Yoshioka Magurobushi Center

Yoshioka Magurobushi Center. It’s a ramen shop in Hotarugaike, Osaka, but you don’t hear the term “magurobushi” very often, do you? I was driving past the shop once and the phrase “magurobushi” immediately piqued my interest. When I happened to have a chance to visit the area near Hotarugaike, I decided to stop by and try their magurobushi ramen. This ramen, which features magurobushi as its main ingredient, is probably still quite rare even nationwide. If you’re curious, please keep reading this article all the way to the end…

Actually, they’re expanding various ramen brands all over the country… Here’s what the Yoshioka Magurobushi Center is like…

To be honest, I didn’t even know the name of this place, the Yoshioka Magurobushi Center, until I walked right past it, but it turns out it was launched by a company with a pretty impressive track record in running ramen shops. Their track record is listed on the website of a company called “Thanks to All Our Customers Co., Ltd.” The ramen brands they’ve launched are truly scattered from one end of the country to the other, and their expansion isn’t limited to Japan—they’ve even opened locations in Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Scattered throughout this list are shops I’ve actually visited myself—starting with Shimada Seimen Shokudoin Toyonaka, followed by Toripaitan Soba Kishira in Suita, and Kyoto Toripaitan Soba Jun in Kyoto… Seeing this, isn’t the quality of the ramen practically guaranteed?

That aside—and I suspect this was intentional—the shop has a fairly simple, trailer-house-style design. When I first saw the shop, I thought, “Is this a pop-up?” It certainly looks like it would be easy to pack up when they close shop. Seeing this trailer-style shop, I also got the impression that it might be a bit of a “wild” kind of place, but the atmosphere inside was that of a perfectly ordinary ramen shop. In fact, I saw female customers and elderly patrons slurping up their ramen, so I think it’s a place anyone can feel comfortable visiting.

My First Taste of Tuna Flake Ramen! The Yoshioka Magurobushi Center’s Top-of-the-Line Menu Item: Premium Magurobushi Chinese Noodles. So, how did it actually taste?

Now, let me introduce the Premium Magurobushi Chinese Noodles (price: 1,470 yen, tax included)—the restaurant’s top-of-the-line menu item—which I ordered that day at the Yoshioka Magurobushi Center. After placing my order, I waited just over 10 minutes, and this is what the Premium Magurobushi Chinese Noodles looked like when they were brought to my table…

The broth peeking through the gaps in the toppings looks light and refreshing. The toppings covering the entire bowl include two types of chashu pork, a soft-boiled egg, chopped onions, and mizuna greens—a lineup that creates a luxurious visual that makes you think, “That’s what you’d expect from a premium dish!”

Now, let’s dive right into the main attraction: the bonito flake soup… Although it’s called “Magurobushi Chinese Noodles,” the broth isn’t made solely from bonito flakes. While bonito flakes are the main ingredient, a variety of other ingredients are used, including kelp, esox, roasted flying fish dried fish, small dried sardines, and shiitake mushrooms. Not only does it look clear, but the flavor is also crisp and clean, with the toasty aroma of roasted flying fish and a rich sweetness.

As for the noodles, they’re medium-thick, flat noodles with a super-smooth surface. They’re substantial noodles that feel packed with wheat; when biting into them, they have a firm, springy texture, and the aroma of wheat gently wafts up to the nose.

On the other hand, the char siu—the main topping—was a bit of a letdown. There were two types: seared char siu and sous-vide-style char siu. Neither was poorly prepared, but… both were incredibly thin. I think this would be fine for the standard ramen, but I ordered the “Premium” version this time. Since it’s the Premium and I paid nearly 1,500 yen for it, I honestly thought, “Come on, give me a bit more meat…”

So, that’s how it went—I finished the Premium Magurobushi Chinese Noodles from Yoshioka Magurobushi Center in about five minutes and left the restaurant. The magurobushi-based broth was incredibly refined, and the flavor lingered in my mouth even as I walked out, allowing me to enjoy the umami for quite a while. There still aren’t that many magurobushi ramen shops nationwide, so I might come back for another visit. Well, I think the standard ramen will be plenty next time, though…

Other Sample Menu Items at the Yoshioka Magurobushi Center (Prices include tax)

• Niboshi Mixed Soba: 1,390 yen
• Rich Crab Miso Ramen: 1,320 yen
• Spicy and Savory Chicken White Broth Ramen: 1,250 yen
• Taiwanese Curry Mixed Soba: 1,210 yen
• Yuzu-Scented Shio Soba: 1,210 yen
• Chicken White Broth Ramen: 1,100 yen
• Magurobushi Chinese-Style Soba: 990 yen

Get great deals through the official LINE account… To get to the Yoshioka Magurobushi Center, it’s a short walk from Hotarugaike Station on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line (Osaka Monorail), the nearest station.

The Yoshioka Magurobushi Center runs an official LINE account…

You can earn great rewards by collecting stamps. Visit 5 times to get 2 free pieces of fried chicken, and visit 10 times to get a free bowl of ramen. While 10 visits can often feel like a pretty high hurdle, isn’t it great that you can get a reward after just 5 visits? To make sure you don’t miss out on this perk, be sure to set up the LINE account before you visit.

Now, here are the shop details…

P.S. If you’re looking for delicious ramen in Osaka, be sure to check out this article as well…