Is hamburger patty ramen a case of too many good things in one bowl? Let’s find out! [Taste test]

Far from Japan's most visited areas lies a daring fusion dish from an old-fashioned restaurant. Generally, ramen and hamburger patties are poles apart in terms of culinary traditions. For SoraNews24, both are favorites, but usually, a choice must be made between them in one meal. So, Takuya Inaba, a Japanese-language reporter, was intrigued when he stumbled upon hamburger steak ramen.

It sounds like something you'd find at a tourist trap near Tokyo's Shibuya crossing, but instead, it was discovered at Koryu, an old-school ramen restaurant near Lake Sagami in Sagamihara, Kanagawa, a prefecture south of Tokyo.

Koryu, whose name means "Lake Dragon," doesn't appear to chase after trendy food fads. The exterior doesn't give away its uniqueness, but once inside, the rustic, homely atmosphere suggests it's been in business for about 40 years. The menu features traditional ramen options like shoyu (soy sauce broth) and miso ramen, priced at around 680 yen (US$4.30). However, the more premium choices include the hamburger steak ramen, priced at 1,080 yen.

Curiosity piqued, they decided to try it. Upon ordering, they expected an odd-looking bowl of noodles, but what they received was surprisingly normal – noodles, green onions, menma (fermented bamboo shoots), seaweed, kinshi tamago (thin egg strands), and naruto fish cake swirled in the broth.

Taking the standard ramen tasting approach, they began by sipping the broth. It was flavorful with strong umami and a mild saltiness, suggesting a pork stock cooked low and slow. Next, they examined the hamburger steak, which subtly floated beneath the egg. It was unexpected in a dish like this, like a polar bear in broth, but the broth was flavorful, and the noodles, made in-house, had a nice, springy texture. The fermented bamboo shoots also stood out.

Finally, they reached for the hamburger steak. Initially, it was intriguing, but once it was balanced on the spoon, it felt surprisingly substantial. After a few bites, they realized the chef had successfully combined two seemingly disparate flavors into one bowl – the rich, savory taste of the hamburger steak and the umami depth of the ramen broth. The experience was a harmonious blend of unexpected flavors, demonstrating how an unusual fusion dish could still be delicious.