A traveler who spent 30 years in Japan returns to Kaohsiung to open a ramen shop — homemade pork bone and pork chop ramen

Text and photos byShadow

Because of a deep attachment to his hometown, a traveler who had lived in Japan for over 30 years chose to return to Taiwan in his later years. With half-Japanese heritage, the owner served in the military in Taiwan before moving to Japan with his mother. There, he learned cooking, became a chef, and naturally opened a restaurant. Once his children were grown and his responsibilities fulfilled, he returned to Taiwan over a year ago and opened a ramen shop in Kaohsiung, serving the cuisine he excels in.

Trained under authentic Japanese craftsmanship, the owner pays meticulous attention to detail. Even though some compromises have been made to cater to Taiwanese tastes, the commitment to handmade quality remains unwavering — they would rather import ingredients from Japan than cut costs and compromise on flavor.

One might expect the shop to be decorated with typical Japanese ramen shop elements, but instead, it has the cozy atmosphere of a traditional Taiwanese eatery. The owner prioritizes hearty, genuine food over flashy appearances.

The shop’s main offerings are ramen and curry rice. The ramen broth is simmered for eight hours every day and sells out quickly; the curry sauce is made from scratch by stir-frying and simmering spices. The shop offers self-service ordering and payment.

The tables are equipped with simple seasonings such as shichimi togarashi, soy sauce, white sesame, and mashed garlic.

Pork Bone Pork Chop Ramen 210 TWD (add green onions for 10 TWD)

The milky-white broth is simmered for eight hours using pork bones and chicken bones along with other ingredients. No MSG or salt is added — the broth is smooth and rich, with the mellow fragrance of pork bone fat lingering in the mouth, striking just the right balance.

The pork slices are homemade, tender yet slightly fatty without being dry.

The ramen is made by a Japanese company in Pingtung. When ordering, you can choose between thick or thin noodles — the thin ones are cooked to a perfect softness.

Spicy Cartilage Ramen 210 TWD
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It’s quite rare to find green peppers in ramen, and the soft-boiled egg here has a unique twist — it carries a faint hint of honey sweetness, giving it a distinctive character.

The thick noodles are slightly wider than the thin ones; it all depends on personal taste, with no right or wrong choice.

The spicy and smooth broth is made by simmering mizuna powder and black pork bones, then blending it with light soy sauce to achieve this level of spiciness — a recipe passed down to the owner by a master chef during his time in Japan.

Miso Ramen 150 TWD (add green onions for 10 TWD, add bean sprouts for 10 TWD)

Each ramen flavor can be paired with either pork chop or cartilage — the pork cartilage is stewed until extremely tender and easy to eat.

Compared to pork bone broth, the miso broth has a much lighter and more refreshing taste, which is favored by many older customers.

Shrimp Curry Rice 180 TWD (add rice for free, dine-in only)

From selecting the spices to simmering the curry, everything is done in-house. A golden ratio is used to create a rich and flavorful curry with a slight kick at the end — thanks to the turmeric in the blend, it’s quite appetizing.

Curry Golden Soup Dumpling 90 TWD

Although it’s a ramen shop, the owner also experiments with incorporating Chinese cuisine to offer more variety. These curry golden soup dumplings have a fragrant curry meat filling, setting them apart from the usual plain versions.

Juicy Dumpling 80 TWD

The shop’s dumplings are slightly smaller and have a somewhat thicker skin, but the filling is genuinely flavorful and delicious.

Spicy Chicken Nuggets 120 TWD

These chicken nuggets are different from the usual kind — the chicken is marinated, rolled up, and then deep-fried, giving it a slight spicy kick. It pairs well with shredded cabbage dressed in sesame sauce to cut through the richness.

Tonkatsu (Pork Cutlet) 120 TWD

Looking back to when we first opened the shop, we were still adjusting to local tastes. After a year of fine-tuning, we’ve found our footing—both the ramen and curry rice have received great feedback. Now a grandfather, the owner still has a strong drive for the business, and the craftsmanship spirit shines through him. Friends who love Japanese ramen should add this place to their must-try list and come by for a meal. Highly recommended!

Zhuangjiao Ramen
Address: No. 407, Yangming Road, Sanmin District, Kaohsiung City
Phone: 07-3832913
Business hours: 11:30 AM – 8:30 PM

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