Sanma-men (Ramen topped with thickened vegetables)
Crisp vegetables and savory thickened sauce top this warming Yokohama ramen.
About Sanma-men (Ramen topped with thickened vegetables)
Sanma-men is a regional ramen dish that originated in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. It consists of thin noodles in a soy sauce- or salt-based broth, topped with crisp vegetables and pork stir-fried and coated in a thickened sauce. Despite the word “sanma” in its name, the dish has no connection to Pacific saury. The name is said to derive from the Cantonese terms “生” (fresh) and “馬” (to place on top), written together as “生碼麺.”
Sanma-men began to be served in the late 1940s as a hearty dish that stayed warm for workers at Yokohama Port, and gradually became more widely known. Bean sprouts are an essential ingredient; other colorful vegetables such as Chinese cabbage, wood ear mushrooms, and carrots are also used, along with pork. The thickened topping blends well with the broth and helps keep the dish warm, making it especially popular in colder seasons.
Today, Sanma-men is enjoyed throughout Kanagawa Prefecture, particularly in Yokohama Chinatown, and is considered an emblematic part of Yokohama’s food culture.
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ラーメン太郎 2025/02/10
うまい！
