New ramen shop just opened in Tainan—try the rich Japanese-style broth from the “Jiro school”!

Text & Photos /Sean

Yesterday, Sandra saw a neighbor “like” the Facebook page "of a newly opened ramen shop, so I decided we’d come here for dinner tonight. As soon as I got off work, I rushed over with my wife and kids. The interior is just like a local ramen shop in Japan, though I found the layout a bit more spacious, the tables a little deeper, and the only thing missing is a place to hang jackets.

There aren’t many seats—just the ones you see in the photos.

In the early days of opening, the decor is kept simple, but the most unique feature is probably the wooden name card holder.

Check the ticket machine for the menu—the options are quite straightforward, though tsukemen (dipping noodles) will be added later. This ticket machine currently only accepts coins and 100 NTD bills. You can also ask the owner to break larger bills, but I’d recommend bringing 100 NTD bills to save time.

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One interesting touch is that the shop provides rubber bands for customers to tie their hair—a common practice in Japan but rarely seen in Taiwan. These small details can really make customers feel cared for, and I think this is an easy practice for Taiwanese shops to adopt. (Another Japanese-style touch worth learning might be the under-seat storage baskets!)

One advantage of eating ramen is that it’s served relatively quickly.

The ramen broth is a rich, pork-bone soy sauce flavor—it really tastes like what you’d get in Japan. It’s on the saltier side, which many Taiwanese might find too strong, but I don’t usually drink the soup from noodle dishes, so this didn’t bother me. The Peach Blossom Spring beef noodles I wrote about before are probably one of the few places where I actually enjoy the broth. Saran’s Japanese-style flavors are truly learned from Japan—the owner-chef’s shop is near Chigasaki in Kanagawa Prefecture, and its current score on Tabelog is 3.37, which is a decent rating. That said, if you’re visiting the Shonan area, your top picks should probably be BILLS or Kamakura Yasai (I’ll write about the coffee shop and pancakes another time). Coming all the way to Chigasaki for ramen might be a stretch, but I’ve included the info anyway: Saran (サラ).

The tsukemen has a garlicky flavor with a hint of seafood, also on the bold side.

The noodles are thick, handmade using Japanese flour, and have the firm texture I prefer.

The char siu portion is moderate. In the ramen, the slices are more tender and smooth compared to the meat cubes in the tsukemen. The portion of veggies is relatively generous compared to typical ramen, as is the noodle portion—this place definitely follows the Jiro school style of ramen (what’s the Jiro school?Let the PTT users tell you)..

I first came across the term “Jiro school” in the Japanese drama “Ramen Girl,” where eating ramen becomes a soul-enriching experience, and having Jiro ramen is almost like a pilgrimage. But I’ve heard the original Jiro ramen isn’t very welcoming to tourists who don’t speak Japanese—and they’re even less keen on those with kids—so I probably won’t get to try it in this lifetime. Being able to enjoy this Jiro-style ramen near my home in Tainan is satisfaction enough.

In terms of taste and overall dining experience, Saran is a place my family would definitely visit again. The only downside is that the air conditioning isn’t very strong, and the cooking makes it even warmer. I’d suggest heat-sensitive friends wait for cooler weather before coming. For now, just save the shop info to your list.

Saran Sara - Japanese Ramen FB
Business Hours: Tue-Sat: 11:00 - 14:00, 17:30 - 21:00
Sun: 11:00 - 14:00 (Closed on Mondays)
Phone: 06 267 0122
Address: No. 44, Chongming Rd., East District, Tainan City

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