Summer Limited Edition: Muto Ramen Launches a Sweet and Spicy Japanese-Style Cold Noodle Dish

▲ Japanese-Style Quirky Cold Noodles. 250 TWD.

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan, Taipei

In recent years, Japanese ramen has made a strong entry into the Taiwanese market. In addition to many large chain brands, there are also many Japanese entrepreneurs who have come to Taiwan to create their own brands, hoping that ramen-loving Taiwanese can enjoy authentic ramen. Compared to many shops concentrated in the busy districts of Taipei, Muto Ramen, which has been in Taiwan for three years, is located in Neihu. In addition to its signature shrimp ramen and Taiwanese-favorite pork bone ramen, among four flavors in total, it also periodically introduces limited-edition ramen. Until the end of September, the special is a Japanese-style cold noodle dish with a quirky flavor.


▲ Japanese-Style Quirky Cold Noodles after mixing.

The sauce for the Japanese-Style Quirky Cold Noodles was originally used for fried chicken, featuring a mix of sweet, numbing, and spicy flavors—hence the name “quirky flavor.” Due to the recent hot weather and the staff’s fondness for the quirky sauce, Muto Ramen’s owner, Yusuke Deguchi, drew inspiration from Nagoya’s famous Taiwanese-style cold noodles to create this Japanese-Style Quirky Cold Ramen. The noodles used are also different from typical ramen—they are flat noodles made from Japanese wheat flour. Before eating, mix the toppings on top—the minced pork, green onions, seaweed, and raw egg yolk—thoroughly.


▲ Shrimp Ramen. 230 TWD.


▲ Pork Bone Ramen. 220 TWD.

As for the previously popular limited-edition Oni Mori Ramen, its highlight is the super-sized portion of pork slices, weighing about 700g. However, since the portion of noodles hasn’t increased much, most people can successfully finish the bowl. Each bowl is priced at 490 TWD. After the Japanese-Style Quirky Cold Noodles promotion ends at the end of September, the Oni Mori Ramen is set to make a comeback.


▲ Fried Chicken.

Aside from the limited-edition ramen, Muto Ramen regularly offers four flavors: shrimp ramen, pork bone ramen, Hokkaido miso ramen, and Nagoya red spicy ramen. The shrimp ramen is the signature dish, based on a salt-flavored ramen with shrimp oil made from stir-fried shrimp heads. However, Deguchi says that Taiwanese people actually love the pork bone ramen the most. Additionally, being from Nagoya, where the famous Nagoya Red Spicy Hot Pot originates—locals typically add noodles and broth at the end and cook them together—Deguchi drew inspiration from this to develop the Nagoya Red Spicy Ramen. It combines chicken broth with red spicy miso, offering a ramen flavor rarely seen in Taiwan.

Address: No. 81, Jiangnan Street, Neihu District, Taipei City
Phone: 02-2659-6139