Image: Wikimedia Commons
Katsuura Tantanmen is a local ramen dish originating in Katsuura City, Chiba Prefecture, featuring a soy sauce-based broth generously spiced with chili oil for a bold balance of heat and umami. Unlike typical tantanmen, which uses a sesame-based sauce or a milky white broth, Katsuura Tantanmen is distinguished by its soy sauce base. Minced onion and ground meat are stir-fried and blended into the broth, creating a flavor where richness and spiciness come together in harmony. It is said to have originated when local eateries began serving the dish to warm the bodies of fishermen and ama divers chilled from working offshore, with the diner Ezawa, founded in 1954, known as the original shop. In 2011, a citizens' group began promotional activities, and the dish's fame spread nationwide after winning the B-1 Grand Prix in 2015. As of November 2023, 40 shops both inside and outside the prefecture are certified as official participating shops.
Origin
Katsuura Tantanmen is said to have originated when local eateries began serving the dish to warm the bodies of fishermen working offshore and ama divers chilled from free-diving. The diner Ezawa, founded in 1954, is known as the original shop, having been the first to serve it.
History
Katsuura Tantanmen, which had gradually spread among eateries in Katsuura City, gained wider recognition after a local citizens' group began promotional activities in 2011. In 2015, it won the B-1 Grand Prix, a festival celebrating local specialty foods, bringing it nationwide fame. As of November 2023, there are 40 officially certified shops both inside and outside the prefecture.
Features
While typical tantanmen uses a sesame-based sauce or a milky white broth, Katsuura Tantanmen is characterized by its soy sauce-based broth generously spiced with chili oil. Minced onion and ground meat, stir-fried together, are blended into the broth, creating a flavor where spiciness and umami come together in harmony. Some shops add their own twists, such as garlic or chives, or bases of miso or pork bone broth.
Main Ingredients
Famous Shops
元祖勝浦式担々麺 江ざわ
千葉県勝浦市白井久保296-8
The original shop, evolved from a diner founded in 1954. Tantanmen is priced from around 880 yen.
View details →FAQ
Q. How is it different from typical 'tantanmen'?
A. While tantanmen, which originated in China, is typically made with a sesame-based sauce or a milky white broth, Katsuura Tantanmen has a distinctively local flavor: a soy sauce-based broth generously spiced with chili oil.