Maruchan Aomori Miso Curry Milk Ramen / 青森味噌カレーミルクラーメン

Miso Curry Milk ramen is a local specialty from Aomori and got picked up by Maruchan for an as close as possible instant recreation. Locally it rose to fame through shops like Ajino Sapporo Oonishi which has been serving this fusion style of ramen for many years now. Among ramen heads it’s quite a divisive bowl, many calling it gimmicky and a tourist attraction, while others call it a kind of “soul food” for cold Aomori winters. Whichever side you’re on, it definitely makes for an interesting souvenir from the Aomori region, as you will only be able to buy it in the region and of course online.

Preparation

The preparation is quite easy. Take all packages out, add the dried meat and vegetables back into the bowl. Fill up to the mark with boiling water, then let it sit for 5 minutes. Put the other two packs on top of the bowl to let them heat up. After 5 minutes, add the rest of the sachets into the mix. Enjoy!

Review

The taste is a bit of everything and a bit of nothing. No flavor is really dominant and overpowering, yet can all be recognized. Overall it’s a very rich and pleasant experience with a good spiciness kick. The noodles are nicely firm and stand well against the rich soup. They seem to be aimed at emulation Sapporo style noodles, which they do okay-ish.
Topping ideas could be anything that brings some crunch and cuts through the richness a bit like some fresh negi or a bunch of briefly blanched sprouts. You can also turn this into an even more filling meal if you polish the leftover broth with some white rice.