Many countries across the globe are starting to open up to tourists a year after the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Spain and France, for instance, are getting ready to welcome U.S. travelers again.
Although some nations are opening up, others remain closed. Japan, unfortunately, is one of them.
As of this writing, tourists cannot travel to Japan. Although the Tokyo Olympics is still on (no news of cancellation yet), foreign visitors will be unable to attend.
Given that Japan isn’t open yet (but you still want to travel to that country), you can do two things: prepare for your trip, such as save money for your next travel, and do things that remind you of Japan.
If you like food and anime, for instance, you’ll want to eat something that makes you think of Japan. If you’re a fan of the hit anime show “Naruto,” consider eating (or making) a delicious Naruto Ramen.
What Ramen Does Naruto Eat?
“Naruto” fans know that the protagonist’s favorite food is ramen — but what kind of ramen does he like anyway?
Before we get to that, let’s first figure out where he likes to eat. When you watch the anime or read the manga, you’ll notice that Uzumaki Naruto has a favorite place to get his favorite meal. This dining establishment is Ichiraku Ramen.
Situated in the fictional hidden village of Konoha, the shop has made several appearances throughout the series. Ichiraku Ramen serves different types of ramen, but the one that Naruto eats is Miso Chashu Pork Ramen. The reason is that Naruto’s favorite ramen is miso-based.
The Miso Chashu Pork Ramen typically consists of pork belly, large eggs, shiro miso, delicious ramen noodles, enoki mushrooms, green onions and chicken stock. This dish may also include Narutomaki, a classic white-and-pink swirl topping.
Where to Eat Naruto Ramen
You may think that Ichiraku Ramen is a fictitious establishment and that the food served is nothing more than just make-believe anime ramen.
Believe it or not, there is a Naruto ramen shop in Japan called Ichiraku Ramen. You heard this right. You could order a delicious bowl of Naruto ramen from this real-life food establishment.
Ichiraku Ramen is a ramen shop in Fukuoka located on the Japanese Island of Kyushu. This noodle shop served as inspiration for the fictional Ichiraku Ramen in Konoha.
The ramen restaurant that served as the model for the one in the manga and anime is near Fukuoka’s Kyuusandai-mae Station. Masashi Kishimoto, the Japanese manga artist behind Naruto, has said that during his school days, he often commuted to Kyuusandai. This could be why the area plays an instrumental role in the manga and the anime.
Unfortunately, the original Ichiraku Ramen that Masashi frequently visited closed down in 2014. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can no longer eat Naruto ramen.
The noodle shop has other branches in Fukuoka. You can find one in the downtown Hakata area. This location offers Naruto’s favorite miso-flavored ramen. What’s more, they sell handkerchiefs emblazoned with various characters from Naruto that come in noodle cups labeled “Ichiraku Ramen.”
Bonus Guide: How to Make Naruto Ramen
If your location doesn’t have a ramen shop and only has Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and popular western fast food joints, you could whip up a delicious Naruto Ramen right in your kitchen. You just need to have the right ingredients to make this delicious anime dish.
Here are the ingredients you’ll need to make a bowl of Naruto ramen:
- Soy Sauce
- Green Onion
- Baby Bok Choy
- Eggs
- Pork Tenderloin
- Broth (Pork, Beef or Chicken — Your Call)
- Two Packs of Ramen Noodles (Whatever Brand You Like)
- Optional Ingredients: Kamaboko, Nori and Aburage (you can pick up these ingredients at an Asian food store)
Once you have the ingredients you need to make Naruto ramen, take note of the following steps:
- Preheat your stove to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, begin to cook the pork tenderloin for 10 to 15 minutes or until the meat is well done.
- Put two eggs in a pot of water. Boil the eggs for about 10 minutes. Then, take them out and put them in cold water. Set aside.
- Using an empty pot, pour in five cups of broth and let it simmer. Feel free to add soy sauce and other custom ingredients to personalize your Naruto ramen.
- Add your ramen noodles when the broth starts to simmer.
- Prep the toppings by peeling the eggs and slicing them in half. Then, slice the pork tenderloin along with the other ingredients.
- Once the noodles are finished cooking, put the broth in a deep bowl. Next, add the noodles. Then, arrange your ingredients in groups until the overall dish looks neat.
While you’re waiting for Japan to open, you could fix yourself a Naruto ramen. Once the country opens to foreign tourists, don’t forget to head over to Fukuoka and order Naruto’s favorite miso-flavored ramen.