Ramen is said to be a staple of Japanese cuisine and a popular choice for dining out.
People of all ages love it, and I often go out to eat with my family.
While ramen is so familiar, there are various local ramen dishes across the country.
Did you know that Okayama Prefecture also has its own local ramen?
That is "Kasaoka Ramen."
It is the local ramen of Kasaoka City, located in the southwestern part of Okayama Prefecture.
Kasaoka Ramen is a ramen that uses plenty of Kashiwa (old chicken), and it is one of my favorite local ramens.
However, outside the Kasaoka City area, it is rare to find a restaurant that serves authentic Kasaoka Ramen.
However, there is a specialty shop for Kasaoka Ramen at the "Kurashiki Sansai Market" held every third Sunday in front of JR Kurashiki Station!
Its name is "Kasaoka Ramen Yatai."
It is one of the few places in the center of Kurashiki City where you can enjoy delicious Kasaoka Ramen that rivals the authentic version from Kasaoka!
No wonder, the owner is a true Kasaoka native, born and raised in Kasaoka.
Let me introduce Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, where you can enjoy Kasaoka Ramen made by a Kasaoka native.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai participates in various events such as Kurashiki Sansai Market
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai is a food stall where you can enjoy Kasaoka Ramen, as the name suggests.
Since it is a stall, there is no fixed location.
It operates at events when they are held.
As of 2019, the events where they almost always set up are as follows.
| Kurashiki Sansai Market | Held every third Sunday (from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM) around the shopping district in front of JR Kurashiki Station |
|---|---|
| Okayama Kyobashi Morning Market | Held every first Sunday (from 5:00 AM to 10:00 AM) at the Asahi River riverside in Kita Ward, Okayama City |
If you want to try Kasaoka Ramen from Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, be sure to check it out.
Additionally, they participate in various events at the convention facility "Convex Okayama" in Okayama City.
Kasaoka Ramen is a local ramen using Kashiwa from Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture
Kasaoka Ramen, the local ramen of Kasaoka City, is made with chicken (Kashiwa).
The main characteristics of Kasaoka Ramen are as follows.
- It includes Kashiwa (old chicken) simmered chicken (nidori) as a topping
- It uses chicken bones for the broth
- It is often soy sauce flavored (salt flavor also exists)
- Other toppings are usually simple, such as green onions and menma
Of course, each shop has its own unique features.
By the way, Kashiwa refers to chickens that no longer lay eggs.
The Kasaoka area has long been known for its many poultry farms.
As a result, there were many butcher shops in the city that primarily handled Kashiwa.
Additionally, there was a thriving noodle-making area nearby, such as Asakuchi, so there was a familiarity with noodles.
Due to this background, it is said that ramen using Kashiwa naturally emerged in Kasaoka.
Before the war, the prototype of Kasaoka Ramen was already taking shape.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai's "Kasaoka Ramen"
I tried the Kasaoka Ramen from Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, which was set up at Kurashiki Sansai Market.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai's menu consists of only "Kasaoka Ramen."
Kasaoka Ramen costs 600 yen (including tax).
Prices are as of December 2019
Kasaoka Ramen from Kasaoka Ramen Yatai features a soy sauce soup with simple toppings of simmered Kashiwa chicken, menma, and green onions.
Even before eating, a delicious aroma wafts up.
Let's dig in right away.
The special soup is made with chicken bones and Japanese-style dashi
It is often said that ramen's soul lies in its soup.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai serves a soy sauce flavored soup.
Of course, since it is Kasaoka Ramen, the broth is made from chicken bones, but the soup at Kasaoka Ramen Yatai is a bit different.
The owner, Yasuhiko Makino, was impressed by a Kyoto-style ramen he had eaten in Tokyo, which was delicious.
Since that ramen used Japanese-style dashi, he came up with the idea of blending chicken bone broth with Japanese-style dashi for Kasaoka Ramen.
After much trial and error, the current soup was created.
The blend of chicken bone broth and Japanese-style dashi in Kasaoka Ramen is something you won't easily find in other Kasaoka Ramen.
When I tasted the soup from Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, it was very delicious, with the umami of chicken and the sweet and savory flavor of soy sauce, creating a deep and rich taste.
With a refreshing aftertaste, I naturally ended up drinking all the soup.
Carefully prepared simmered Kashiwa chicken
One of the iconic features of Kasaoka Ramen is the simmered Kashiwa chicken.
Of course, Kasaoka Ramen Yatai also includes simmered Kashiwa chicken.
Thinly sliced simmered chicken with skin was generously placed on top.
The flavor of the sauce was well absorbed, and the chicken had a brownish color.
Since it is Kashiwa, it has a crunchy texture when you bite into it.
As I chewed, the flavor of the sauce and the umami of the chicken gradually seeped into my mouth.
It is an addictive flavor.
The simmered Kashiwa chicken is made with a lot of care!
At Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, the Kashiwa meat is first boiled in water to remove impurities and fat, then washed with water, and finally simmered again with meat and seasonings.
The point is that no water is used during the second simmering, only meat and seasonings.
Medium-thin straight noodles
Kasaoka Ramen often uses medium-thin straight noodles.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai also uses medium-thin straight noodles.
The noodles pair well with the soup, and I found myself slurping them up eagerly.
The menma was also crunchy and delicious.
The seasoning was just right.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai's pride is the green onions! Using Kujo green onions sourced from Kyoto
At Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, they actually put a lot of effort into their green onions.
The owner, Makino, also recommends their pride and joy green onions.
The green onions are, surprisingly, Kujo Green Onions sourced from Kyoto.
When the green onions are delicious, the ramen becomes even more delicious.
According to Makino, all the ramen he has eaten and found delicious had tasty green onions.
His commitment to green onions is based on his own experiences.
At Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, which prides itself on its green onions, you can order a large serving of green onions for green onion lovers.
If you want a large serving of green onions, please tell the staff when you order, "With a large serving of green onions!"
By the way, many ramen shops in Kasaoka cut the green onions diagonally.
However, Kasaoka Ramen Yatai intentionally serves the green onions in round slices.
This is also done to ensure that the Kujo Green Onions can be enjoyed in the best way possible.
Appearance at Kurashiki Sansaichi Morning Market
When you want to eat Kasaoka Ramen in Kurashiki, the easiest place to do so is at the "Kurashiki Sansaichi Market."
The Kurashiki Sansaichi Market is held every third Sunday morning of the month around the shopping district in front of JR Kurashiki Station.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai participates in the market almost every time.
▼ The usual location for their stall is often the parking lot in front of Aidoen Yakiniku.
Please note that the stall location may change, so be sure to check in advance.
▼ Look for the red sign that says "Kasaoka Ramen" and the yellow banner as markers.
After ordering, pay the money and wait in front of the shop for your order to be ready.
The staff will let you know when it's done.
There are benches in the parking lot in front of Aidoen, so it's recommended to sit there and eat.
However, there may be times when you can't sit if there are many people.
Kasaoka Ramen Yatai serves authentic Kasaoka Ramen with unique arrangements, making it a distinctive ramen experience.
We conducted an interview with the owner of Kasaoka Ramen Yatai, Makino Yasuhiro.
Data on Kasaoka Ramen Yatai
| Name | Kasaoka Ramen Yatai |
|---|---|
| Address | Participates in events such as Kurashiki Sansaichi Market |
| Payment Method |
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The soup at Kasaoka Ramen Yatai is a blend of chicken bone broth and Japanese-style dashi!