Sanma-men
A heartwarming bowl of stir-fried vegetables and savory thick sauce from Yokohama!
About Sanma-men
Sanma-men (サンマーメン, Sanma-men) is a local ramen specialty that originated in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. This dish combines thin noodles in a soy sauce or salt-based broth topped with stir-fried vegetables and pork coated in a luscious thick sauce. Despite its name “Sanma,” which might bring to mind the fish mackerel, the name actually derives from the Cantonese words for “fresh” (生) and “to place on top” (碼), meaning freshly-topped noodles.
Sanma-men began in the late 1940s as a hearty and warming meal for dock workers at Yokohama Port, and it gradually grew in popularity. Bean sprouts are an essential ingredient, along with other vibrant vegetables such as napa cabbage, wood ear mushrooms, carrots, and pork, creating a colorful and flavorful topping. The thick sauce clings perfectly to the broth, providing a rich and comforting taste that is especially loved during the colder months.
Today, Sanma-men is a beloved dish across Kanagawa Prefecture, with its heart in Yokohama Chinatown. It has become a culinary symbol of Yokohama's vibrant food culture.
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ラーメン太郎 2025/02/10
うまい！
