The legendary Aomori-limited flavor!! Miso curry milk ramen

Text and photos by /Happy Cloud

Finally got to try the legendary classic Aomori-flavored ramen Up!! Wow~ So this is the taste!! Miso curry milk ramen — an unimaginable combination. Miso + curry + milk, and it actually works so well!!!

Last year at the “Saisai Michinoku” gourmet restaurant French & Italian agréable in Aomori, the most recommended condiment for the scallop hot pot custom-made by Chef Yamamoto Seiji was curry + butter. The way that condiment paired with the scallops was so ingenious, making this otherwise unimaginable flavor linger in memory through the taste buds...

Later, a friend told me that it was a classic Aomori ramen flavor — miso curry milk. I thought, “How could that be delicious?” So I tried it at a random shop near my lodging... yuck~~ Turns out, it’s not that great after all!!

This time in Aomori, I finally had the chance to try the local classic — miso curry milk ramen — and luck was on my side as I went to the very first branch opened by the founder’s top disciple. Truly, it’s one of those seemingly clashing flavors that come together just right, and that’s how it has been loved by people in Aomori for over 30 years.

In 1968, the late Mr. Sato Kiyoshi from Sapporo opened a branch of the “Aji no Sapporo” ramen shop in a movie theater in downtown Aomori — and that’s where Aomori’s miso curry milk ramen (miso curry milk) originated. Back then, students here used to mix random things like mayonnaise, ketchup, and even cola into their ramen. Later, they started combining the shop’s three separate ramen flavors — miso, curry, and milk — and found the accidental mix surprisingly delicious. It became a “hidden menu” among regulars, and about two or three years later, around 1975, miso curry milk ramen officially made it onto the menu. What a quirky origin story!!

There are currently five branches in Aomori. Aji no Sapporo Onishi is run by the founder’s top disciple and is known as the original shop. There’s also a branch called Sapporo-kan, opened by the original partner Mr. Odashima Toshiya. Aji no Sapporo Asari is run by the second disciple, Mr. Asari. The other two are also run by direct disciples. According to locals, the flavors vary slightly but are all delicious.

In recent years, it has gained recognition at Japan’s B-grade gourmet events, and even during trips to Aomori, you often see instant and fresh noodles in this flavor. When you’re in Aomori, how can you not give it a try?? Hmm~~ It’s quite unique and tasty, but definitely best eaten while hot!! I wonder if it’s because the original target customers were students, so they made the portions extra filling — this bowl of ramen is nearly twice the size of a regular one!! Oh my gosh!! I’m thinking, “Can I really finish this??” I’m not here to compete in an eating contest!!

The rich aroma hit us as soon as the bowl left the counter and made its way to our table — it smelled amazing!! In front of me was milk-flavored miso topped with a pat of butter — wow!! So fragrant, so rich, a little guilty pleasure!! And there’s also a generous portion of bean sprouts, dried bamboo shoots, and seaweed. It looks like a delicious bowl of ramen, but eating it gives you a slight sense of guilt. Still, it’s probably perfect for the winter in Tohoku — you won’t feel cold after eating it!!

The noodles are just the way I like them — chewy and springy. Taiwanese friends might even find them a bit firm, but that’s exactly the texture and doneness I prefer. Take a sip of the broth — even without the butter, it’s already incredibly rich. Miso and curry, both bold and flavorful ingredients, blend into the stock to create a fairly heavy taste, but it’s delicious!! Mixing in butter, a Western ingredient, into a Japanese ramen broth — the combination is unexpectedly perfect. That’s amazing!! The slices of pork in the ramen are relatively light in flavor and lean cuts. Maybe that balance works just right!!

One bite of noodle, one sip of broth, with bean sprouts, dried bamboo shoots, and seaweed in between. The taste isn’t as greasy as it looks; instead, it adds another layer of flavor stimulation to these lighter elements. Delicious — truly unexpectedly good. No wonder it’s loved by the people of Aomori!!

Our new friend who brought us here — just look at the satisfied smile on his face as he eats the ramen, and you’ll know it’s a source of local pride. He loves it and is eager to share it with everyone. He also keeps asking us, “Are you getting used to the taste?? Is it good??”

Hmm~~ This is such an Aomori-local flavor, a regionally limited specialty. Miso curry milk ramen (miso curry milk). Friends visiting Aomori, don’t miss out!! Hmm~~ Unlike the taste of regular ramen or fresh noodles, maybe you really have to try it in person to fully experience its wonderful flavor and magic — to understand how it captures the local palate, and why the locals love it so much. A fantastic Aomori B-grade gourmet dish — highly recommended!!

............................................. Eating, drinking, playing — there’s no end to it.

Aji no Sapporo Onishi
Address: 1-15-6 Furukawa, Aomori City, Aomori Prefecture, Furukawa Building Phone: +81 17-723-1036
Business hours: 11:00–21:00
Online reservations

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