What’s the “magic spell” to enjoy Japanese ramen 10 times more?

Ramen stands alongside sushi and tempura as Japan’s soul food. Soy sauce, miso, salt, pork bone… its diverse flavors have captured stomachs worldwide, establishing “RAMEN” as its own genre overseas. Yet, when sitting at a counter in Japan, beginners face two hurdles: “Ordering Rules” and “Magic Spells (Codes)”.
“Garlic?” “Extra firm noodles!” “Extra veggies!” — These unfamiliar exchanges resemble RPG incantations. These ‘spells’ are the essence of Japan’s deep ramen culture and the key to crafting your own “perfect bowl”. Understand the spells and join the ranks of the “Ramen Masters”!

The Ultimate Guide to Ramen Varieties

The Three Essential “Spell-Required” Types for Customizing Your Order

When traveling in Japan, understanding the representative “flavors (broths)” of ramen is essential. Grasping these will clarify where you’ll need to recite your “spell.”

Shoyu (Soy Sauce)	A Tokyo-born staple. Features a sharp sauce balanced with dashi broth. Perfect for beginners.
Miso (Soybean Paste)	A rich style epitomized by Sapporo-style ramen. Often topped with stir-fried vegetables, warming the body.
Shio (Salt)	Clear broth delivers the pure umami of dashi. Easily showcases individuality through seafood or chicken-based clear broths.
Tonkotsu (Pork Bone)	Originating in Fukuoka, Kurume to Hakata. Famous for its milky white broth + extra-thin noodles, the culture of specifying noodle firmness, and extra noodles (kaedama).
Ie-kei	Tonkotsu Shoyu: Originating in Yokohama. Features a rich tonkotsu soy sauce broth with thick noodles, spinach, and nori. Customizable in three aspects: firmness, richness, and fat content.
Regional Specialties (e.g., Kitakata)	Regional character shines through noodles, broth, and soy sauce aromas. Enjoy alongside sightseeing.
Jiro-style	Overwhelming volume and the “call” chant culture. Garlic, extra veggies, extra fat, extra broth radically transform the bowl’s appearance.

At most shops, simply choosing from the menu is sufficient. However, at tonkotsu (Hakata-style), Iekei, and Jiro-style ramen shops, “chanting” is fundamental. The customer themselves must recite the “spell (call)” for the bowl to be completed. This spell is a “compressed language” that speeds up the collaborative effort between shop and customer. That’s precisely why what you say and when you say it are crucial.

The Three Giants That Require “Spells” for Customization

These styles are based on the core flavors above but require the customer to chant a “spell” (call) to complete the dish. Failing to know the spell is a major rookie mistake!

🍜 A. Jiro-Style Ramen (Shoyu Base):

Spell Element: You must specify the “Quantity of Toppings” (e.g., Yasai Mashimashi). Known for its aggressive volume and “call” culture.

🍜 B. Hakata Tonkotsu Ramen (Tonkotsu Base):

Spell Element: You must specify the “Noodle Firmness” (e.g., Barikata). Known for the “Kaedama” (noodle refill) culture.

🍜 C. Ie-kei Ramen (Pork Bone Soy Sauce Base):

Spell Element: You must customize the three core elements: “Firmness, Richness, and Oil” (e.g., Katame, Koime). Originating in Yokohama.

A. Jiro-style Ramen “Order Chant” Manual

Spell Words for Specifying Topping Quantities
When the staff asks, “Would you like garlic?”, continue with the following words in the order: “Garlic” → “Vegetables” → ‘Oil’ → “Spicy”.

Spell Word	Meaning	Level of Amount / Option
Ninniku (Garlic)	Chopped raw garlic	Standard / Less (Sukuname) / Extra (Mashi) / MAX Extra (Mashimashi) / None (Nuki)
Yasai (Vegetables)	Boiled bean sprouts & cabbage	Standard / Extra (Mashi) / MAX Extra (Mashimashi) / Less (Sukuname)
Abura (Oil)	Pork back fat	Standard / Extra (Mashi) / MAX Extra (Mashimashi) / None (Nuki)
Karame (Richness)	Soy sauce seasoning	Standard / Richer/Darker (Karame) / Lighter/Less Sauce (Usuume/Sukuname)

※“Nuki” literally means “without.”
For example, “Ninniku-nuki” = “without garlic.”

【Order of Ordering】: State your preferences for Ninniku, Yasai, Abura, and Karame in that order, followed by the quantity, in a single breath!

Example (Standard): “Sonomama” (Keep everything as-is, but please add standard garlic.)
Example (Aggressive): “Ninniku Mashi, Yasai Mashimashi, Abura, Karame“

B. HakataTonkotsu Ramen “Order Chant” Manual

Spell Words for Specifying Noodle Firmness
When ordering Hakata-style Tonkotsu Ramen, you can cast “noodle firmness spells” to tell the chef exactly how long to boil your noodles.
Say these words right after handing over your meal ticket or when the staff asks for your preference.

Spell Word	Meaning (Texture)	Notes
Konaotoshi	Almost raw (only a few seconds boiled)	Means “just enough to wash off the flour.”
Harigane	Extremely hard (noodle core remains)	Literally means “wire,” describing the firm texture.
Barikata	Very hard noodles (most popular)	“Bari” means “very” in the Hakata dialect.
Kata	Slightly hard	A moderately firm texture preferred by many locals.
Futsuu	Standard firmness	The default doneness if no preference is stated.
Yawa	Soft	Recommended for those who like noodles that soak up the soup.
Kaedama (Extra Noodles)	Second serving of noodles	Order when you’re about to finish your first serving.

【Order of Ordering】:
When you’re about to finish your first serving, say your firmness level together with the refill word.
Example: “Kaedama, Kata de!” (Extra noodles, firm.)

C. Yokohama Iekei Ramen “Order Chant” Manual

Spell Words for Specifying Noodle, Flavor, and Oil
When ordering Iekei-style ramen, you can customize three elements — noodle firmness, flavor strength, and amount of oil — in this order.
Say them briefly, one after another.

Category	Japanese Word	Meaning
Firmness	Katame / Futsuu / Yawame	Noodle texture: firm / regular / soft
Flavor Strength	Koime / Futsuu / Usume	Soup richness: strong / regular / light
Oil Amount	Oome / Futsuu / Sukuname	Fat level: rich / regular / less

【Order of Ordering】:
State the three elements in this order: “Firmness, Flavor, Oil.”
Example: “Katame, Koime, Oome” — a bold, rich, and punchy bowl.

“Safe Spells” for Ramen Beginners

Purpose-Specific Examples and Good Endings

Recommended for first-time foreign visitors, these fail-safe phrases leave a positive impression on shop owners.

■First-timer’s garlic challenge（Jiro-style）

¸.•*˚｡✩

「Ninniku、Abura」

A balanced order that enjoys the aroma and punch while keeping the quantity standard.

■Wanting to Fix a Veggie Deficit（Jiro-style）

¸.•*˚｡✩

「Yasai、Karame」

Adding extra veggies (Mashi) boosts the health factor. The richer flavor (Kara-me) ensures the increased veggies are well-seasoned.

■Wanting to Experience the Authentic Texture（Tonkotsu-style）

¸.•*˚｡✩

「Barikata」

A Hakata staple and the most popular firmness. Not too hard, it stays delicious without getting soggy until the last bite.

■First-time finishers prioritizing balance（Jiro-style）

¸.•*˚｡✩

「Sonomama」

The magic phrase to enjoy the shop’s “perfect default” flavor without customization. Safest and foolproof.

■Wanting to try extra noodles for the first time（Tonkotsu-style）

¸.•*˚｡✩

「Kaedama、Katade！」

Order just before finishing your first serving (e.g., barikata). Specifying firmness also helps the shop’s workflow run smoothly.

Owner’s Nightmare: “Bad Ending” Spells You Should NEVER Cast

These orders may be viewed as insulting or disruptive to the store’s philosophy and are guaranteed to get you the “stare of death” from the owner.

¸.•*˚｡✩

「Ninniku-nuki、Abura-nuki、Karame-nuki」

An order that rejects all the defining characteristics of Jiro-style ramen. It’s considered a sign you should go to another ramen shop instead.

¸.•*˚｡✩

Flying Call

Reciting your order before the staff asks. This ignores shop rules and is considered the worst breach of etiquette.

¸.•*˚｡✩

「Konaotoshi、Soup-ha-nurumede」

Extremely firm noodles and lukewarm soup clash, nullifying the noodles’ appeal. It disregards the owner’s dedication.
※At some ramen shops, you can request your soup to be served lukewarm（Nurume）.
This is a rare customization that tones down the overall heat.

The Ultimate Umami: The Joy of Customizing Your Perfect Ramen Bowl

The “spell” culture in Japanese ramen shops is more than just an ordering method. It is an art completed between customer and owner, an expression of the craftsmanship involved in pursuing the ultimate flavor tailored to one’s preferences. Especially in Jiro-style or tonkotsu ramen, specifying the amount of toppings alone can dramatically change the flavor. This meticulous customization is precisely what makes Japanese ramen uniquely special worldwide.

Now, master the incantations with this guide and elevate your ramen experience in Japan to the next level. Cast the ultimate “incantation” and enjoy your best ramen journey yet!

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