My wife and I traveled to Japan a couple of years ago and had this great karaage ramen. We're really craving it but we just cannot find it anywhere in Ontario, and trust me we've looked on Google for anything. Looking for any help if someone knows somewhere that serves it!
To clarify, the dish we had was ramen with flattened and breaded chicken. Not chunks that were fried.
This is the restaurant we had in Japan if it helps! https://maps.app.goo.gl/wfHejWxkU5jA6c3f8
by Gwynasyn
8 Comments
To be fair, It’s not a traditional thing to put on ramen. I Lived all over Japan for 10 + years and never heard of it. Must have been a novelty thing at one place you went to.
To clarify: were they serving karaage ramen or chicken katsu ramen?
Karaage chicken is usually thigh meat dredged in starch/ flour and deep fried. (here these are served as bite sized chunks)
Chicken katsu is a flattened cutlet breaded with panko and fried.
There are definitely places that serve both as specials but I can’t think of any off the top of my head that has them as part of a regular menu.
There are a bunch of layers here. Not only does it seem like their karaage is duck but it’s made to resemble pork cutlets. Pako Ramen is ramen with fried pork cutlet but the menu states that it’s pako esque karaage ramen, which has me thinking the use of karaage is a unique take by the restaurant.
Anyway, long story short, karaage ramen is not common but almost all ramen places serve karaage. The easiest solution is to order some on the side and add it to the broth yourself. But if you specifically want it in the style at the restaurant, you might need to experiment at home.
Based on their menu and pics, it looks like shoyu ramen with momo (chicken thigh) karaage on top. It doesn’t look like chicken katsu as it doesn’t seem to be breaded with panko, but also doesn’t look like typical chunk-sized karaage.
It is not the most common topping for a ramen, so not surprised that the menu says that it’s ‘Ajiyoshi specialty’. Tbh, even a place with good non-donkotsu soyou ramen is hard to find in Ontario, so I think it will be difficult to find this particular ramen..
[Ajisen Ramen](https://www.ajisenramen.ca/copy-of-appetizers) has katsu served on the side along with their ramen (Pork Katsu Original) and also karaage as well (Karaage Original). It might be close enough. Echoing the others that it’s not a common way to serve both of them in the ramen bowl together.
Looking at op’s link I think there’s a chance that the ramen may have some Chinese influences. The chicken almost looks like it could be similar to Taiwanese fried chicken. Might be worth giving the “Magic Chicken” at Magic Noodle a go? [https://magicnoodle.ca/menu/product/89](https://magicnoodle.ca/menu/product/89) I’m sure there are other Taiwanese restaurants that may serve something similar.
Kinton ramen has a chicken karaage special, I believe it is every week on specific days. It’s fried thighs. I believe what you are looking for is katsu on top.
Tebasaki