What are The Three Great Noodles Of Morioka?

Morioka's three great noodle dishes are wanko soba, Morioka reimen, and Morioka jajamen. They each have their own different charms and characteristics, and people come from all over the country to try them.

Wanko Soba

This is a regional cuisine in which a mouthful of soba is served in a bowl and eaten with toppings like sesame or green onions. When the bowl is empty, the server (standing right next to the customer), says "hai, janjan," and fills up the bowl again. This continues until the customer covers the bowl with a lid. You can eat as much as you want. They hold contests to see who can eat the most, and there have been people who have eaten more than 500 bowls! This is a meal that was created with the spirit of hospitality so that you can fully enjoy freshly boiled soba at its most delicious.

Azumaya Main Branch

This is a veteran shop that first opened in 1907. There are 3 branches throughout the city, but the main branch is in a corner of the castle town area, which still has a traditional atmosphere. They have 2 types of wanko soba, the 2,700 JPY course and the 3,240 JPY course. (These are adult prices; children get a discount.) The 2,700 JPY course has 7 types of toppings, and 3,240 JPY has 9 types of toppings, so you can enjoy different flavors. People who eat more than 100 bowls receive a Wanko Soba Certificate of Proof! Please challenge yourself to see how much you can eat.

*Prices are current as of June 2017. There are plans to change the prices in the future.

Morioka Reimen

It's said that the first person to create reimen (cold noodles) in Morioka was from Pyongyang. The noodles are chewy and springy. It's served with toppings like kimchi in a slightly spicy soup. It's even more delicious if you add a dash of vinegar.

Seirokaku

This is a famous yakiniku (grilled meat) restaurant across from JR Morioka Station. The Reimen (1,000 JPY for regular, 1,200 JPY for a large) is one of their most popular dishes, and the noodles have a characteristic chewy and strong texture. The soup is made from beef shin and bone, so it isn't too spicy, and it has a deep rich flavor. You can choose from 7 different levels of spice!

Pyompyonsya

This is a popular shop about 2 minutes away from JR Morioka Station. Their Morioka Reimen (885 JPY (incl. tax), half-size 723 JPY (incl. tax), double serving +200 JPY) is springy and slippery. The soup is made from beef bone, so it's refreshing and rich. The kimchi is made for the reimen, so it's fresh and invigorating.

Morioka Jajamen

This dish is udon topped with nikumiso, which is ground meat, ginger, and other ingredients sauteed together and then stewed in miso and sugar, and has its roots in the Chinese dish zhajiangmian. After you finish eating the noodles, you can enjoy the rest of the bowl by mixing an egg, udon broth, and the remaining nikumiso into a soup called "chitantan."

Pairon Main Branch

This is a restaurant that boasts of firm popularity as the founder of jajamen. The founder based it off of the zhajiangmian they ate in China, made it with Japanese ingredients, and since then it has been loved for more than 60 years. Fermented miso, julienned cucumbers, and green onions are added to plump straight noodles and mixed with garlic and vinegar. The rich flavor is addicting and they have many regular customers. After you finish the noodles, don't forget to ask for "chitantan" (50 JPY), a soup that's added so you can eat the remaining ingredients. The jajamen costs 350 JPY for a small, 450 JPY for a medium, and 550 JPY for a large.