Chilly Tomato Noodle dish keeps summer cool

The Japanese trend of introducing seasonal cold ramen dishes to combat the sweltering heat is taking shape in Hawaii. On Monday, June 12, Tsukada Nojo launches its Chilly Tomato Noodle, a cold slushy ramen comprised of noodles topped with spicy minced chicken, red miso, and a tomato sorbet. The menu item costs  $13.80, and will be available during all hours of operation until September 30, 2017.

The ramen is aligned with Tsukada Nojo’s farm-to-table approach, incorporating minced chicken from Punachicks, chopped Ewa Farm’s sweet onions, Waimea Farm’s local lemon slices, Kawamata Farm’s tomatoes, and ramen noodles from Sun Noodle. The tomato sorbet—made from the eatery’s hot pot soup base—is mixed in by the server tableside and the finished presentation is a slushy, slurp-worthy chilled noodle dish.

“Unlike our other four ramen which are offered only on our late-night farmer’s hours, this chilled ramen is available from the time we open daily at 5 p.m. to closing,” says Shingo Sato, Executive Chef. “Because Hawaii feels like summer all year long, we may retain the dish on the menu beyond September 30, if it proves to be popular.”

Tsukada Nojo is located at 1731 Kalakaua Avenue, in a brand new two-story building near the Hawaii Convention Center. The restaurant is open from 5:00 – 11:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 5:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. on Sunday.

Last call for food is an hour prior to closing. For drinks, it is 30 minutes prior to closing Sunday through Thursday, and an hour prior on Friday and Saturday. For more information, please call (808) 951-4444.