Noodle Journey Episode 51: Marutai Miyazaki Tori Shio Ramen

This time I’m reviewing Marutai’s Miyazaki Tori Shio Ramen, another regional variety in the company’s expansive lineup of local-style noodles. It’s based on Miyazaki’s take on shio ramen, which is known for being the cleanest and lightest of the Japanese broth styles. “Shio” literally means salt, and “tori” means chicken, so this is a salty chicken broth. Miyazaki is known for its charcoal-grilled chicken ramen, and I’m hoping some of that smoky depth shows up here.

The price is in line with Marutai’s other premium regional offerings, around $4–8 for a two-serving pack. You can still find it at places like YamiBuy, Meccha Japan, and Amazon, though it’s unclear how long it will stay in circulation since Marutai has also released a different chicken ramen from Ōita. This version is on the lower end of Marutai’s sodium spectrum, coming in at 2,141mg per serving (which is still very high, to be clear). Inside the package are three-minute air-dried noodles and a liquid soup base. The broth isn’t just chicken fat and salt – it includes seafood extract, vegetable powder, and sesame for added umami and complexity.

Noodles:
These are the same excellent three-minute noodles featured in previous Marutai varieties. Medium in thickness, they have a satisfying chew, a nice slick texture, and pair nicely with a clean broth like this.
• 10/10

Spiciness:
There’s no heat at all here. If you want spicy, check out the other Marutai offering from Miyazaki in the last review.
• 0/10

Overall:
This is an incredibly comforting bowl of ramen. The broth has a deep chicken bone flavor layered with onion, sesame, and just a hint of sweetness, possibly from the seafood extract or something like sake. There’s no fishiness that I could detect, just a really nice balance. It’s hands down the best packaged chicken broth I’ve had to date. That said, it’s missing some of the garnishes found in other Marutai flavors, with no green onion or sesame seeds in the packet, which knocks it down slightly in my book. If you want something rich and warm without the heavy salt overload, this is a great pick. Add your own toppings to elevate it further.
• 9/10

Notes since filming:

Sadly, this flavor seems to have been quietly discontinued. While it’s not something I would have really sought out again, it’s still one of the best shio chintan chicken ramen broths I’ve ever had.