Hiyashi Chūka - Cold ramen for hot summer days

Hello summer!

As temperatures rise, it's time for a refreshing alternative to a steaming ramen bowl: Hiyashi Chūka – the cold ramen variant from Japan that's on the menu in many Japanese households and restaurants during the summer. In this article, you'll learn what makes Hiyashi Chūka so special, how to easily prepare it at home – and where you can buy the right ingredients from RamenStar .

What is Hiyashi Chuka?

Hiyashi Chūka (冷やし中華) literally translates to "chilled Chinese noodles." While the dish's roots lie in Chinese cuisine, today it's a popular Japanese summer classic . It features cold ramen noodles with colorful toppings and a refreshing, spicy sauce.

The ingredients are light, colorful, and versatile – ideal for warm days when you want something hearty yet refreshing.

Popular Toppings for Hiyashi Chūka

A great appeal of Hiyashi Chūka lies in the variety of toppings. Classics include:

Finely sliced ham or chicken breast

  • Julienne cucumber
  • tomato slices
  • Omelette cut into thin strips (Kinshi Tamago)
  • Wakame or pickled seaweed
  • Edamame
  • Sesame or spring onions
  • A dollop of Japanese mustard (Karashi, Jap. 芥子 or 辛子) or some mayonnaise for the kick

Tip: You can also make your cold ramen vegan – for example with tofu, avocado or grilled vegetables.

🍜 The perfect sauce for Hiyashi Chūka - Here's the recipe:

The classic Hiyashi-Chūka sauce is based on a spicy-sour mixture of:

Ingredients:

  • 6 tbsp soy sauce
  • 4.5 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 3 tbsp water
  • 2.25 tbsp sugar (approx. 2 tbsp + 1 tsp)
  • 1.5 tsp sesame oil
  • Optional: 1.5 tsp freshly grated ginger or some garlic

Preparation:

  1. Put all ingredients in a bowl.
  2. Stir well until the sugar dissolves completely.
  3. Chill in the refrigerator or pour directly over chilled ramen.

Tip: The sauce will keep in the refrigerator (in a screw-top jar) for up to 3 days.

For a nutty variation, you can use goma-dare – a sesame sauce with miso and tahini.

Easy to prepare Hiyashi Chūka

  1. Boil ramen noodles for 2.5-3 minutes —e.g., our ramen noodles from RamenStar . Then rinse thoroughly and refresh in ice water.
  2. Prepare the toppings – cut everything into fine strips.
  3. Mix the sauce – sweet, sour, salty and refreshing.
  4. To serve – Place pasta in the bowl, pour sauce over it, and arrange toppings decoratively on top.
  5. Enjoy – best served with ice cubes or well chilled.

🍜 RamenStar ramen noodles are ideal for cold Hiyashi Chūka dishes.

We deliver directly to your home – quickly, easily, and with a love of Japanese food culture.

Conclusion: Hiyashi Chūka – Summer in Japanese

Hiyashi Chūka is the perfect summer dish : light, refreshing, and incredibly versatile. Whether classic or vegan, with our ingredients you can conjure up a piece of Japan in your kitchen in just a few minutes.

Try Hiyashi Chūka yourself – your taste buds will thank you!

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