Limited-Time Only! I Tried Marugen Ramen's "Taiwan Ramen"!
The other day, I tried a limited-time menu item at Marugen Ramen, so I’d like to share my experience in this blog. I wonder when the last time I had a limited-time menu item at this restaurant was…?
This time, I ordered the "Taiwan Ramen."
I often travel to Taiwan, but when it comes to noodle dishes there, I usually eat beef noodle soup. Looking at the menu, I realized that I haven't actually had Taiwan Ramen much in Taiwan itself.Next time I visit Taiwan, I’d love to try the authentic local version!
Should You Even Order a Limited-Time Menu Item at Marugen Ramen?
I got a bit sidetracked, but when it comes to Marugen Ramen, their signature "Niku Soba" is absolutely delicious. Honestly, if you're not particularly interested in limited-time menu items, there's no need to go out of your way to try them.That said, I was really curious about how their Taiwan Ramen would taste, so I decided to give it a try!
Heading to the Restaurant! Is Level 4 Spiciness Manageable for Those with a Sweet Tooth?
Upon arriving at the restaurant, I was warmly greeted by the energetic staff and quickly guided to my seat. As I opened the menu, I immediately spotted the Taiwan Ramen I was looking for! However, one thing caught my attention—the "Level 4 Spiciness" label. As someone with a sweet tooth, I couldn’t help but wonder just how spicy it would be… I was a bit nervous.
However, Marugen Ramen provides cold tea on the table, so I decided that if things got too spicy, I would rely on the tea to get through the meal. With that plan in mind, I braced myself and went for it! (Haha)
Order Details & Money-Saving Tips
The Taiwan Ramen was priced at 979 yen (tax included). Since I usually try to keep my weekday lunch budget within 1,000 yen, it was right on the edge of my limit.
However, I had a special coupon, so I also ordered the weekday-only fried rice set (with extra portion)! This set was just 220 yen (tax included), and the extra portion was free—definitely a deal I couldn't pass up.
In total, my bill came to 1,199 yen (tax included).
Time to Eat! How Does the Taiwan Ramen Taste...?
After a short wait, the fried rice arrived first! As I was mixing in the beaten egg, my Taiwan Ramen was brought to the table.
It had been a while since I last had Taiwan Ramen—I couldn't even remember the last time I ate it in Japan. Given that it was labeled "Level 4 Spiciness," I was expecting a fiery red broth, but visually, it didn’t look overwhelmingly spicy.
I cautiously took a sip of the soup… It was definitely spicy, but not the extreme heat I had feared from the "Level 4" label. Even as someone with a sweet tooth, I found it quite manageable, which was a relief!
The soy sauce-based broth paired perfectly with the coarsely ground minced meat and garlic chives, creating a rich and satisfying flavor. The ramen was also loaded with bean sprouts, adding a nice crunchy texture that kept things interesting until the last bite.
I sipped on some cold tea along the way, but the spice level wasn’t intense enough to make me cough or struggle. If you're looking for something different from the usual Niku Soba, I highly recommend giving this a try!
After finishing off the remaining soup and fried rice, I was completely full and satisfied with a great lunch.
Great Deals at Checkout! Maximizing Savings with Stamps & Cashless Payment
At checkout, I realized that I had collected 10 stamps, which meant I could use a 500-yen discount coupon! Thanks to this, my final bill came to just 699 yen. I'm so glad I had been diligently collecting those stamps—it really paid off!
On top of that, it happened to be during a 10% cashback campaign for J-Coin Pay, so I decided to use J-Coin Pay for payment after a long time.
I was glad to see that Marugen Ramen accepts J-Coin Pay, but it seemed like the staff wasn’t very familiar with it. I had to explain a little, but in the end, I was able to complete the payment smoothly (haha).
Conclusion: Taiwan Ramen is Definitely Worth Trying!
I was initially worried about the spiciness, but in the end, the Taiwan Ramen had a well-balanced heat that even someone with a sweet tooth could enjoy!
I was also happy that I could take advantage of stamps and cashless payments to make my lunch even more affordable.
Next time a limited-time menu comes out, I’ll definitely be back to try it again!