Noodle Journey Episode 129: Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Momosan Ramen

Sapporo Ichiban Tonkotsu Momosan Ramen is the second flavor in the Sapporo Ichiban x Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto collaboration, following the Tokyo Chicken variety. While that one impressed me, this tonkotsu faces tougher competition. I’ve reviewed many premium tonkotsu ramen before – from Marutai’s lineup to Itsuki’s vegan version to even Sapporo Ichiban’s own bowl tonkotsu – and they’ve all set a high bar. With Morimoto’s name attached, this one has a lot to prove.

Like the Tokyo Chicken flavor, these were a nightmare to find in stock. I paid $2.29 at Yamibuy before it sold out the next day, and it’s common for them to vanish from supermarkets and online shops for weeks at a time. Normal pricing is in the $2 to $3 range for a single pack. Inside the pack you get air-dried noodles, soup powder, and a liquid seasoning oil. Sodium is extremely high at 2040mg, about 90% of your daily intake. The ingredients list is as vague as the Tokyo Chicken flavor was, listing soy sauce, garlic, sesame, leeks, MSG, and fish extract for umami. There’s no real pork extract here, almost certainly due to US import restrictions, which means the pork flavor is simulated through artificial seasonings.

When I opened the packets, the powder had a mild soy sauce and sesame aroma with hints of ginger, while the liquid carried a strong garlic oil scent alongside yeast extract, which is that artificial pork note. Once combined, the broth looked creamy and thick but leaned heavily on that artificial aroma, which gave me some hesitation going in.

Noodles:
These are the same excellent air-dried noodles from the Tokyo Chicken pack. Bouncy, oil-free, and with a great texture. Easily the best noodles Sapporo Ichiban makes.
• 9/10

Spiciness:
No chili here at all. This is a completely mild tonkotsu.
• 0/10

Overall:
The broth is salty, onion-forward, and convincingly rich in appearance, but for my money, the flavor is noticeably artificial. The yeasty pork approximation wasn’t overwhelming like I’ve found in other products, but it’s still present enough to remind you it isn’t the real thing. Garlic mostly disappears in the finished bowl, overshadowed by other seasonings, and the fish-based umami is more detectable than in other brands. If you’re sensitive to seafood flavors, you’ll probably notice it here. Some sesame seeds and leek flakes provide a bit of crunch, but I wish there were more substantial toppings to elevate this as a premium product. In the end, it’s good but not great, probably on par with Sapporo Ichiban’s regular tonkotsu rather than anything that truly justifies Morimoto’s endorsement. It’s worth trying if you’re curious, but for the same price or slightly more, there are better instant tonkotsu options out there.
• 8/10