Ramen is a staple of eating out and is even considered Japan’s national dish.
People of all ages love it, and my family and I often go out for ramen.
Ramen is so familiar to us, but there are all kinds of regional ramen varieties across Japan.
Did you know that Okayama Prefecture has its own regional ramen, too?
It’s called “Kasaoka Ramen.”
It’s a local ramen from Kasaoka City, in the southwesternmost part of Okayama Prefecture.
Kasaoka Ramen is made with plenty of kashiwa (mature chicken), and it’s one of my favorite regional ramen varieties.
However, authentic Kasaoka Ramen is hard to find outside the area around Kasaoka City.
But, amazingly, a specialty Kasaoka Ramen shop sets up at the “Kurashiki Sansai Market,” held on the third Sunday of every month in front of JR Kurashiki Station!
It’s called “Kasaoka Ramen Yatai.”
It’s one of the few places in central Kurashiki City where you can enjoy delicious Kasaoka Ramen that’s every bit as good as the real thing in Kasaoka!
And no wonder—the owner was born and raised in Kasaoka and is a true Kasaoka native.
Here’s an introduction to Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, where you can enjoy Kasaoka Ramen made by an owner who grew up in Kasaoka.
The information provided was current when this article was published in January 2020. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai sets up at various events, including the Kurashiki Sansai Market
As its name suggests, Kasaoka Ramen Yatai is a food stall serving Kasaoka Ramen.
Since it operates as a food stall, it has no permanent location.
It sets up at events when they are held.
As of 2019, it set up at the following events almost every time:
| Kurashiki Sansai Market | Held on the third Sunday of every month (8:00 a.m.–11:00 a.m.) around the shopping streets in front of JR Kurashiki Station |
|---|---|
| Okayama Kyobashi Morning Market | Held on the first Sunday of every month (5:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m.) on the Asahi River riverbank at the west end of Kyobashi, Kita Ward, Okayama City |
If you’ve ever wanted to try Kasaoka Ramen at Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, be sure to check these events.
It also sets up at various other events, such as those held at Convex Okayama, a convention facility in Okayama City.
Kasaoka Ramen is a regional ramen made with kashiwa from Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
Kasaoka Ramen, the local ramen of Kasaoka City, is made with chicken (kashiwa).
Its main characteristics are as follows:
- It is topped with kashiwa (mature chicken), simmered chicken called nidori
- It uses chicken bones to make the stock
- The soup is usually soy sauce flavored (salt-flavored versions also exist)
- Other than kashiwa, the toppings are usually simple, such as green onions and menma
Of course, each shop has its own distinctive features.
Kashiwa refers to chickens that have stopped laying eggs.
The area around Kasaoka City has long had many poultry farms.
As a result, many butcher shops in the city specialized in kashiwa.
Nearby areas such as Asakuchi were also known for noodle-making, so noodles were familiar to local residents.
Against this background, Kasaoka Ramen is said to have emerged naturally as a way to use kashiwa.
The prototype of Kasaoka Ramen already existed before the war.
“Kasaoka Ramen” at Kasaoka Ramen Yatai
I tried the Kasaoka Ramen served by Kasaoka Ramen Yatai at the Kurashiki Sansai Market.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai has just one menu item: “Kasaoka Ramen.”
A bowl of Kasaoka Ramen costs 600 yen (tax included).
Price as of December 2019
Kasaoka Ramen at Kasaoka Ramen Yatai is simple in style, with soy sauce soup topped with kashiwa simmered chicken, menma, and green onions.
It already smelled delicious before I even took a bite.
Let’s dig in.
The carefully crafted soup combines chicken stock and Japanese-style dashi
They say that soup is the soul of ramen.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai serves a soy sauce-flavored soup.
As you’d expect from Kasaoka Ramen, the stock is made from chicken bones, but Kasaoka Ramen Yatai’s soup has a distinctive twist.
The owner, Yasuhiro Makino, says that he once had Kyoto-style ramen in Tokyo that was so delicious it left a lasting impression on him.
That ramen used Japanese-style dashi, which gave him the idea of blending it with the chicken stock used in Kasaoka Ramen.
After much trial and error, he came up with the soup served today.
Kasaoka Ramen made with chicken stock and Japanese-style dashi is hard to find elsewhere.
When I tried Kasaoka Ramen Yatai’s soup, it was delicious, with the savory flavor of chicken and the sweet-and-salty taste of soy sauce, along with a deep, rich flavor.
It left a clean aftertaste, so I kept drinking the soup and ended up finishing every last drop.
Kashiwa chicken is simmered with care and time
The simmered kashiwa chicken is perhaps the defining feature of Kasaoka Ramen.
Of course, Kasaoka Ramen Yatai’s ramen also comes with simmered kashiwa chicken.
It was topped with plenty of thinly sliced, skin-on simmered chicken.
The sauce had thoroughly soaked in, giving the chicken a brown color.
Since it’s kashiwa, it has a firm, chewy texture.
As I chewed, the chicken’s savory flavor gradually spread through my mouth along with the taste of the sauce.
It’s an addictive flavor.
The simmered kashiwa chicken is made with a great deal of care!
At Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, the kashiwa is first simmered in plain water to remove the scum and fat. The meat is then rinsed with water and simmered again with seasonings.
One key point is that no water is used the second time; the meat is simmered with the seasonings alone.
Medium-thin straight noodles
Kasaoka Ramen is often made with medium-thin straight noodles.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai also uses medium-thin straight noodles.
The noodles went perfectly with the soup, and I slurped them up enthusiastically.
The menma was also crunchy and delicious.
It was seasoned just right.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai takes pride in its green onions, using Kujo green onions shipped from Kyoto
The Kasaoka Ramen Stall actually puts a lot of effort into its green onions.
They are the stall’s pride and joy, and owner Makino recommends them. The green onions are Kujo green onions, specially brought in from Kyoto.
Delicious green onions make ramen even more delicious.
Makino says that every ramen he has ever eaten and thought was delicious also had delicious green onions.
His commitment to green onions is rooted in his own experience.
At the Kasaoka Ramen Stall, which takes pride in its green onions, you can order an extra-large serving of green onions.
If you’d like an extra-large serving of green onions, just tell the staff, “Extra green onions, please!” when you order.
Incidentally, many Kasaoka ramen shops cut their green onions diagonally.
At the Kasaoka Ramen Stall, they deliberately serve the green onions cut into rings.
They say this is also because they considered which cut would bring out the best flavor of the Kujo green onions.
At the Kurashiki Sansai Morning Market
If you want to try ramen from the Kasaoka Ramen Stall in Kurashiki, the easiest place to find it is the Kurashiki Sansai Market.
The Kurashiki Sansai Market is held on the morning of the third Sunday of every month around the shopping arcade in front of JR Kurashiki Station.
The Kasaoka Ramen Stall sets up at the market almost every time.
▼ It usually sets up in the parking lot in front of the yakiniku restaurant Aidoen.
The location may change, so be sure to check in advance.
▼ Look for the red sign that says “Kasaoka Ramen” and the yellow banners.
After ordering, pay and wait in front of the stall for your food to be ready.
A staff member will let you know when it is.
There are benches in the parking lot in front of Aidoen, so we recommend sitting there to eat.
However, there may not be enough seats when it is crowded.
The Kasaoka Ramen Stall serves distinctive Kasaoka ramen that stays true to the original style while adding its own unique touches.
We interviewed the stall’s owner, Makino Yasuhiro.
Kasaoka Ramen Stall details
| Name | Kasaoka Ramen Stall |
|---|---|
| Address | Sets up at events such as the Kurashiki Sansai Market |
| Payment methods |
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Kasaoka Ramen Yatai’s soup is made by blending chicken stock with Japanese-style dashi!