Tokyo Shoyu

A classic Tokyo-style ramen built around clear broth and a savory soy tare.

A classic Tokyo-style ramen built around clear broth and a savory soy tare.

The Story

Shoyu ramen is one of the classic styles associated with Tokyo and the early development of ramen in Japan. Traditionally, it combines a clear chicken or pork broth with soy sauce, giving the soup its characteristic brown color and savory flavor. Simple toppings like chashu, menma, and green onion complete a style that became a foundation for ramen across Japan.

Chintan Broth

Ingredients

  • 26 g kombu
  • 2 dried shiitake mushrooms
  • 1 L water
  • 1/2 napa cabbage
  • 3/4 carrot
  • 1/2 white onion
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 15 g ginger
  • 1 large green onion
  • 1 kg chicken backs
  • 1 kg pork femurs
  • 330 g chicken feet, nails removed
  • 65 g pork fat
  • 33 g katsuobushi

Instructions

  1. Soak the kombu and shiitake in 1 L water overnight.
  2. Prepare the vegetables and aromatics.
  3. Blanch chicken bones for 30 seconds and pork bones for 3 minutes.
  4. Add the bones and pork fat to a pot. Bring to a small boil and skim the scum.
  5. Simmer at about 195°F for 6–8 hours.
  6. With 1 1/2 hours remaining, add the aromatics.
  7. Bring the dashi to just below a boil, remove the kombu, and add 33 g katsuobushi.
  8. Steep until the scum is gone, add to the soup, and strain.

Tare

Ingredients

  • 250 ml soy sauce
  • 150 ml light soy sauce
  • 30 ml tamari
  • 40 ml mirin
  • 40 ml sake
  • 15 g kombu and niboshi
  • 5 g MSG

Instructions

  1. Combine the soy sauces, mirin, sake, kombu, and niboshi and soak overnight.
  2. The next day, bring to a boil and remove the solids.
  3. Add the MSG and strain.