KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan (TVBS News) — Taiwan's culinary landscape is embracing the flourishing trend of "creative ramen" as a new contender emerges: "durian." Following the previous successes of gargantuan marine isopods and frogs, this innovative dish has garnered considerable attention in the country.
Taking advantage of the durian harvest season, a restaurant in Kaohsiung unveiled plans to introduce the "Durian Tonkotsu Coconut Char Siu Ramen" during the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival on June 22.
This distinctive ramen creation boasts a generous portion of pulpy durian flesh meticulously infused into the broth, accompanied by mashed durian. Additional ingredients such as water chestnuts, daikon radish, and apple are skillfully incorporated to elevate the complexity of flavors.
The bowl of ramen is also presented within a durian thorn-covered rind, offering a truly remarkable culinary experience known as "Durian Ramen."
Being the inaugural offering of its kind in Taiwan, the preparation of each bowl involves a meticulous and intricate process. Manual cutting and shaping the durian into a functional bowl are particularly challenging tasks. "We must exercise caution to ensure that the bowl remains intact," the restaurant's owner shared.
Given the intricacy involved, a mere 20 bowls of "Durian Ramen" are made available daily, with ten servings offered in the morning and another 10 in the evening. To secure a taste of this unique delicacy, customers must make reservations by phone, as servings come on a first-come, first-served basis.
The pricing for the dish starts at NT＄680, while the premium version of Durian Ramen carries a price tag of NT＄780.