Also known as Hida ramen, Takayama ramen are the main type of ramen eaten in Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture.
Starting as Shina soba after the war, with a subsequent name change to “Chinese noodles”, it has a history as a much-loved dish, but with the local ramen boom around 20 years ago, it was given the name Takayama ramen to clearly differentiate it from other types of ramen.
A simple dish compared to regular ramen, Takayama ramen is normally made with a broth of stock from chicken and vegetables, and mostly topped with shallots.
Using thin, wavy noodles, the addition of bonito stock lends a Japanese flavor to this simple meal.
If you’re looking to try Takayama ramen, “Drive Station Itakura” is very popular.
Drive-in is an unusual style for eating ramen, but there is a factory on-site and the restaurant is renowned for the fresh noodles available there.
