Loved by locals! 3 recommended Chinese noodle shops in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

What is the difference between Chinese noodles and ramen?

Since the appearance of Chicken Ramen in 1958, the word ramen has been established in society. However, in reality, there is no clear difference between ramen and Chinese noodles. This time, we will introduce "3 recommended Chinese noodles restaurants born in Matsusaka" in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture.

①Fujiya Chinese Noodles

This Chinese noodle soup is the soul food of Matsusaka residents!

The first generation, Eiichi Noguchi, founded "Udon Fujiya" in 1929. After that, he started eating his way around the Kansai region and spent a lot of time researching, which led to the creation of Fujiya's unique "Chuka Soba."

▲Third generation Noguchi Katsumi

Originally a udon restaurant, Fujiya's Chinese noodle soup is diluted with Japanese-style dashi. While Chinese noodle dishes across the country are usually topped with a small amount of bamboo shoots or seaweed, Matsusaka's Chinese noodle dishes are full of vegetables.

▲Chinese noodles

The seafood soup is an exquisite blend of dried bonito, dried mackerel, sardines, and saury in a secret ratio. The light soup with a gentle umami flavor of dashi is guilt-free even if you drink it all up.

The crunchy vegetables are accented by the sweetness of the onions, which are carefully selected from Awaji.

The Chinese noodles eaten in Matsusaka are often made with a light Japanese-style soup and plenty of vegetables, but Matsusaka's unique Chinese noodle culture began with Fujiya.

Fujiya's Chinese noodles were accepted by the locals and became a staple food for the common people, and the number of restaurants serving Chinese noodles in the city began to increase.

▲Inside the store

The same comforting taste. Matsusaka soul food is still here.

②Menya Hanahana

The second restaurant is "Menya Hanahana," located about 40 minutes by car from Matsusaka Interchange, across from Iitaka Station Roadside Station.

▲The store is located along National Route 166, surrounded by nature.

▲Inside the store

The owner, Shinya Nakano, trained as a Japanese chef in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, and then worked at a restaurant in Tsu for nine years and a ramen shop in Matsusaka for about eight years before opening Menya Hanahana. The recommended dish is the Chinese noodle soup, limited to 30 servings. The soup is made with a light, clear chicken stock and contains vegetables. Having vegetables in Chinese noodle soup is unique to Matsusaka.

▲Shinya Nakano, the owner of the store

▲Chinese noodles

We can only offer 30 servings because this soup is prepared separately from the other soups, which takes a lot of time and effort.

The soup is made from the finest animal-based soup made by boiling carefully selected ingredients for 18 hours, and is made from kelp and dried sardines sourced from all over the country, combined with Japanese-style stock used in high-end restaurants. We purchase fresh local agricultural products at Iitaka Station, and strive to give back to the community by producing and consuming locally as much as possible.

There is a hot spring at the roadside station opposite the restaurant. Why not enjoy the hot spring in addition to your Chinese noodles?

③Sarashina fresh soba

The third place is "Nama Soba Sarashina", a long-established soba restaurant that has been in business since 1915.

▲Inside the store

The faint aroma of curry wafting through the restaurant stimulates your appetite.

▲Curry Chinese

The rich curry is firmly stuck to the noodles.

This is a mild curry with plenty of dashi and vegetable flavor. The dashi is made from seven different ingredients, including bonito, dried sardines, and more.

▲Fragrant and addictive buckwheat ice cream.

▲Photo on the left: Fourth generation Daiki Kanda Photo on the right: Third generation Shuichi Kanda

Kanda, who used to be a Japanese chef, is actively introducing new menu items, such as sashimi to go with alcohol, and seafood bowl and soba sets, to make it more accessible to younger customers.

Sarashina fresh soba looks set to become even more fun from now on, so be sure to check it out!

Enjoy a blissful drink in Matsusaka!

The Chinese noodles in Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, are a little unique in a good way. I heard that there used to be many udon restaurants in Matsusaka. Perhaps that is why there are so many restaurants that serve soup with a strong Japanese-style dashi stock. Why not try the elegant Chinese noodles with plenty of vegetables in Matsusaka City?

[Interview]

October 3, 2023

*Menu contents are subject to change.

[Interview cooperation]

・Fujiya Chinese Noodles

1900 Nakamachi, Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

TEL:0598-23-9605

・Menya Hanahana

253-3 Miyamae, Iitaka-cho, Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

TEL:0598-46-0305

・Fresh soba noodles

84-6 Tonogomagakucho, Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture

TEL:0598-21-1168

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