There are various local ramen dishes across the country, right?
In fact, there is also a local ramen in Kasaoka City, located in the westernmost part of Okayama.
That is "Kasaoka Ramen".
It is a well-known local ramen among ramen lovers nationwide, known to those who know.
Among them, a popular spot is "Chuka Soba Sakamoto", located in the center of Kasaoka City.
It is the oldest ramen shop still in existence in Kasaoka City (as of 2022).
The ramen served here is a basic form of Kasaoka Ramen.
Additionally, the nostalgic appearance of the building and the atmosphere inside, along with the unique payment system called "self-service payment machine," make it distinctive beyond just the ramen.
Let me introduce Chuka Soba Sakamoto, a ramen shop that has been loved by the Kasaoka community for many years.
The information provided is based on the article published in December 2022. Please note that it may differ from current information.
Chuka Soba Sakamoto is a famous shop for Kasaoka Ramen and the oldest ramen shop still in existence in Kasaoka City
Chuka Soba Sakamoto (hereafter: Sakamoto) is one of the representative shops of Kasaoka Ramen.
It is located in the center of Kasaoka City, near Kasaoka Station.
Moreover, Sakamoto is the oldest ramen shop still in existence in Kasaoka City.
It has become famous as a historic shop of Kasaoka Ramen, attracting customers not only from within the city and surrounding areas but also from all over the country to enjoy Sakamoto's Kasaoka Ramen.
In April 2010, it even had a limited-time pop-up at the "Shin-Yokohama Ramen Museum."
The menu at Sakamoto is very simple.
It consists of only "Chuka Soba" in regular and large sizes.
Even in shops with a limited menu, there are usually side items like white rice or onigiri, right?
However, Sakamoto has no side items at all, including white rice or onigiri.
It is literally a "ramen specialty shop."
This level of commitment gives a strong impression of their dedication.
Kasaoka Ramen is a local ramen dish made with Kashiwa that has existed since before the war
Let me briefly introduce the characteristics of Kasaoka Ramen.
The definition of Kasaoka Ramen includes the following two points.
- It uses Kashiwa as the base for the soup
- It features boiled Kashiwa chicken as a topping
In other words, the key point of Kasaoka Ramen is "Kashiwa".
Kashiwa is a dialect from the Okayama area.
It refers to hens that have stopped laying eggs, known as haikei or hinedori.
Additionally, Kasaoka Ramen tends to have the following characteristics.
- The soup is often soy sauce flavored
- Other toppings besides boiled chicken are usually simple, like green onions and menma
- Some shops cut the green onions diagonally
The exact origin of Kasaoka Ramen is unclear, but it is said to have existed before the war.
Originally, the Kasaoka area has been known for poultry farming for a long time.
With many noodle manufacturers in the area, it is said that the form of Kasaoka Ramen was born naturally.
The "Chuka Soba" at Sakamoto follows the traditional style of Kasaoka Ramen
Sakamoto is regarded as a representative shop of Kasaoka Ramen.
Sakamoto's "Chuka Soba" is a standard style that can be considered the essence of Kasaoka Ramen.
It features soy sauce soup made with Kashiwa broth, topped with boiled Kashiwa chicken, menma, and diagonally cut green onions, all simple ingredients.
▼Slices of boiled Kashiwa chicken, which is also a symbol of Kasaoka Ramen.
Kashiwa has a firm texture, but since it is sliced, it is easy to eat.
With each bite of the boiled Kashiwa, the umami and sweet-savory soy flavor seep out.
After eating, you will crave another bite; it has a flavor that is addictive.
Sakamoto's Chuka Soba is topped with plenty of boiled chicken, allowing you to fully enjoy the taste of Kashiwa.
▼The soup, an important point of ramen.
Surprisingly, Sakamoto's soup is made with only Kashiwa, soy sauce, and water.
Every morning, we extract the broth from Kashiwa.
Also, the base for the soup is the soy sauce used after boiling the chicken.
So, the base also has plenty of Kashiwa's umami!
With the first sip, the flavor of Kashiwa broth and the sweet-savory taste of soy sauce spread in your mouth.
▼The noodles are from Marushin Seimen, a noodle manufacturer in Kasaoka City.
The noodles in Sakamoto's Chuka Soba are thin and straight, with low water and low kansui.
Therefore, the noodles have a chewy texture.
Marushin Seimen uses good quality wheat, making them delicious.
▼There are plenty of green onions on top.
▼The green onions are cut long and diagonally.
In general ramen shops, green onions are usually sliced into rounds, so I thought the long diagonal cuts give a strong presence to the green onions.
▼Don't forget the menma.
The menma at Sakamoto is seasoned every morning at the shop.
The crunchy texture, appropriate seasoning, and a hint of spice flavor make it delicious.
I remember the first time I ate Kasaoka Ramen, not being from Kasaoka; it had a nostalgic taste while also feeling refreshingly new.
Chuka Soba Sakamoto is characterized by its nostalgic atmosphere and payment method
Sakamoto has a nostalgic atmosphere both inside and outside the shop.
The ambiance retains the essence of a traditional ramen shop.
There are no large or flashy signs, making it hard to tell at first glance whether it is a ramen shop or a restaurant.
The interior also has a nostalgic feel reminiscent of the Showa era.
The well-worn pipe chairs match the atmosphere and add character.
Eating ramen in a historic shop like this seems to enhance the flavor even more.
▼Another unique feature of Sakamoto is the "self-service payment machine".
The self-service payment machine refers to a self-checkout system.
You put the amount of money for what you ate into a tray, and if you need change, you take the amount of change yourself.
Both the name and the system are very unique.
As the oldest ramen shop still in existence in Kasaoka City and a famous shop for Kasaoka Ramen, Sakamoto attracts customers not only from the local area but also from all over the country.
I interviewed the owner of Sakamoto, Sakamoto Hideki.
Chuka Soba Sakamoto Information
| Name | Chuka Soba Sakamoto |
|---|---|
| Address | 34-9 Chuo-cho, Kasaoka City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Contact | None |
| Parking | None |
| Business Hours | 9:30 AM to around 2:30 PM ※ Ends when the soup runs out |
| Regular Holiday | Thursday |
| Payment Method |
|
| Reservation | No |
| Seating | 14 seats total ・Counter seats: 4 (2 seats x 2 locations) ・Table seats for 2: 1 table ・Table seats for 3: 1 table ・Table seats for 5: 1 table |
| Smoking | Completely non-smoking |
| Toilet | Western-style toilet |
| Childcare | ・Children's utensils available ・During busy times, entry with small children may be refused |
| Barrier-Free | ・Wheelchair accessible ・Toilet is not wheelchair accessible |
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This boiled chicken is made by simmering Kashiwa thigh meat in soy sauce every morning and letting it rest in the refrigerator for a day.
By resting in the refrigerator, the flavor thoroughly seeps into the Kashiwa.