Niigata Mabo Ramen

Niigata Mabo Ramen is also known as Niigata Mabomen and is known as the place where Mabomen originated. The origin of Mabomen is in Niigata prefecture with a story from Niigata City with several different places laying claim to their uses of Mabo. In 1960s, Konan-ward in Niigata City, Ramen Kobo Marushin had served up tsukemen and owner Kozo Oda had come up with the idea to warm children up in the winter time. Another pioneer of Mabomen would be Restaurant Ganso Mabomen Koma in Minami-ward. It was said to have had silken tofu, spices, and bean paste to make a pretty thick soup in its early forms. This would evolve into Sichuan Mabomen (Kanamiya Matsuzaki), Cheese Mabomen (Mensho MAJIDE), Backfat Mabomen (Noodles & Shinobi), and compete for a spot with the "Five Great Ramen of Niigata"
 

A theory would pop up that a Chinese restaurant called ``Tonraijun'' in Higashi Nuttari, Chuo Ward, Niigata City run by a disciple of the "Cantonese Hotel" had excellent Chinese menus including mapo noodles. Curry and rice is also a hidden specialty of Toraijun however many have not seen Mabomen, but over time there was a type of Mabomen unique to the area. Chinese Hotel Kinsan would end up creating the "White Mabomen" that is their signature dish that uses two types of salt noodles with a clear golden-brown soup with spiciness regardless of lack of red color. It uses a sort of bean paste made with yellow chili peppers from Niigata prefecture, and ultra-thin noodles.

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In 1975 Showa Era, Shirone Mabomen started with Restaurant Ganso Mabomen Koma Machichukaya (Pioneers of Mabo Ramen- Chinese Town Shop). Mabomen fuses well with the noodles and the pride of the shop is the dumplings, since it can be eaten with the sauce. Fermented seasoning using miso and other ingredients. Called “Rajanjan”. The shop has a Showa atmosphere, and Shirane locals say that the Mapo noodles are delicious. Sweet and Spicy, Sichuan pepper, and Bean paste.

Menu. Noodles: Ramen, Chashumen, Mabomen, Gomoku Ramen (five toppings), Moyashi Ramen (bean sprouts), Tanmen (sesame), Yakisoba. Rice: Mabo Don, Chukadon. Ala Carte: Gyoza, Spring Rolls, Cold Tofu, Tanshio Itame (stir fry), Liver and Leeks, Gomoku Umani (nishime), spicy simmered eggplant, chicken karaage, mabo tofu, hoikoro pork, stirfried vegetables, white rice, Reserved: Happosai (eight treasures), Vinegared Pork, Spicy Small Shrimps simmered, Thin Sliced Pork Stir Fry.

Mabo-men Restaurants
・Menya Shinobu (Chuo Ward, Niigata City)
・Mensho MAJIDE (Chuo Ward, Niigata City)
・Chinese Restaurant Kinsan (Chuo Ward, Niigata City)
・Ramen Tanaka (Chuo Ward, Niigata City)
・Tokarou Shinwa Branch (Chuo Ward, Niigata City)
, Ramen Mara (Higashi Ward, Niigata City)
, Kanamiya Matsuzaki Store (Higashi Ward, Niigata City)
, Menya Aishin Kawatari Main Store (Higashi Ward, Niigata City)
, Ramen Workshop Marushin (Konan Ward, Niigata City)
, Chinese Restaurant Eiraku ( (Konan Ward, Niigata City)
, Mendaisei (Kita Ward, Niigata City)
, Ramen Tamashi Toramaru (Shibata City)
, Ramen Yasubei (Gosen City)
, Chinese Restaurant Miraku (Kamo City)
, Men's Fuji (Tsubame City)
, Suehiro (Sanjo City)
, Ramen Tenkyu TENQ (Nagaoka City)
, Kairyu (Nagaoka City)
, Toryu (Tokamachi City)
, Morikiken Ekimae Main Store (Kashiwazaki City)
, Ryomaken (Joetsu City)
, Ohka Hanten (Joetsu City)
, Gettoku Hanten (Itoigawa City)

5am Ramen https://www.5amramen.com/post/mapo-tofu-ramen-tokyo
Ryoko Traveler http://www.ryoko-traveler.com/rousokuya/#toc8

https://howtoniigata.jp/article/jimoto/23986/
https://niigata-kankou.or.jp/feature/ramen/top

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