WHAT WE ATE
- Akita Komenkai Lobster and Hinai Chicken Miso Ramen – 85/100, Tokyo, 26 October 2025
At Tokyo Ramen Festa 2025, Akita Komenkai is serving a limited “Lobster and Hinai Jidori Local Chicken Miso Ramen,” a bowl that brings Akita Prefecture’s prized ingredients to Tokyo’s Komazawa Olympic Park. The collaboration highlights Hinai jidori—one of Japan’s top three regional chicken breeds—paired with a deep, regional miso and a touch of lobster richness that nods to northern coastal influences.
Akita Komenkai represents a collective of ramen artisans from Akita, and their participation offers festival-goers a chance to taste how local craftsmanship translates into a bowl designed for the national stage. For ramen hunters tracking regional flavours and prefectural showcases, this is one that quietly commands attention amid the noise of Tokyo’s biggest ramen event.
Akita Komenkai Lobster and Hinai Chicken Miso Ramen: 85/100
Noodle: 35/35
Medium-thick, straight noodles glide smoothly through the bowl with a springy firmness that feels deliberate rather than incidental. The chew is measured—slightly resistant, yet elastic enough to capture the broth without turning soggy. The noodles carry a distinct wheat aroma that lends a grounded, grainy warmth to the otherwise rich miso-lobster blend. Their thickness and bite are perfectly calibrated for this soup, holding their own against the broth’s weight without losing finesse.
Soup: 30/35
A luxurious pairing of Akita’s renowned Hinai chicken and the mellow depth of lobster. It opens with an umami-heavy miso head accented by the unmistakable scent of shellfish, before settling into a savoury, softly sweet mid-body that hums with chicken richness. The finish is a quiet brininess that lingers just long enough to remind you of its coastal origin. The balance between sea and land is compelling, though the two core flavours—lobster and chicken—sit side by side rather than intertwining fully. A tertiary accent, perhaps spice or smoke, could have pushed the interplay further. Still, it’s refined, clean, and well-tempered for a festival bowl.
Meat: 15/20
A thin slice of pork shoulder accompanies the bowl, firm with minimal fat. It’s tender but stops short of melting, offering structure instead of indulgence. The marination leans savoury with a faint sweetness that echoes the soup’s mid-body, though the meat’s nuance is easily overshadowed by the stronger miso and lobster notes. It feels competent but not commanding—a supporting role rather than a lead.
Toppings: 5/10
The bamboo shoots bring a crisp, snappy contrast and a touch of salinity, while the negi cuts through with a bright piquant freshness that revives the palate. Functional, but restrained. They add rhythm to the bowl rather than flair.
Summary
Overall, Akita Komenkai’s Lobster and Hinai Chicken Miso Ramen is a sophisticated regional showcase—elegant, thoughtful, and clearly crafted with pride. It looks simple at first, yet every element hides a quiet twist: the shellfish-laced miso, the chicken’s understated sweetness, the noodles that marry both worlds seamlessly. Subtle, balanced, and quietly special in its restraint.
DISCLAIMER
One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
Find out more about our palettes and how we evaluate our ramen here. 😉
