Marutai Saga Gyu Shio Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 54
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Marutai Saga Gyu Shio Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 54

This regional offering, Marutai Saga Gyu Shio Ramen, is inspired by Saga Prefecture, a part of Japan better known for its pottery than its ramen. But despite the local fame of its ceramics, Saga’s culinary contribution to the noodle world is kind of a rare one: beef bone broth shio (salt) ramen. This is the only beef-based entry in Marutai’s regional lineup, and it’s surprisingly easy to find despite containing actual beef. It's regularly available online for around $4–8 and comes with two individual servings per pack.

Marutai Oita Torigara Shoyu Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 52
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Marutai Oita Torigara Shoyu Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 52

I'm continuing my Marutai ramen series with a style that stands apart from their usual tonkotsu offerings: soy sauce broth! This Marutai Oita Torigara Shoyu Ramen takes its inspiration from Tokyo’s original soy sauce ramen, first introduced in 1910. The broth blends premium soy sauce with chicken bone soup, bonito, yuzu, and kelp to create a complex flavor base. Despite being labeled as chicken broth, it also contains pork oil and sake, adding richness and depth.

Marutai Miyazaki Tori Shio Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 51
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Marutai Miyazaki Tori Shio Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 51

This time I’m reviewing Marutai 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.

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Marutai Nagasaki Agodashi Soy Sauce Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 49

This specialty ramen, Marutai Nagasaki Agodashi Soy Sauce Ramen, stands out in Marutai's “Local Series” as the only seafood-forward entry. It’s based on a regional shoyu broth that features agodashi, or charcoal-grilled flying fish broth, which adds a sweet and smoky dimension to the flavor. This flavor aims to deliver a lighter take on soy sauce ramen with a seafood-driven twist that’s still hopefully accessible even to non-fish fanatics.

Marutai Hakata Soy Sauce Tonkotsu Ramen Review - Noodle Journey Episode 48
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Marutai Hakata Soy Sauce Tonkotsu Ramen Review | Noodle Journey Episode 48

This Marutai Hakata Soy Sauce Tonkotsu Ramen marks the beginning of an annual holiday tradition here at Noodle Journey: the Merry Marutai Marathon. Marutai is legendary among enthusiasts for its 'Bo-Ramen' (stick ramen) format, which offers a texture far superior to the flash-fried bricks of things like Cup Noodles. This specific Hakata variant strikes a balance between a creamy pork bone base and the savory bite of soy sauce.