Now that McDonalds is selling chocolate-drizzled french fries, it appears Japanese restaurant Mensho is doing something slightly similar by adding chocolate ramen to their menu. The sweet noodles are available by some retailers in Asia, but this is the first instance of restaurant chocolate ramen.
Based in Tokyo, the eatery will debut the dish on February 1st through February 14th as a promotion for Valentine's Day. The limited edition noodles are made with a soy broth and chocolate-infused base. More chocolate is added on top as you eat it. The sweet and savory meal is best enjoyed when you stir the chocolate chunks into the broth, which results in a "sharp and clean flavor" according to journalists at RocketNews who tried it.
Chocolate Ramen Dishes
Tokyo Restaurant Mensho is Offering the Sweet Noodles for Valentine's Day
Trend Themes
1. Sweet Ramen - The introduction of chocolate ramen by Mensho restaurant highlights the trend of incorporating sweet flavors into traditionally savory dishes.
2. Limited Edition Menus - The temporary offering of chocolate ramen for Valentine's Day demonstrates the trend of restaurants creating limited edition menus to attract customers.
3. Chocolate-infused Broths - The use of chocolate-infused broths in dishes like chocolate ramen showcases the trend of experimenting with unconventional flavor combinations.
Industry Implications
1. Restaurant Industry - Restaurants can explore the disruptive innovation opportunity of incorporating sweet flavors into traditional savory dishes, like chocolate ramen, to attract new customers and create unique dining experiences.
2. Food and Beverage Industry - The introduction of limited edition menus, such as chocolate ramen for Valentine's Day, presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for food and beverage companies to drive sales and create buzz around their products.
3. Culinary Innovation Industry - The trend of using unconventional ingredients, like chocolate-infused broths, in dishes like chocolate ramen opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for culinary innovation companies to explore new flavor profiles and attract adventurous food enthusiasts.