Sakata ramen is a local ramen dish of Sakata City in Yamagata Prefecture.
Homemade noodles are what make Sakata ramen unique.
Around 80% of restaurants selling Sakata ramen make their own noodles, and it is said that in Sakata shops are much more particular about their noodles than other regions.
To make the most of the noodles themselves, they are served in a simple shoyu (soy sauce) broth.
Being a port town, Sakata has abundant seafood.
The soup for the noodles is a clear, clean broth with stock from flying fish, dried anchovies, dried bonito or mackerel flakes brought in at the local port.
Chicken and tonkotsu (pork bone) soups are most common in ramen dishes and a fish stock soup may seem strange to some, but this delicious ramen dish has an authentic Japanese flavor so make sure to visit Sakata if you come to Yamagata.
