Viet Cong Ramen

　As it had been a while since I’d last visited Nagoya, I popped into Shin-Kyō for some Viet Cong Ramen. Viet Cong Ramen is a style of ramen originating in Ichinomiya and Gifu, characterised by its strong garlic and chilli flavour. Although ‘Viet Cong’ was a derogatory term for the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, it is said to have been named after the heroic image of the Viet Cong—a term that was commonly used in Japan at the time. These days, it is explained as an abbreviation for ‘best condition’.

　At Shin-Kyō, the dish features whole garlic cloves deep-fried until crisp, topped with a generous helping of stir-fried chives and bean sprouts.

　For those born in Gifu or Ichinomiya, this is a familiar flavour; alongside Taiwan Ramen—topped with plenty of minced pork—it is a popular local speciality.