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Aomori Food Guide: Tsugaru Ramen, Grilled Shellfish with Miso, and More

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Aomori Food Guide: Tsugaru Ramen, Grilled Shellfish with Miso, and More

This article introduces signature dishes and popular restaurants in Aomori. Surrounded by the sea, Aomori offers a wide variety of local delicacies, including Tsugaru ramen, grilled shellfish with miso, miso curry milk ramen, and more!

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This is the official account of MATCHA's editorial department. Our articles feature useful travel information for visitors to Japan, from how-to guides to recommended places to visit.

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Must-Try Dishes in Aomori

Aomori is known for its excellent local dishes such as Tsugaru Ramen, Miso Curry Milk Ramen, Oma Tuna, Grilled Shellfish with Miso, and Towada Barayaki.

Surrounded by the Sea of Japan, Tsugaru Strait, and the Pacific Ocean on three sides, Aomori Prefecture features many local delicacies that utilize seafood.

This article introduces the characteristics of Aomori’s representative local dishes and popular restaurants where you can taste them.

Aomori Food Guide

Tsugaru Ramen
Chuka Soba Tamura
Menya Zetton
Miso Curry Milk Ramen
Aji no Sapporo Asari
Sapporo Kan
Oma Tuna
Kaikyo So
Uoki no Omazoku
Grilled Shellfish with Miso
Oshokuji-dokoro Osanai
Sakaba Banya
Towada Barayaki
Souvenir and Dining Shop Morita
Towada Shokudo

Tsugaru Ramen

Tsugaru Ramen and Grilled Shellfish with Miso

Tsugaru Ramen is a type of ramen made with broth derived from grilled and dried sardines or niboshi (dried baby anchovies). It features fewer noodles and ingredients, allowing you to fully savor the rich flavor of the broth infused with the taste of dried fish.

First, let's introduce a shop that serves delicious Tsugaru Ramen.

Chuka Soba Tamura

Chuka Soba Tamura

Picture courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet

Chuka Soba Tamura is a ramen shop that relocated and reopened in Hanazono, Aomori City in 2019. Despite its popularity, the shop has few seats and a compact layout, making it common to see lines forming outside during peak hours.

The menu features three types: Lightly Flavored "Niboshi" Dried Sardines Ramen, "Oni Niboshi" Dried Sardines Ramen, and Back Fat "Niboshi" Dried Sardines Ramen. This variety allows you to choose from a range of Tsugaru Ramen flavors, from lightly to richly flavored.

Chuka Soba Tamura
Address: 1-22-9 Hanazono, Aomori City
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM / 5:00 PM–9:00 PM
Closed: Wednesdays, Third Thursdays
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000736768/ (Before relocation)

Menya Zetton

Menya Zetton

Picture courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet

Menya Zetton is a ramen shop characterized by its retro Showa-era atmosphere. The unique name Zetton reflects the desire for a memorable and impactful restaurant name that sticks with you upon hearing it once.

The menu also showcases this individuality with interesting names for their Tsugaru ramen, including "Death Niboshi" and "Doro Niboshi."

With a flavor that packs a punch, this ramen is quite addictive. We recommend this place for those who enjoy rich and boldly flavored ramen.

Menya Zetton
Address: 2-7-19 Midori, Aomori City
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
Closed: Tuesdays, Third Mondays (if a holiday, the following day is closed)
Official Website: https://nons-cafe-group.com/shop-zetton.php
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000972416/

Miso Curry Milk Ramen

Miso Curry Milk Ramen

Miso Curry Milk Ramen features a soup made by combining miso, curry powder, and milk, topped with butter, bean sprouts, menma (bamboo shoots), and seaweed.

This unexpected combination allows for a new sensory experience and has become quite popular.

Here are some places in Aomori City where you can enjoy Miso Curry Milk Ramen:

Aji no Sapporo Asari

Aji no Sapporo Asari

Picture courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet

Aji no Sapporo Asari is a ramen shop located about a 3-minute walk from JR Aomori Station. Although it is a small establishment with only 12 counter seats, it has a history of visits from celebrities. That's why the walls are adorned with signed memorabilia!

The signature menu item is Miso Curry Milk Ramen (with Butter). The three flavors of miso, curry powder, and milk blend perfectly, making the soup so delicious that you'll want to drink it all.

Aji no Sapporo Asari
Address: 1-11-23 Shinmachi, Aomori City, Maison Maru Fujio 1F
Opening Hours: 11:30 AM–2:30 PM / 6:30 PM–10:00 PM
Closed: Mondays
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000270174/

Sapporo Kan

Sapporo Kan

Picture courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet

Sapporo Kan is a ramen shop located about a 3-minute drive from JR Shin-Aomori Station, easily recognizable by its chic exterior that evokes a sense of warmth from the wood.

The signature menu item, Miso Curry Milk Ramen, is topped with generous portions of chashu (braised pork), seaweed, bean sprouts, and butter, making it quite filling. With 62 seats in the spacious interior, it’s a great option for those who want to enjoy their meal with minimal wait time.

Sapporo Kan
Address: 56-3 Ishioka, Aomori City
Opening Hours: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000270241/

Oma Tuna

Oma Tuna

The Pacific bluefin tuna caught in Oma Town is known nationwide under the brand name Oma Tuna. It is characterized by its sweet, rich fat that provides a high-quality taste.

While Oma Tuna is a premium product, you can enjoy it at reasonable prices in the following shops in Oma Town.

Kaikyo So

Oma tuna

Picture courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet

Kaikyo So is located at the northernmost tip of Honshu at Omazaki Cape. While it operates as an inn run by fishers, it also offers lunch from mid-April to October.

In addition to the Oma Tuna Seafood Bowl, the menu includes set meals featuring sea urchin, sashimi, simmered fish, and miso soup.

As a restaurant located in the heart of Oma Town, you can indulge in hearty seafood dishes.

Kaikyo So
Address: 17-734 Oma, Oma Town, Shimokita District
Opening Hours: Lunch service is available from mid-April to October
Official Website: https://oma-wide.net/menu/minshukukaikyousou/
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000681168/

Uokuino Omanzoku

Uokuino Omanzoku

Picture courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet

This establishment is also located at Omazaki Cape. Recommended menu items include the Tuna Karaage Set, Three-Color Tuna Bowl, Tuna Bowl, and Sea Urchin Bowl.

Among them, the Three-Color Tuna Bowl is piled high with fresh fatty and red meat tuna, often making the rice below invisible.

Additionally, during the tuna harvesting season from July to December, the restaurant occasionally holds tuna dismantling shows.

You can experience the tuna being cut up nearby and enjoy it right away in the restaurant.

Uokuino Omanzoku
Address: 17-377 Oma, Oma Town, Shimokita District
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM-6:00 PM
Official Website: https://oma-wide.net/menu/sakanaguinoomanzoku/
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000991158/

Grilled Shellfish with Miso

Grilled Shellfish with Miso is particularly popular in the Shimokita and Tsugaru regions of Aomori Prefecture.

Using scallop shells as makeshift pots, this dish involves placing miso and ingredients inside and cooking them with an egg—a regional delicacy.

The following two restaurants are known for serving authentic Grilled Shellfish with Miso.

Oshokuji Dokoro Osanai

Oshokuji Dokoro Osanai

Picture courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet

Oshokuji Dokoro Osanai is a dining establishment located about a 2-minute walk from JR Aomori Station.

Known for its Aomori Prefecture specialty dishes centered around scallops, it attracts locals alongside tourists and business travelers alike.

In addition to grilled shellfish with miso, the menu includes various scallop dishes such as sashimi and fried scallops. It’s recommended for those who want to enjoy fresh scallops prepared in different ways, freshly sourced every morning.

Oshokuji Dokoro Osanai
Address: 1-1-17 Shinmachi, Aomori City
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM–9:00 AM / 11:00 AM–1:30 PM / 4:00 PM–7:00 PM (until scallops run out)
Closed: Mondays (Tuesday if a holiday), Year-end, and New Year
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000268880/

Sake Sakana Dokoro Banya

Sake Sakana Dokoro Banya is an izakaya located right next to JR Aburakawa Station. They offer a variety of dishes including seafood bowls, sashimi, fried foods, and desserts.

One of its appealing features is enjoying a wide range of dishes at low prices. There are set menus that include grilled seafood items like scallops, komai (a type of fish), and negi maguro (green onion tuna), making it an excellent choice for those looking to enjoy a meal while keeping costs down.

Sake Sakana Dokoro Banya
Address: 10-1 Naginishi, Aburagawa, Aomori City
Opening Hours: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM / 6:00 PM–11:30 PM
Closed: Sundays
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000964976/

Towada Bara-yaki

Towada Bara-yaki

Picture courtesy of Shashin AC

Towada Bara-yaki is a grilled dish featuring beef and onions seasoned with a sweet and savory sauce.

In the past, it has been fondly embraced as Aomori's soul food, winning the Gold Grand Prix at the B-1 Grand Prix: a competition for B-grade gourmet food from across the country.

Here are two restaurants where you can enjoy Towada Bara-yaki.

Morita Restaurant and Souvenir Shop

Morita Restaurant & Souvenir Shop

Picture courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet

Morita Restaurant & Souvenir Shop is a dining establishment located right next to Lake Towada, a well-known tourist attraction.

They serve dishes made with local ingredients such as walleye pollock and cherry salmon caught in Lake Towada, as well as wild vegetables like bamboo shoots and butterbur.

A popular menu item is the Bara-yaki Set, featuring bara-yaki seasoned with a soy sauce-based sweet and savory sauce that pairs wonderfully with rice.

Morita Restaurant & Souvenir Shop
Address: 486 Towadakohan Kyuka, Okuse, Towada City
Opening Hours: Weekdays, Holidays, and the day before holidays: 12:00 PM–2:50 PM / Saturdays and Sundays: 12:00 PM–3:50 PM
Closed: From December to April, only the souvenir shop is open
Official Website: https://www.towadakomorita.com/
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000915922/

Towada Shokudo

Towada Shokudo

Picture courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet

Towada Shokudo is also located right next to Lake Towada. It features local dishes made with cherry salmon caught in Lake Towada, and bara-yaki is one of its specialties.

Additionally, they offer noodles, rice bowls, and desserts such as their original apple pie. It’s definitely worth stopping by if you’re visiting Lake Towada.

Towada Shokudo
Address: 486 Towadakohan Kyuka, Okuse, Towada City
Opening Hours: 9:30 AM–3:00 PM
Hot Pepper Gourmet: https://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000636179/

Experience the Culinary Wonders of Aomori

Aomori Prefecture is home to famous gourmet dishes such as Tsugaru Ramen, Miso Curry Milk Ramen, Oma Tuna, Grilled Shellfish with Miso, and Towada Bara-yaki. When touring the area, why not visit the restaurants mentioned in this article for a memorable trip?

Main image courtesy of Hot Pepper Gourmet
Written by the Cakutama editorial team

Written by

MATCHA

This is the official account of MATCHA's editorial department. Our articles feature useful travel information for visitors to Japan, from how-to guides to recommended places to visit.

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