Hirosaki Ebi Tomato Ramen is a ramen specialty shop in Hirosaki that opened in mid-April 2024. It shares its roots with Tōkyō-based ramen stores Ebisoba Kingyo and Ebi Tomato, with the owner having trained at Tōkyō Ebi Tomato before launching the Hirosaki location.
As fans of the tomato ramen from Kyūshū Ramen Kio in Ōsaka, the opportunity to try a northern Japan interpretation featuring both tomato and shrimp was irresistible.
The menu offers four types of ramen: Hirosaki Shrimp Tomato Ramen, Lobster Soba, Tanrei Tonkotsu Soba, and Habanero Shrimp Tomato Ramen, alongside side options like cabbage and baguette. Additional toppings, such as roast pork, boiled egg, cabbage, and cheese rice, can also be added.
Hirosaki Ebi Tomato (¥1,350, includes cabbage, baguette, egg and roast pork)
The store’s signature dish combines a chicken- and pork-based soup with tomatoes and shrimp. The tomatoes, sourced from a farm in Italy, are naturally sweet, ripe, and low in acidity, making up one-third of the soup’s composition. The recipe uses reduced oil to create a lighter broth compared to traditional ramen.
The result was a thick, velvety tomato soup bursting with vibrant tomato flavour, enriched by shrimp overtones in every bite. The use of low-acidity tomatoes complemented the savoury profile of the broth, enhancing its umami and creating a well-balanced, satisfying richness. The thin, straight noodles had a pleasant al dente texture, and the baguette was perfect for soaking up the soup. The roast pork was tender, and the egg was perfectly cooked, with a luscious, oozy centre. Overall, this bowl of ramen delivered a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable experience, worthy of a repeat visit.
Lobtster Ramen (¥1,350, includes cabbage, baguette, egg and roast pork)
A decadent variation on the signature ramen, this dish features a lobster-infused broth made by extracting flavour from lobster heads, combined with the same chicken- and pork-based soup and a touch of sweet, special miso.
The resulting broth was luxuriously thick, akin to a lobster bisque, with the miso amplifying the shrimp flavour to create a deeply rich, indulgent soup. The menu’s playful suggestion to “wonder how many lobsters are in it” felt entirely appropriate. While the lobster ramen’s intense richness was impressive, we preferred the lighter, more nuanced flavour of the Shrimp Tomato Ramen, which offered better balance for repeated enjoyment.
Hirosaki Ebi Tomato Ramen delivered an tasty Westernised ramen experience, with seafood taking an already outstanding tomato soup to new heights. It evoked fond memories of Kyūshū Ramen Kio in Ōsaka and left us keen to explore Ebi Tomato Ramen’s sister shops in Tōkyō.
Hirosaki Ebi Tomato Ramen is located at 1F M’s Fara Building, 6-6 Ekimae-cho, Hirosaki City, Aomori Prefecture 036-8003, Japan.