Overview
To whip up a hearty, soupy bowl of ramen, you need a warm, thick broth, a handful of long, slurp-worthy noodles and a selection of toppings — ranging from thin slices of char siu pork and marinated hardboiled eggs to a smattering of bamboo pieces and a sheet of nori. That's how the folks at Taro's Ramen make it, and the recipe has been filling Brisbanites' stomachs for years. Now, the Japanese joint wants you to cook it up at home, too.
Not quite sure how to boil up the ideal creamy pork stock flavoured with soy and burnt garlic? Uncertain about the right mix of soy and kombu dashi to use with your eggs? That's where Taro's new DIY home packs come in. The restaurant chain prepares all the ingredients for you and packages them up separately, all ready for you to put them all together in your own kitchen. That's a few of your isolation meals taken care of, whether you slurp your way through them immediately or freeze some for later.
Taro's stores in Stones Corner and Ascot are also still open for takeaway orders and deliveries to nearby suburbs, should you want your ramen fix now; however if you'd like delicious, restaurant-quality noodle soups for days, these packs have you covered. The full pack comes with eight serves of broth and noodles ($62), split between classic tonkotsu and iekei broths. Or, you can mix and match half packs ($28.10–$34.70), picking between classic, miso, shoyu, shio, red (with mild chilli) and fire (with spicy chilli) options — with vegan classic, red and fire varieties also available.
If you're opting for half packs, you will need to purchase at least two — and, either way, you'll also need to purchase your toppings separately. Ramen lovers can choose packs of pork and tofu char siu, chicken, marinated eggs, nori, bamboo, red ginger, as well as extra noodles. And, because every good ramen meal starts with a serving of takana, you can order a packet of the picked mustard leaves too.
To help you make ramen that Taro's owner and namesake Taro Akimoto would be proud of, he's also put together a video that walks you through the cooking steps:
You will need to order Taro's home packs a week in advance, though; however they're available for pickup and, if you live in the Brisbane City Council area, for delivery as well.
For more information about Taro's home packs — or to order one — visit the chain's website. Taro's Stones Corner and Ascot are also open for takeaway orders, as well as deliveries to suburbs in the Brisbane City Council area.
If you're choosing to go out and support local businesses, have a look at the latest COVID-19 advice and social-distancing guidelines from the Department of Health.
Top image: Anwyn Howarth.