Morioka Reimen
盛岡冷麺
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“A savory noodle dish that comes with a literal piece of watermelon”
- Hayat, 2025
(img curtesy of pyonpyonsya menu)
Historical Background
The creator of Morioka Reimen, Teruhito Aoki, was a Korean immigrant who migrated to Japan in 1954. He opened a yakiniku restaurant called Shokudoen in Morioka and decided to serve a noodle dish that was reminiscent of the noodles found back in Korea.
"Morioka Reimen Origin" (2020) Zojirushi Food & Culture Blog
"Naengmyeon at Ham Hung in Koreatown" (2019) Wonho Frank Lee
Using local ingredients, Aoki combined two types of Korean Peninsula cold noodles:
Hamhung-style cold noodles
- sweet and spicy
Pyongyang-style cold noodles
- light and mellow
Spreading from Shokudoen to other yakiniku restaurants around it, it was when the first Japanese Noodle Summit was held to promote the city that the name "Morioka reimen" was formally adopted to brand the dish as a unique local specialty of Morioka. It is now recognized as one of the "three great noodles of Morioka," alongside Wanko Soba and Morioka Jajamen.
"Historical picture of Syokudoen" (2025) Syokudoen Official Website
"Morioka Reimen Noodles" (2025) Yamanakaya Journal Website
Characteristics
The name Morioka reimen comes from the Iwate prefecture's capital, Morioka. The Morioka reimen is a chilled noodle dish that consists of kimchi, watermelon or seasoned cucumbers, paired with a rich beef bone broth. The kimchi is incorporated to add a spicy kick and help suit the local palate. A common way to eat this dish is to order it with kimchi and adjust its spice lever to your liking.
The inclusion of watermelon along with the usual noodle elements makes it a refreshing and unique combination of spicy, tangy, crisp, and sweet. The firm noodles made with wheat flour and potato starch has a distinctive chewy, and slightly translucent texture, which took time to get used to by the locals.
"Morioka Reimen" (2019) Hot and Tasty! Try 3Regional Noodles in Winter JNTO
"Morioka Reimen and Yakiniku Set" (2025) Yakiniku Hige Official Website
Where to enjoy it?
Morioka Reimen can be found at many restaurants in Morioka city, Iwate Prefecture, especially those specializing in yakiniku. Several popular restaurants are conveniently located near Morioka Station. Shokudoen is the restaurant that is credited with inventing Morioka Reimen by adapting Korean cold noodles to Japanese tastes.
Shokudoen has been serving the dish since 1955, and offers the dish on the menu under the name "Pyongyang Reimen" (950 yen as of Dec, 2025). However, even outside of Morioka city, this reimen dish can be found throughout Japan in the yakiniku restaurants as a side dish alongside other noodle dishes like Ramen or Udon.
"Pyonpyonsya Morioka Reimen" (2025) Pyonpyonsya Official Website
To know more
To know more
Talks how Reimen is different from the typical Japanese noodle dishes (in English)
Explains the history of Morioka reimen along with other noodles of the region (in English)
Recommends travel guide for morioka reimen (in English)
A guide to enjoy morioka reimen at your own house (in English)
Direct Voice from Classmate, Ireinashimba Bickel
A Reimen Lover
While I am a resident of Shizuoka Prefecture, therefore not being related to Morioka in any way, I love Reimen very very much. Actually, it is one of the top 5 foods I just cannot survive without. Every time I go to eat at a Yakiniku restaurant, I never ever forget to order Reimen from the menu. I am not kidding when I say that Reimen might even be the key for World Peace.
References
References
Japan National Tourism Organization. (n.d.-a). Hot and tasty: Try 3 regional noodles this winter. https://www.japan.travel/en/sg/story/hot-and-tasty-try-3regional-noodles-winter/
Japan National Tourism Organization. (n.d.-b). Tohoku local food. https://www.japan.travel/en/ca/inspiration/tohoku-local-food/
Live Japan. (2020, March 31). Morioka Reimen: Guide to the famous chewy noodles of Iwate. https://livejapan.com/en/in-tohoku/in-pref-iwate/in-morioka_hiraizumi_hachimantai/article-a3000223/
Pyon-Pyon-Sha. (n.d.). Morioka Reimen ni tsuite [About Morioka Reimen]. https://www.pyonpyonsya.co.jp/remen/about/
Tohoku Kanko. (n.d.). Morioka Reimen (cold noodles). https://www.tohokukanko.jp/en/attractions/detail_1003794.html
Tohoku Local Guide. (n.d.). Morioka Reimen [Morioka cold noodles]. https://tohoku-03.likeup.net/home/gourmet/spot_detail?id=morioka-177419
Wikipedia contributors. (2025, May 20). Morioka reimen. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morioka_reimen
Zojirushi. (2022, June 21). B-kyu gurume: Morioka reimen from Morioka City, Iwate. https://www.zojirushi.com/blog/b-kyu-gurume-morioka-reimen-from-morioka-city-iwate/
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