Fortunately it’s crucial half.
Cup Noodle is liked in each a part of Japan, however in every of these elements, there are additionally sure meals that the locals are particularly keen on. That’s the premise for Cup Noodle maker Nissin’s Regional Cup Noodle (or “Gotochi Cup Noodle”) collection, and the most recent a part of Japan to get a particular prompt ramen salute to its culinary tradition is Osaka.
Osaka has a variety of well-known meals, however none extra so than takoyaki. The bite-sized octopus dumplings are an Osaka avenue meals staple, and the inspiration for the brand-new Takoyaki Taste Cup Noodle, which went on sale this month.
These are unique to the Osaka space, however fortunately we stumbled throughout a show for them inside Itami Airport. You get 4 servings in a field for 1,080 yen (US$7.30), with every of these servings being 33 grams (1.15 ounces), smaller than the usual 78-gram Cup Noodle measurement, so these are positioned as extra of a snack than a full meal.
One other key distinction is that these Cup Noodles don’t include cups! Their full, official title is Regional Cup Noodle to Eat in a Bowl-Kansai Memento Takoyaki Taste, and contained in the field (which is adorned with standard photos of the Kansai space akin to stand-up comedians and a tiger) you’ll discover 4 sealed packets. Every of these, in flip, comprises a serving of dried noodles and the broth base and topping packets.
With no cup included, you’ll have to put the noodles in a bowl of some kind, however from there the cooking course of is just about the identical as common Cup Noodles. Pour on the broth base and toppings, then add 160 milliliters (5.4 ounces) of sizzling water and let every little thing cook dinner for 3 minutes with out stirring. Not like commonplace cup ramen, although, you don’t have to cowl the bowl whereas the noodles cook dinner.
With no included cup, although, we couldn’t assist really feel like takoyaki Cup Noodle was off to a sluggish begin assembly the expectation we’d gotten from its title, however all could be forgiven if the takoyaki style was there. However as all the time with ramen, you scent it earlier than you may style it, and positive sufficient, it actually does have the combo of candy, starchy, and seafood-y scents {that a} batch of freshly cooked takoyaki has.
Then it was time for our first style, and we’re completely satisfied to verify that not solely does takoyaki Cup Noodle scent like its inspiration, it tastes prefer it too!
We have been particularly impressed by how pronounced the flavour of katsuobushi (bonito flakes) is. Katsuobushi are sprinkled throughout takoyaki proper earlier than they’re served, with a taste that’s robust however but by some means doesn’t overpower the opposite members of the takoyaki taste profile, and that’s true with this ramen broth too. Together with katsuobushi, we may style aonori (powdered seaweed), beni shoga (pickled ginger) amd mayonnaise, all additionally main takoyaki condiments.
And naturally, as a result of that is Cup Noodle, there have been bits of Nissin’s well-known thriller meat floating within the broth, which additionally tasted like takoyaki, and the noodles themselves have been simply as reliably tasty as we’ve come to count on from many years of consuming Cup Noodle.
So ultimately, whereas it might not truly are available in a cup, other than that takoyaki-flavor Cup Noodle is strictly what it says it’s, and completely price choosing up as a memento for mates, household, or your individual ramen-loving abdomen the subsequent time you’re in Osaka.
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