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▲ Ippudo launches Taiwan-limited edition “Red/White Beef Ramen.”

Reported and photographed by Huang Shiyuan, Taipei

What happens when Japanese ramen meets Taiwanese beef noodles? The hugely popular Japanese ramen brand "Ippudo" is celebrating its fifth anniversary in Taiwan by paying tribute to the beloved local dish—Taiwanese beef noodles—with the launch of an exclusive Taiwan-limited edition “Red/White Beef Ramen,” set to hit shelves on May 3.

The broth for Ippudo’s Red/White Beef Ramen is crafted using the French-style consommé method, based on a 10-hour chicken stock, with added ingredients such as beef shank and ground beef. It’s simmered for 2.5 hours to develop a rich beef aroma. The extracted beef shank is then marinated in sauce for three hours to become a unique beef char siu, similar to what you'd find in Taiwanese beef noodles. The Red Beef Ramen features soy sauce and star anise in the broth, with sautéed tomatoes added at the end for sweetness. The White Beef Ramen uses salt in the broth for a lighter taste, and is finished with onion and black pepper to enhance the aroma.


▲ The beef is made from the shank cut, simmered for 2.5 hours and marinated in sauce for 3 hours.

The salted egg used in the ramen is prepared with the same braising method as tea eggs, but infused with Da Hong Pao tea elements, resulting in a “Da Hong Pao semi-soft egg.” Finally, it’s topped with exclusive highland mustard greens and a cold mix of cilantro and dried bamboo shoots, giving this bowl of ramen a strong “Taiwanese flavor.” It’s a special edition that fuses beef noodles with Japanese ramen. The noodles are also the medium-straight type commonly seen in beef noodles, different from the thin noodles typically used in pork bone ramen.

As part of Ippudo’s fifth anniversary celebration, the “Five Blessings” lucky draw event is being held. From May 3 to May 30, participating stores will offer Fukuoka mascot “Omatsuri-kun” masks, hats, and more. During the campaign period, customers who take photos with the mascot and share them on Ippudo’s official Facebook fan page along with a comment will be entered to win a total of 500 prizes, including elegant bowl gift boxes, Fukuoka souvenirs, and Ippudo VIP cards. The grand prize (“Five Blessings Thank You Gift Set,” 5 winners) includes a round-trip flight ticket to Fukuoka and an invitation to Ippudo’s flagship store “Daimyo Honten.”