Think in layers: the broth gives the bowl its foundation, tare sets the seasoning, and aromatic oil adds fragrance and richness.
- 01BROTH
The foundation
- 02TARE
The seasoning
- 03CHIYU
The aroma
Start with the broth.
Chicken broth provides the underlying savory flavor and body. Tare and oil are added to that foundation; tasting plain stock is only part of understanding the finished soup.
At Isshoku, our chicken broth is simmered in our kitchen daily. The chicken-broth bowls on our menu are paired with thin noodles.
Tare gives the soup direction.
Tare is a concentrated seasoning mixture. Shio, shoyu and miso describe familiar seasoning directions; the stock itself may be made with chicken, pork or other ingredients.
This is why “chicken broth” and “shio ramen” can describe the same bowl. One tells you about the base, the other about its seasoning. When tasting, notice the saltiness and savory finish as well as the stock.
Chiyu adds the aromatic layer.
Chiyu is chicken fat used as an aroma oil. It can be rendered from chicken skin and added to the soup, contributing chicken aroma, richness and a different feel on the palate.
Our menu describes the chicken broth with aromatic chiyu. Oil is one part of the balance: adding more changes the bowl, but does not necessarily make it more balanced.
A simple way to taste the difference.
Next time you eat ramen, pause before mixing everything together. Notice the aroma, taste a spoonful of soup, then try it with the noodles. Which flavors remain? How does the soup feel?
If you already have prepared stock, tare and chicken oil at home, compare small samples of stock alone, seasoned stock, and seasoned stock with a little oil. Change one component at a time so you can notice what it contributes. This is a tasting exercise, not a recipe or a guide to proportions.
Find the layers in your next bowl.
Chicken Shio brings ume and shiso to our chicken-broth lineup. Japanese Citrus Dashi and Spicy Japanese Citrus Dashi offer two other directions, with kakuni pork among their toppings. A chicken-broth base does not mean every topping is chicken.
Our ramen guide compares all five bowls, and the menu lists their ingredients. If you have food allergies, speak with the team before ordering.
Compare our ramen