Kitakata Ramen
喜多方ラーメン
喜多方ラーメン
"In Kitakata, Ramen isn't just food—It's tradition."
Kenta Suya
Kitakata Ramen (喜多方ラーメン) originated in Kitakata City in Fukushima Prefecture around 1930. At that time, there were no ramen shops in the city. However, a young man named Pan Kinsei, who came from Zhejiang Province in China, began selling shina soba from a mobile food cart. He did not keep the recipes secret for the noodles or soup, making them spread. After World WarⅡ, ramen shops gradually started to open, and there are approximately 90 restaurants in the city today, including long-established shops which have preserved their original flavors for over 60 years, and others which offer English menus for foreign visitors.
Kitakata city is also known for the "Town of Warehouse", with a long history of soy sauce, miso, and Japanese sake brewing. This local background greatly contributed to the development of Kitakata Ramen. The city also has a unique culture called "morning ramen"(朝ラー), which began as a breakfast for night-shift factory workers and migrant workers returning home in winter.
Today, Kitakata Ramen is more than just a meal. Rather, it represents the city's history and culture cherished by local people and visitors. In 2024, Kitakata City established "Ramen Day" to promote local revitalization through ramen. The photo on the right shows the ribbon-cutting ceremony held to celebrate the creation of Ramen Day.
The most important feature of Kitakata Ramen is its high-hydration noodles made with the clear underground water from the Iide Mountain range (飯豊山地). The noodles are thick, flat, and slightly curly, and they make them chewy and absorb the soup effectively. The soup is usually a clear, soy sauce-based broth made with pork bones, chicken bones, and dried fish. It is light but flavorful while highlighting the flavor of the sea through the use of dried seafood such as dried sardine (煮干し) and bonito flakes (鰹節). This is a traditional method in the inland region with no direct access to fresh seafood.
Bannai Shokudo
〒966-0816 Fukushima-Ken, Kitakata-shi, Hosoda, 7230
Video: Kitakata Ramen Reviewed by Famous Ramen Youtuber "Susuru" (Japanese Audio)
Video: Kitakata Ramen Introduced by "Abroad in Japan" (English Audio)
Video: The Official Explanation of Kitakata Ramen by Kitakata City
Kenta Suya: Last winter break, I visited Kitakata on the way to a ski trip to Yamagata and had a chance to eat at Bannai Shokudo! The first sip of the soup, with its beautiful golden color and subtle dried sardine aroma..., was truly unforgettable. The noodles were chewy but smooth, making every bite really enjoyable. The topping on the ramen, such as green onions, chashu, and bamnoo shoots, was classic and exactly what Japanese people think ramen is. Having this valuable bowl after waiting in line outside made the experience special.
Abroad in Japan. (2024). Is this Japan’s most mouthwatering ramen? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwPHIABVdg8
Bannai Shokudo. (n.d.). Bannai Shokudo official website [Website information about Bannai Shokudo]. Retrieved March 2, 2026, from https://www.bannaisyokudou.jp/
MoroHashi, K. (2024, November). Kitakata Ramen: A local ramen that is considered one of Japan’s “Three Great Ramen” (HIGHLIGHTING Japan, VOL.198). Government of Japan. Retrieved March 2, 2026, from https://www.gov-online.go.jp/hlj/ja/november_2024/november_2024-01.html
Rapedia. (n.d.). Kitakata Ramen [Article on Kitakata Ramen]. Rapedia. Retrieved March 2, 2026, from https://www.raumen.co.jp/rapedia/study_japan/study_raumen_kitakata.html
Ramenkai. (n.d.). Kura no Machi Kitakata Ramenkai [Website information about the Kitakata Ramenkai association]. Retrieved March 2, 2026, from https://www.ramenkai.com/
SUSURU TV. (2024). [Densetsu no shisho] Nanba-wan no omise de chashu ga norisugiru niku soba o susuru Bannai Shokudo [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOTqjE0kBCE
Wikipedia contributors. (2026, January 10). Iide sanchi [Article on the Iide Mountain range]. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved March 2, 2026, from https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/飯豊山地
Kitakata City Official Channel. (2024). Kitakata City specialty “Kitakata Ramen” product introduction [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqiSy9vfZns