四海楼

This is it. This is the birthplace of Nagasaki champon.

Yes, this massive, five-story palace houses a restaurant, gift shop, banquet halls, and a museum.

A champon museum.

I’ll spare you the museum-level details, but around 1899, Shikairo’s chef wanted to make something that mixed Chinese and Japanese cuisine into one. Champon is made from a thick pork soup, sometimes with a lot of egg. The noodles are cooked in the soup, thickening it even more. The whole thing is topped with a stir fry of vegetables, seafood, and meat. If you’ve ever had a Chinese stir fry with seafood and veggies, then you are close to knowing the taste.

Nagaski is packed with champon shops. Most, though not all, have a dozen or so Chinese dishes on the menu. Go with a group and you can have a feast.

Kanpai! Japanese beer and Chinese wine!

So here it is, the original champon in all its glory.

And it was a forgettable one.

The initial satisfaction was certainly there, but that was due to the nature of my empty stomach (filled only with Chinese wine). In the end, this is a bowl for tourists. The one way to make a bowl of champon shine is with the toppings. Colorful, fresh vegetables and straight-from-the-sea seafood can make a bowl fantastic.

But like I said, this was a bowl for tourists. And at 950 yen, they are making a killing.

But you gotta pay homage, no?

Official site here

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長崎県長崎市松ヶ枝町4-5
Nagasaki-ken, Nagasaki-shi, Matsugaemachi 4-5
Closest station: Ourakaigandori

Open 11:00-3:00, 5:00-9:00
(everything in Nagasaki closes at 8pm!!!!)

Ramen Adventures

Ramen Shop Reviews from Japan and Abroad

四海楼 (Shikairo in Nagasaki)

永盛楼 (Eiseiro in Nagasaki)

らぁ麺やまぐち (Yamaguchi in Waseda)

九段斑鳩 (Ikaruga Ramen in Kudanshita)

四海楼 (Shikairo in Nagasaki)

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永盛楼 (Eiseiro in Nagasaki)

らぁ麺 やまぐち (Yamaguchi in Waseda)

九段 斑鳩 (Ikaruga Ramen in Kudanshita)

らぁ麺やまぐち (Yamaguchi in Waseda)

九段斑鳩 (Ikaruga Ramen in Kudanshita)