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Hiyashi chūka
(冷やし中華, 冷やしラーメン, Chilled Chinese Food, Chilled Ramen)
Hiyashi chūka is a Japanese dish consisting of cold, pale yellow ramen noodles combined with chilled tare sauce and a variety of toppings such as fried eggs, pickled cucumbers, and finely sliced ham. The name of the dish can literally be translated to chilled Chinese food.
What is now a summertime staple in Japan began as a humble dish in Sendai about 80 years ago. It was originally a mixture of Japanese, Chinese, and Western cuisine, but neither Japan nor China claim the dish as their own. Hiyashi chūka is characterized by its careful arrangement and presentation, although it can also be bought pre-packaged in convenience stores.
Apart from cucumbers, ham, and fried eggs, other toppings might include carrots, tomatoes, ginger, and bean sprouts. Because hiyashi chūka is typically unavailable throughout the year, once the consumers see the dish in restaurants, they are assured that summer has started.
WHERE TO EAT The best Hiyashi chūka in the world (according to food experts)
1
Recommended by Favy Japan and 3 other food critics.
"Tokyo's Top Hiyashi Chuka You Need To Try Instead of Ramen: Yosuko Saikan - Their hiyashi chuka is served beautifully like mountain. The sauce is sweet and sour, which is refreshing in the hot summer. It also has some boiled shrimps and shiitake mushrooms as toppings."
2
Recommended by 5 AM Ramen and 2 other food critics.
"Manpuku has fantastic cold ramen (hiyashi ramen) – only served in the summer. Choose between sesame (goma) or soy sauce (shoyu) for the base."
3
Recommended by Favy Japan and 2 other food critics.
"Tokyo's Top Hiyashi Chuka You Need To Try Instead of Ramen: Senrigan - It has plenty of vegetables, roast pork slices, garlic, and more. It doesn't only look exciting, but tastes great. The noodles are nice and thick, which makes it easier to eat all these toppings."
4
Recommended by Favy Japan and 1 other food critic.
"Tokyo's Top Hiyashi Chuka You Need To Try Instead of Ramen: Menkoidokoro Isoji - Their hiyashi chuka is famous for the uniqueness and great taste. Usually the bowl and toppings for hiyashi chuka are different from ramen, and Isoji's hiyashi chuka is served like a ramen. The sauce is made from pork stock and seafood broth which is amazingly flavorful. The tender sliced grilled pork and soft-boiled egg on the top are great too."
5
Recommended by Time Out Tokyo
"Best Hiyashi Chuka Noodles in Tokyo: Menya Shichisai - While Shichisai is famous for its freshly-made thick and rough ramen noodles, the hiyashi chuka features thin noodles instead. And it's an unconventional take on the classic cold ramen: the noodles are dressed in a tomato-based broth."
6
Recommended by Time Out Tokyo
"Best Hiyashi Chuka Noodles in Tokyo: Yajima - Yajima is located inside Toyosu fish market, and its cold noodle dish is based on a special sauce – the recipe of which hasn’t changed in the past 60 years. The bright yet mild flavour of the sauce makes this an appetising dish, and it's served with shredded seaweed, tender sliced pork and tamagoyaki omelette. It’s been a crowd favourite for decades."
7
Recommended by Time Out Tokyo
"Best Hiyashi Chuka Noodles in Tokyo: Chiisha - In summer, it's the Hiyashi Negi Soba that takes the crown. It comes covered with a massive number of green onions, and regulars here say they can’t survive summer without it. The light and refreshing green onions provide both textural and flavour contrast with the soft noodles and sesame broth. Simple, but it works."
8
Recommended by Time Out Tokyo
"Best Hiyashi Chuka Noodles in Tokyo: Chuka Soba Mitaka - A popular restaurant in Mitaka, Chuka Soba Mitaka serves a simple but addictive hiyashi chuka with bamboo shoots, cucumbers and to top it off, a single slice of ham. What makes this dish special is the noodles: their ramen-like thickness have a texture that resembles soba, and they go so well with the strong shoyu-based broth."
9
Recommended by Time Out Tokyo
"Best Hiyashi Chuka Noodles in Tokyo: Chuka Soba Fukumori - Chuka Soba Fukumori's 'Spicy Niboshi Hiyashi Chuka' is perfect for sardine-based ramen lovers. Their relatively light soup extracts the robust umami flavours from the fish, and is brightened with a hint of vinegar. With plenty of toppings and spicy green onion sauce scattered on top of the thick homemade noodles, you can adjust the taste as you eat."
10
Recommended by Time Out Tokyo
"Best Hiyashi Chuka Noodles in Tokyo: Ryuho - While cold ramen is typically embellished with thinly shredded egg, rule-breaking Ryuhou uses wide strips for its hiyashi chuka. The fat eggy slices don't overpower the dish because the noodles themselves are pretty thick, too – the chunkiness of it all makes for a delicious mouthful."
Other Ramen varieties
