds weird to you seeing some ingredients that are added with such as a piece of watermelon, slices of boiled eggs, sesame seeds, beef, fresh vegetables like carrot, cucumber, tomato and kimchi, but honestly it is still terribly mouthwatering.
When you heard of the word “Kimchi” a moment ago, you certainly have guessed “Oh I know it and it is a famous traditional dish of Korea”. Absolutely, you are 100% right and a big fat thank you from me for guessing that. By the way, you are smarter than me.
Do you know why I am telling you so? It is because I am not that much familiar with Korean cuisine. However, today, this is my topic which I want to share with you. If you know a lot about Morioka Reimen, then you may leave now though I would be glad if you read it at least once. Thank you.
Morioka – The Kingdom of Delicious Noodles
The city, Morioka is the kingdom of noodles in Tohoku region. Here, you can find the “Three Great Noodles of Morioka” which are known as Morioka Reimen Noodles, Wanko Soba Noodles, and Morioka Jajamen Noodles.
If you think yourself as a noodles lover then why not pay your full attention to this city’s best noodles dishes! Come, have some and get some!
What you will get from here is a pack filled with full of surprises. Foodie lovers, especially who has special interest in Asian cuisine should come to Morioka, at least once before you die.
You would not find any excuse of blaming me that only for this article you came to Morioka and got back home with no surprise at all.
Morioka Reimen:
A type of cold noodle dish which was developed from a Korean noodle called Naengmyeon. This is a perfect dish for your lunch in Iwate Prefecture. It is usually served in a flat bowl.
Morioka Jajamen:
It is a kind of udon noodle, was first introduced from China, and Chinese people called it as Zhajiangmian.
The original version is slightly different than Morioka Jajamen as we serve it with special meat-miso sauce, cucumber, and green onion. Though if you wish then you could add ginger, garlic and vinegar. It is all up to you.
Wanko Soba:
Neither it was originated from Korea nor from China but its birthplace is here in the land of the rising sun. It is served with Wanko (a tiny bowl), no worries that you can have as many as bowls of noodles you want until you fully stratify your stomach and mind.
It is served with various condiments such as tuna sashimi, nameko, daikon radish pickled in miso with crushed walnuts, simmered with soya sauce and etc.
Insight into Morioka Reimen Noodles
This is not a dish for vegetarian or vegan, I am sorry to say that. Even though it is a non-vegetarian noodle dish, it is one of the high protein low fat foods you would ever taste. It is said that the noodles are made from a mixture of soba flour and potato starch.
It is not a greasy noodle dish that comes with cold beef broth, chewy glass springy texture noodles, hard boiled egg on top of the noodle, slices of beef, kimchi, and several slices of fresh vegetables and fruits (watermelon, pear, and apple).
So, if you want to lose your belly fat or searching for some dishes which could help you losing belly fat, then eat it every day. The main ingredient which makes the dish delicious is the broth.
Once you are finished with it then rest of things is easy to prepare when it comes to making about Morioka Reimen Recipe.
I have never tired it (cook) before; In fact I don’t have time to cook foods at home which are kind of complicated. I rather just head to a restaurant and satisfy my stomach; especially this trend goes for Morioka Reimen.
Whenever I get to Iwate prefecture, my mind takes me to one of the best restaurants that serve yummy Morioka Reimen throughout Morioka city. It is a must eat local specialty of this city along with Wanko Soba and Morioka Jajamen.
When we look back to its history then, I could definitely say that the recipe has a North Korean root. In 1954, an immigrant from Hamhung, North Korea, who had opened a yakiniku restaurant, first introduced this sort of noodle dish in Iwate Pref.
Unfortunately, the first impression of this dish was negative from the view point of locals as they were not used to eating kimchi. The North Korean had to work hard to customize the dish in a Japanese way adding those delicious ingredients. The output was excellent to the people of Morioka.
People in Iwate; usually like to have it during summer season when the weather is humid and hot. If you desire a cold drink in a hot summer day then I guess eating a bowl of Morioka Reimen is enough to kill your thirstiness.
Please note that you can slurp it and no one would bother if you do so, rather it is a message that you deliver to the chef – “It is really super YUMMY!” You may have a question in mind that, why fruits are added with the Noodles! Ok, it is because slices of fruits help comfort your mouth if the soup is too spicy to you.
Where to eat Morioka Reimen in Morioka?
The best and easiest way to have it in a yakiniku restaurant. There are many yakiniku restaurants you could find throughout the city. I would feature some popular recommended restaurants which serve Morioka Reimen to its customer.
Apart from this, if you live in other parts of Japan and wish to try this then search for it in your local supermarkets or go to Pyon Pyon Sha outlet. Good luck guys!
Yakiniku Restaurant Isshintei Morioka
2-10-25 Higashi Semboku, Morioka
Tel: 019-635-2989
Hours: 11:30-21:30
Holidays: Open every day
Yakiniku & Reimen Koma Shokudo
4-20-26 Motomiya, Morioka
Tel: 019-636-3554
Hours: 11:30-14:00 (weekdays)
17:00-23:00 (weekdays)
11:30-23:00 (weekends/holidays)
Holidays: Open every day
Pyon Pyon Sya Inari-cho
12-5 Inari-cho, Morioka
Tel: 019-646-0541
Hours: 11:00-23:00
Holidays: Open every day
Pyon Pyon Sya Umma Kitchen AEON
4-7-1 Maegata, Morioka
Tel: 019-605-2761
Hours: 10:00-21:30
Holidays: Open every day
Find out more restaurants here.
In the heart of Morioka is a quite peaceful area with a number of restaurants with variety of local delicacies. My advice to you – please head to the one which serves reimen dish!
Whether you believe it or not that I have met with a foodie lover who came to taste Morioka reimen in Morioka from Niigata Prefecture. This is astonishing!
He drove his car about 6 to 7 hours at a stretch to reach there. Though, that was not the only reason to be there, rather he got there to experience Morioka Sansa Odori Festival. This is an extraordinary summer matsuri of Morioka city.
I love the diversity of Morioka, so many things to do and eat. Visit Morioka, experience the matsuri, and have a lot of Morioka reimen somewhere around the city.