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Oishinbo a la carte #3
Ramen and Gyoza
The best selling and most beloved food manga of all time!
As part of the celebrations for its 100th anniversary, the publishers of the Tōzai News have commissioned the creation of the "Ultimate Menu," a model meal embodying the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine. This all-important task has been entrusted to journalist Yamaoka Shirō, an inveterate cynic who possesses no initiative--but also an incredibly refined palate and an encyclopedic knowledge of food.
Few foods inspire as much passion and partisanship as the dish of noodles in broth known as "ramen." Hot or cold, plain or miso, from fancy fusion creations to humble roadside takeout, ramen is truly a beloved food, one that can give rise to fierce loyalty or fiercer criticism (not to mention the occasional fistfight). In this volume of Oishinbo , Yamaoka and company inquire into the "soul of ramen," from the flour used in the noodles to the chickens used in the broth. And where there's ramen, there's gyô little dumplings made with a variety of fillings and served as a side dish. Will Yamaoka be able to create an "ultimate" gyôza before Kaibara creates a "supreme" one?
As part of the celebrations for its 100th anniversary, the publishers of the Tōzai News have commissioned the creation of the "Ultimate Menu," a model meal embodying the pinnacle of Japanese cuisine. This all-important task has been entrusted to journalist Yamaoka Shirō, an inveterate cynic who possesses no initiative--but also an incredibly refined palate and an encyclopedic knowledge of food.
Few foods inspire as much passion and partisanship as the dish of noodles in broth known as "ramen." Hot or cold, plain or miso, from fancy fusion creations to humble roadside takeout, ramen is truly a beloved food, one that can give rise to fierce loyalty or fiercer criticism (not to mention the occasional fistfight). In this volume of Oishinbo , Yamaoka and company inquire into the "soul of ramen," from the flour used in the noodles to the chickens used in the broth. And where there's ramen, there's gyô little dumplings made with a variety of fillings and served as a side dish. Will Yamaoka be able to create an "ultimate" gyôza before Kaibara creates a "supreme" one?
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2005
23 people are currently reading
330 people want to read
About the author
Tetsu Kariya
319 books46 followers雁屋哲
Manga writer and essayist extraordinaire Tetsu Kariya graduated from prestigious Tokyo University. Kariya was employed with a major advertising agency before making his debut as a manga writer in 1974, when he teamed up with legendary manga artist Ryoichi Ikegami to create Otoko Gumi (Male Gang). The worlds of food and manga were forever changed in 1983 when Kariya, together with artist Akira Hanasaki, created the immensely popular and critically acclaimed Oishinbo.
Manga writer and essayist extraordinaire Tetsu Kariya graduated from prestigious Tokyo University. Kariya was employed with a major advertising agency before making his debut as a manga writer in 1974, when he teamed up with legendary manga artist Ryoichi Ikegami to create Otoko Gumi (Male Gang). The worlds of food and manga were forever changed in 1983 when Kariya, together with artist Akira Hanasaki, created the immensely popular and critically acclaimed Oishinbo.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
July 5, 2017
It's getting a bit ridiculous how Yamaoka and his father keep running into one another even when they're not in Tokyo. But whatever, I'm here for the food.
But that's not to say that Oishinbo only deal with food -- as always, other issues are present, such as racist language, classism, and emotional problems between individuals.
November 8, 2014
Well, I gotta say....After just finishing the manga about Sake THIS volume was a very, very light read....I was almost disappointed at how light this book was because the Sake volume was SO educational. I mean all of the Oishinbo volumes teach you things about various food/drink but like I said this felt very light on....Maybe, it's incase you have a hangover from all the sake trying that they didn't want to sozzle your brain with too much info!! Haha
This is also where the storyline becomes a bit blurred...Unlike the earlier volumes it becomes more apparent that this volume has been pasted together from the original mangas. Meaning the personal storylines are actually getting in the way because they are "mangled" together and things don't make complete sense. Personally, I think it would of been better if they had just released the full storyline translated rather than it being pieced together.
Anways, this manga will make your mouth water as you learn/read about ramen, other noodle dishes and gyoza. As always the plot line is fairly basic and it usually becomes a show down between Shiro and his father..They try to best each other. What is refreshing is things don't always go the way either of them want! However, the father is always a prick! You sometimes feel like shouting at the pages, telling him to give Shiro a break but you know it'll never happen.
This is also where the storyline becomes a bit blurred...Unlike the earlier volumes it becomes more apparent that this volume has been pasted together from the original mangas. Meaning the personal storylines are actually getting in the way because they are "mangled" together and things don't make complete sense. Personally, I think it would of been better if they had just released the full storyline translated rather than it being pieced together.
Anways, this manga will make your mouth water as you learn/read about ramen, other noodle dishes and gyoza. As always the plot line is fairly basic and it usually becomes a show down between Shiro and his father..They try to best each other. What is refreshing is things don't always go the way either of them want! However, the father is always a prick! You sometimes feel like shouting at the pages, telling him to give Shiro a break but you know it'll never happen.
December 17, 2017
Uno de las entregas que a priori más me interesaban (por el tipo de especialidad: los fideos y empanadas), y sin embargo, ha sido la más floja a nivel culinario- técnico hasta la fecha. Y si no lo han alargado (porque siempre se “enrollan” con eso de los Delicatessen Nipones hasta la extenuación), es por que no daba más de sí.
Me ha decepcionado bastante lo poco que se ha tratado el Ramen; lo más destacable ha sido la importancia de la elaboración e ingredientes en la masa madre y su tipo de agua. Apenas hubo recetas y variedad. Respecto a los Gyoza, esto sí está más explicado culinariamente, pero he encontrado a faltar más detalles.
En fin, ha sido un tercer volumen en el cual han prevalecido las historias, con los particulares duelos entre los enteradillos de turno: Yzan y Shiro y mucha “paja” argumental (muy random y que ya se repiten), por encima de la cocina, que es lo que me interesa.
No le pongo peor nota respecto a los anteriores, pues ya mi puntuación es floja de por sí. No creo que sea una entrega de “no me gusta”, es un número de pasable y punto.
El mejor hasta el momento es el 2º: “Sake”.
Me ha decepcionado bastante lo poco que se ha tratado el Ramen; lo más destacable ha sido la importancia de la elaboración e ingredientes en la masa madre y su tipo de agua. Apenas hubo recetas y variedad. Respecto a los Gyoza, esto sí está más explicado culinariamente, pero he encontrado a faltar más detalles.
En fin, ha sido un tercer volumen en el cual han prevalecido las historias, con los particulares duelos entre los enteradillos de turno: Yzan y Shiro y mucha “paja” argumental (muy random y que ya se repiten), por encima de la cocina, que es lo que me interesa.
No le pongo peor nota respecto a los anteriores, pues ya mi puntuación es floja de por sí. No creo que sea una entrega de “no me gusta”, es un número de pasable y punto.
El mejor hasta el momento es el 2º: “Sake”.
January 20, 2015
Quite a bit less in depth and detailed than the previous volume about sake had been. Kind of a shame. I was kind of hoping to learn just as much about ramen as I had about sake. Instead, this volume leans more on that overarching story: the Ultimate Menu, the father-son rivalry, etc. Which doesn't work out so well. As a sort of "greatest hits" compilation, the long-running story gets shredded to pieces. It is nice that the extensive end notes will help the reader keep that story straight, but it would be better if we didn't need those at all. Some of this can't be helped. This is an incredibly long-running book (more than two decades!) and it just isn't feasible to think that any American company would translate the entire thing. But they could have (in theory) taken more care to avoid collecting the chapters that do rely on the story. Then again, maybe that isn't possible, either. I don't know just how important the ongoing stories were in the original version. Still, I'm glad to get the chance to read this series, fragmented as it is.
February 7, 2019
I like this series. It's approachable, has a good amount of info, has a fun driving story, also attempts to address (and does so decently) issues like racism and sexism. A good food manga, this volume was entertaining and educational
July 7, 2021
so cute and fun!!!!! and makes me so hungry i want to throw hands for a bowl of ramen
February 3, 2010
I've decided to start basing my ratings on how educational these are. Unlike the first Volume, they are starting (with Volume 2) to get a bit more choppy story-wise. However, I'm taking away a wealth of knowledge, and not all about food!
This book primarily deals with noodle dishes. A few misconceptions on cold noodle dishes, ramen, the preparation of noodles, the actual cooking of noodles and a harsh beat down on the use of MSG are prominent in this volume.
It still cracks me up whenever the father and son go head to head- and I appreciate that every outcome is a surprise, there's no clear leaning of the author toward one or the other. And the story works well for providing an education about the subject matter (and now there are a few dishes I really want to try).
The ending provided a surprise lesson to me on the origins of China's name and how they react to it in Japan. Really fascinating look at history.
If anything, these books are making me desperately want to visit Japan!
This book primarily deals with noodle dishes. A few misconceptions on cold noodle dishes, ramen, the preparation of noodles, the actual cooking of noodles and a harsh beat down on the use of MSG are prominent in this volume.
It still cracks me up whenever the father and son go head to head- and I appreciate that every outcome is a surprise, there's no clear leaning of the author toward one or the other. And the story works well for providing an education about the subject matter (and now there are a few dishes I really want to try).
The ending provided a surprise lesson to me on the origins of China's name and how they react to it in Japan. Really fascinating look at history.
If anything, these books are making me desperately want to visit Japan!
November 8, 2014
Half the fun of this manga is its mere existence. One always hears about the sheer variety of subject matter supposedly available in manga form in Japan, so it's gratifying to see something non-fantasy or SF get an English translation. Oishinbo is odd. What's being translated are selected chapters of a much longer series, which revolves around the cuisine of Japan. Rather than translate the entire series, Viz has opted for selected chapters, sort of a Greatest Hits approach. Since the main emphasis is on the food anyway, there's not a lot of continuity from volume to volume. I've read volumes 1 and 3, but none of the rest yet, but it doesn't feel like I've missed anything. One drawback to reading these: they'll make you hungry. Time to go make a snack ...
December 20, 2016
So I accidentally read this one first, and will now go back to the very first volume (oops). But, regardless, what Western readers should realize is that Oishinbo was an incredibly popular comic in Japan, only recently going on an indefinite hiatus. We're talking a run from 1983 to 2014, with each volume selling about 1.2 million copies. According to ye olde Wikipedia, that's more than 130 million copies. Culturally, in America, we can't imagine something centering around food having this kind of popularity.
So, think of these volumes as a greatest-hits of this series, with some plot gaps you'll have to fill in yourself or with the notes. (From what I'm seeing of other reviews, the fact that this is pieced together becomes very apparent in this volume compared to others.)
My first impression, after dropping myself into the middle of things, is that Yamaoka is definitely an anti-hero, and a royal jerk at times. I don't care much for his character, or understand why Kurita goes for this dude. But, plot aside, the food is really eye-opening. What we may consider ramen is an outright sin compared to what's in this volume, with even the quality of flour coming under scrutiny. I'm looking at my PB&J sandwich as an affront knowing how little care was put into its parts.
So, I think if you're looking for some insight into Japan's cuisine, and are looking for a good cultural read, this will be fun to go through. Read it for the food, not for the plot.
So, think of these volumes as a greatest-hits of this series, with some plot gaps you'll have to fill in yourself or with the notes. (From what I'm seeing of other reviews, the fact that this is pieced together becomes very apparent in this volume compared to others.)
My first impression, after dropping myself into the middle of things, is that Yamaoka is definitely an anti-hero, and a royal jerk at times. I don't care much for his character, or understand why Kurita goes for this dude. But, plot aside, the food is really eye-opening. What we may consider ramen is an outright sin compared to what's in this volume, with even the quality of flour coming under scrutiny. I'm looking at my PB&J sandwich as an affront knowing how little care was put into its parts.
So, I think if you're looking for some insight into Japan's cuisine, and are looking for a good cultural read, this will be fun to go through. Read it for the food, not for the plot.
July 10, 2017
Another amazing Oishinbo comic book. It truly lives up to its blurb at the back, "endlessly informative yet entertaining" (paraphrased). It describes and explains so much of Japanese cuisine, which remains a mystery to me. This series has helped clear up some of the mysteriousness surrounding Japanese cuisine (maybe it's only mysterious to me) and it does so in an entertaining way. It doesn't bore me about its culinary greatness. It shows it and demonstrates it in a comical way. I look forward to reading other Oishinbo series books.
March 18, 2018
Ya tenemos aquí el tercer tomo: Ramen y Gyoza. Magnífico volumen donde priman las historias por encima de las explicaciones culinarias - a diferencia de lo que sucedía con el segundo tomo dedicado al Sake -, aunque leyéndolo he aprendido mucho sobre fideos y sobre todo Gyoza, las grandes desconocidas para mí - aunque las haya probado, como todo el mundo -. Unas historias entretenidas para un manga que cumple lo que promete: hacerte pasar un buen rato mientras aprendes las paticularidades de la cocina nipona y conoces un poco su manera de pensar.
Muy recomendable.
Muy recomendable.
April 8, 2020
This was pretty good! The review I'd give it is honestly very similar to the review I gave the other volumes. It's a smaller, themed collection of stories (this one about ramen and gyoza), edited for English, taken out of the context of a much longer-running manga. I really liked all of the illustrations of noodle making and gyoza folding in this volume. The notes in the back of the manga are incredibly helpful to provide context for English readers. I personally really love this series so far, but it can be a little dry in parts.
April 28, 2020
I really enjoy this series. As someone who loves food, and is interested in different cultures, this gives some really fun insight into Japanese cuisine and culture.
The main character is charming, in a lazy Buffon sort of way, and I enjoy his relationships with the people around him. The meticulous descriptions and treatment of various foods and ingredients is fascinating and makes me completely unsatisfied with my own cooking, while also extremely hungry LOL!
This particular volume I think has two week chapters, which drag the overall story down some, but still quite enjoyable!
The main character is charming, in a lazy Buffon sort of way, and I enjoy his relationships with the people around him. The meticulous descriptions and treatment of various foods and ingredients is fascinating and makes me completely unsatisfied with my own cooking, while also extremely hungry LOL!
This particular volume I think has two week chapters, which drag the overall story down some, but still quite enjoyable!
September 6, 2017
This was an interesting look into the world of ramen and gyoza in Japan. In particular, there is one story about the use of offensive terms for China in Japan that I appreciated. The author promotes the idea that nations must treat each other with respect just as individuals do, so the use of offensive terms for certain nations should be stopped. The only downside is that since this volume focuses on one type of food, there is a little repetition in the content of the stories.
March 13, 2021
I shall continue through the series as they were left for me....I am not sure I would search for them as the storyline is a bit repetitive. Shiro and his father no longer get a long--- and each cooks to prove themselves better than the other. They always know best and can fix any problems.
I was disappointed that I didn't really learn much about ramen in this book--- but I did enjoy learning about gyoza.
Read: only if you are bored and find yourself next to the book.
I was disappointed that I didn't really learn much about ramen in this book--- but I did enjoy learning about gyoza.
Read: only if you are bored and find yourself next to the book.
May 2, 2025
Although we're lucky to have gotten these "best of" editions of Oishinbo, I'd love to read through the whole thing--all 100+ volumes!--at some point.
Each foodie manga I've read has a slightly different emphasis. This one focuses on the quality ingredients, precise preparation, and attention to flavor that are foundational to high-end restaurants, as well as the love and care that goes into keeping culinary traditions alive through the generations.
Each foodie manga I've read has a slightly different emphasis. This one focuses on the quality ingredients, precise preparation, and attention to flavor that are foundational to high-end restaurants, as well as the love and care that goes into keeping culinary traditions alive through the generations.
March 10, 2022
I now realize I have never had good Gyoza, something that needs to be corrected. Also want noodles made bamboo pole style! The Gyoza story line with the widower that can't move forward was interesting. Also that Kaibara was looking at Gyoza to stay rooted. I also liked seeing the politics around China from the Japanese culinary perspective.
December 8, 2023
I've read quite a few in the series, and I didn't like this volume as much. I enjoyed the bit about dashi and the little bit of backstory on the MC, but overall it didn't leave a huge impression on me.
I read it a few years ago and again recently. Perhaps it's because it didn't leave much of an impression on me, but the re-read value was pretty good.
I read it a few years ago and again recently. Perhaps it's because it didn't leave much of an impression on me, but the re-read value was pretty good.
March 3, 2018
Um verdadeiro tratado para quem quer saber mais sobre a gastronomia japonesa, os seus ingredientes, técnicas e as tradições. Um mangá de fazer crescer água na boca ^_^
Essencial e OBRIGATÓRIO para quem se interessa pela cultura japonesa!!!
Essencial e OBRIGATÓRIO para quem se interessa pela cultura japonesa!!!
August 26, 2018
I don't like the whole "father vs son battle" concept. And I learned more than I wanted on details about types of food I don't even know of, so maybe I'm not in the target audience, exactly. Some things were interesting nevertheless, though I can't provide a specific example.
March 4, 2021
THE ULTIMATE GYOZA! THE ULTIMATE RAMEN!
Loved this. I know I'm technically reading this series out of order, but, I mean, I couldn't resist the manga about my two favorite/comfort foods. Also, it was pretty informative too!
Loved this. I know I'm technically reading this series out of order, but, I mean, I couldn't resist the manga about my two favorite/comfort foods. Also, it was pretty informative too!
August 3, 2021
An enjoyable read. Light story, yes, a bit over-dramatized, but what did we expect from a serial Manga. Of particular interest, were the notes that accompanied the text about translation and the food, fascinating.
December 28, 2021
This is a wonderfully informative series. Here we have interesting background on ramen noodles the the place of the Chinese gyoza dumplings in Japanese culture, along with the issue of how the Japanese should refer to the People's Republic of China.
June 4, 2019
Excellent as always. The last chapter was especially important as it tackles racism.
March 9, 2020
The flavor of the noodles matters, guys.
August 17, 2020
It so interesting.
July 15, 2022
Es el primer volumen que me leo de la serie. Me compré tres en Japón y quiero leerme TODOS! Tiene un toque d humor y cada volumen habla sobre un plato o ingrediente de la comida japonesa.
September 12, 2022
The Oishinbo series are always such good reads - it's such a simple fulfilling formula, basically top-notch food television in manga form. I will happily read 100 of these.
April 5, 2023
My first ever manga! Read this for my history of Japan class.
January 14, 2024
Japanese Food Porn
I love this series. The characters are lively and vibrant and I learn more about Japanese (and Chinese) food with each volume. Now I want ramen!
I love this series. The characters are lively and vibrant and I learn more about Japanese (and Chinese) food with each volume. Now I want ramen!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews