WHAT WE ATE
- Miso Chashu Ramen (Millstone) – 95/100, Nagano
- Karamiso Ramen (Millstone) – 65/100, Nagano
Misoya (らぁめん みそ家) stands as a beloved local gem in Nagano City, renowned for its flavorful miso ramen. Crafted with a base of Shinshu miso, the broth exudes a delightful smokiness, achieved through the incorporation of stir-fried vegetables.
Misoya’s flagship offering is their renowned miso ramen, featuring the esteemed Shinshu miso, a revered variety in Japan. Derived from the ancient name of the Nagano region, “Shinshu” miso infuses the dish with its quintessential earthy, sweet, and nuanced flavors, serving as the very essence of the ramen.
Their menu boasts a variation of their ramen featuring locally sourced millstone wheat noodles, available for a slight premium in price, a worthwhile investment for discerning palates.
MISO CHASHU RAMEN (MILLSTONE) – 95/100
Noodle: 35/35
Featuring thick, angular-cut noodles with a distinct earthy hue, offering a satisfyingly firm, chewy, and springy texture. Trimmed short for optimal slurping, each bite delivers a dense, satisfying mouthfeel. Taste-wise, the noodles boast a wholesome earthiness, possibly influenced by the millstone or the meticulous handmade process, enhancing their flavor profile.
Soup: 30/35
Crafted from a blend of chicken, pork, and Shinshu miso, the base broth delivers a savory punch with subtle fermented bean notes. Its sweet, nutty undertones blend seamlessly with the garlic, resulting in a complex flavor profile that tantalizes the taste buds.
Note: Shinshu miso, also known as yellow miso, undergoes traditional handmade fermentation, imbuing it with a distinct funkiness.
Meat: 20/20
The grilled chashu offers a lean yet tender texture, with charred edges and meltingly fatty portions. Thorough marination infuses the meat with a rich, savory sweetness that intensifies with each chew, leaving a lingering, irresistible taste.
Topping: 10/10
A generous portion of crunchy, garlic-infused star fry vegetables—white onion, bean sprouts, and carrots—adds a refreshing contrast to the broth. Though subtly flavored, additional toppings like negi contribute to the overall depth of the dish.
KARAMISO RAMEN (MILLSTONE) – 65/100
Noodle: 35/35
Consistency is key here, with the same thick, angular-cut noodles boasting an earthy hue and satisfying texture. Trimmed short for optimal slurping, they offer a dense, chewy mouthfeel and a wholesome earthiness that elevates the overall dish.
Soup: 20/35
While the base broth remains unchanged, the addition of spicy minced karamiso paste transforms the experience. The savory punch is still present, but now with a lingering spicy kick that gradually overtakes the subtle sweet and nutty undertones. Despite its enjoyable flavor, it falls slightly short compared to the traditional miso counterpart.
Meat: 0/20
Reviewing the meat department proves challenging, as there’s a notable absence of chashu (this is a no-chashu version). So, the dish relies solely on minced meat from the karamiso paste. Heavily seasoned with spices, the meat offers minimal opportunity to discern its original flavor, leaving only a faint hint of its innate meatiness overshadowed by intense spiciness.
On another note, if you order the chashu variant, this dish instantly becomes a 85/100 version. 😉
Topping: 10/10
Consistently providing a refreshing crunch, the stir-fried garlic-infused vegetables complement the broth perfectly. Generous portions of white onion, bean sprouts, and carrots, along with subtle additions like negi, add depth to the dish’s flavor profile.
DISCLAIMER
One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
Find out more about our palettes and how we evaluate our ramen here. 😉
