Journeys in photographs and words.

A little of each town’s story

Onomichi, Hiroshima

Onomichi ramen

From: Onomichi ramen and homemade okonomiyaki

The bowl with chashu, bamboo shoots and green onion
The bowl with chashu, bamboo shoots and green onion

A soy sauce broth combined with stock from Setouchi small fish such as dried sardines, topped with pork back fat. Firm, flat noodles are the norm and hold the soup well. It became widely known as an Onomichi specialty after media coverage in the 1990s.

Sources: dive-hiroshima.com ja.wikipedia.org

This moment in the journey

Onomichi ramen: Setouchi broth and back fat

My day in Onomichi began with ramen. Onomichi ramen is made with a broth of dried sardines from the Seto Inland Sea, seasoned with soy sauce and topped with minced pork back fat. When I lifted the flat noodles, beads of fat glittered in the clear soup. On top sat slices of chashu, bamboo shoots and chopped green onion.

Light and rich at the same time, in a single bowl: a luxurious taste. Behind the counter, noodle strainers stood in a row, steaming. On the side I had jako-gohan, rice topped with Setouchi whitebait and an egg yolk, and a plate of chicken with salt and ponzu, packed with flavor.

On the wall hung a poster for a video game set in Onomichi. All the leading actors and supporting characters give great performances, I thought, and that went for the ramen, the rice and the chicken too.

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Lifting the flat noodles of Onomichi ramen with chopsticks
Lifting the flat noodles of Onomichi ramen with chopsticks
A spoonful of soy broth dotted with back fat
A spoonful of soy broth dotted with back fat
Noodle strainers lined up in the steaming kitchen
Noodle strainers lined up in the steaming kitchen
A bowl of rice topped with whitebait and an egg yolk
A bowl of rice topped with whitebait and an egg yolk
Taking a bite of the whitebait rice
Taking a bite of the whitebait rice
Holding the bowl of whitebait rice
Holding the bowl of whitebait rice
A plate of chicken with salt and ponzu, topped with green onion
A plate of chicken with salt and ponzu, topped with green onion
A poster for a video game set in Onomichi, with signed boards on the wall
A poster for a video game set in Onomichi, with signed boards on the wall