Iekei, Tenichi, and famous super-spicy restaurants… A wide range of products supervised by and in collaboration with famous restaurants! Report on Frozen Ramen and Tsukemen from Convenience Stores
Collaboration products” that put the prestige of famous restaurants on the line are appearing one after another!
The variety of frozen ramen products available at convenience stores has been remarkable. Until now, each company has sold orthodox frozen ramen such as soy sauce ramen and miso ramen, but over the past several years, ramen supervised by famous and popular restaurants has also appeared. The high quality of these products, which reproduce the taste of famous restaurants, has been surprisingly high.
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With the development of freezing technology and product development technology, it is now possible to eat restaurant-quality ramen just by heating it up in a microwave oven, and the frozen food section of convenience stores is a delightful sight for ramen fans.
We conducted an actual food survey of the ramen products made under the supervision of and in collaboration with famous restaurants from various convenience store companies. We picked up seven types of ramen, dipping noodles, soup-less noodles, etc., each with its own unique characteristics, and report on their tastes!
LAWSON “Iekei Sohonzan Yoshimura-ke Supervised Tonkotsu Shoyu Ramen” – A fragrant bowl of ramen that reproduces the taste of the head family’s ramen
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Supervised by Yoshimuraya, the head of Ieke Ramen. The aroma of soy sauce and chicken oil can be felt when the ramen is finished. This aroma instantly makes you feel like you are eating Ieke Ramen. The thick noodles are just the right hardness to retain their firmness and go well with the soup. The toppings are a reproduction of the traditional Ihekei toppings of chashu pork, spinach, and three sheets of nori (seaweed), which go well with rice balls and other rice dishes.
LAWSON “Menya Ittou Thick Seafood Tsukemen” Thick tsukemen with a punch of seafood and chicken flavor
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Supervised by popular tsukemen restaurant “Menya Ittou. The chewy texture of the noodles with a strong wheat aroma is chewy and satisfying. The thick, thick soup is seafood-based and has a punchy flavor with a hint of chicken. Both the noodles and the broth are characterized by their aroma, and the gentle flavor of the chicken dumplings as toppings is also impressive. Overall, a high quality finish.
Fans of Lawson’s “Kotteri Isshoku Tenkaichijin Supervised Ramen” will rejoice! Reproduction of the sludgy soup!
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A bowl under the supervision of “Tenka Ippin,” a famous ramen restaurant famous throughout the country for its thick, thick ramen. After microwaving, the smell of Tenka Ippin’s ramen restaurant fills the air, and you can enjoy the aroma of ramen that everyone knows and loves. The noodles are also crisp and chewy, and the soup with its characteristic coarse texture has reached restaurant quality, making it a highly satisfying bowl.
Seven-Eleven “Mongolian Tangmen Nakamoto No Juice Ma-Shin Men” (Ma-Shin Men), a Seven-Eleven exclusive flavor not available in stores.
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No soup noodle soup supervised by the famous restaurant “Mongolian noodle soup Nakamoto,” which is loved by those who love super spicy food. This is a Seven-Eleven original menu item not sold in stores. Flat noodles topped with super spicy marbo tofu. The noodles and bean paste have an excellent spiciness, and the strong flavor of huajiaoyang (Chinese pepper) allows you to enjoy a variety of tastes. The spiciness can be adjusted with the included spicy oil, so if you are worried about the spiciness, we recommend adding a little more.
Seven-Eleven “Tengaeten Tonkotsu Ramen” A typical Kumamoto ramen with a garlic punch.
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Pork bone ramen supervised by “Tengaeten,” a leading Kumamoto ramen shop. The microwave oven emits the aroma of the soup, which has a garlic topping that is typical of Kumamoto ramen. The noodles are of course hard. The soup is rich yet sharp, and the garlic flavor adds to the richness. The toppings are also full of Kumamoto ramen flavor, including chashu pork, green onions, kikurage mushrooms, and garlic.
Seven-Eleven “Chinese Soba Noodle Tomita Supervision Kin no Konetsu Tsukemen” (thick tsukemen noodles) with whole wheat noodles weighs 400 grams, a very large portion! Enjoy tsukemen with guts!
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Tsukemen is made under the supervision of “Chinese Soba Tomita,” a famous restaurant in Matsudo, Chiba Prefecture. The noodles are characterized by their extra-thick texture. The noodles are made with whole wheat flour for a rich flavor and enjoyable texture, and are served in a very large 400 gram portion. There are no ingredients, only noodles and soup. The soup is also a very thick seafood and pork bone broth with a high viscosity. The extra-thick noodles are entwined with the soup, making it a highly satisfying dish, both in terms of punch and satisfaction.
FamilyMart “Gansha Supervision Thick Seafood Tsukemen” – A high quality bowl of noodles with the flavor of seafood and the texture of noodles
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Supervision by “Gansha,” a popular restaurant that leads the tsukemen scene. The noodles are characterized by their extra-thickness, which gives them an irresistible crunchy texture. The soup is a rich seafood broth that complements the noodles, and the special fishmeal packet that comes with the noodles for the finishing touch further enhances the seafood flavor. The large pork belly chashu pork is also very satisfying, making this soup a condensed version of the best part of tsukemen.
The noodles are surprisingly firm and chewy in every ramen and tsukemen dish. In the frozen ramen and tsukemen scene, which is constantly evolving, we have the impression that the convenience store’s development capabilities are pushing up the overall quality. As a ramen fan, I hope that the convenience store will continue to develop products in collaboration with famous restaurants and expand the number of places throughout Japan where customers can enjoy the taste of famous restaurants.
Interview, text, and photographs: Diceke Takahashi
Writer and editor. She has done a number of interviews for ramen books and other publications.