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Kajiken

Serving aburasoba (soupless ramen) inside a busy train station.

Emma Breheny

Chashu pork, nori and bamboo shoots top the original bowl.
1 / 7Chashu pork, nori and bamboo shoots top the original bowl.Supplied
Kajiken is located in a busy train station.
2 / 7Kajiken is located in a busy train station.Justin McManus
Noodles should be tossed together as soon as they’re served.
3 / 7Noodles should be tossed together as soon as they’re served.Supplied
Kajiken specialises in aburasoba noodles (soupless ramen).
4 / 7Kajiken specialises in aburasoba noodles (soupless ramen).Supplied
Chicken karaage.
5 / 7Chicken karaage.Supplied
Located inside Southern Cross station.
6 / 7Located inside Southern Cross station.Jusin McManus
Each bowl of aburasoba is the diner’s to customise.
7 / 7Each bowl of aburasoba is the diner’s to customise.Supplied

Japanese$

Kajiken, a noodle chain that began south of Tokyo in Nagoya, specialises in aburasoba (soupless ramen), made with wavy yellow noodles and a medley of oils and sauces to build flavour, complemented by a choice of 14 toppings from chashu pork and nori to spring onion and soy-marinated egg.

When your noodles arrive, you’re supposed to toss them immediately (as you would a salad) to make sure the sauces and toppings coat the hot noodles. Taste and then decide if you want to add any of the condiments on your table: chilli oil, rice wine vinegar, sesame seeds or crushed garlic chips.

There are 11 choices of aburasoba, plus snacks such as takoyaki (deep-fried octopus balls) and ebi (prawn) croquettes; donburi (rice bowls) with toppings including chicken karaage; and matcha soft-serve.

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Go-to dish: Homura with spicy minced pork, dried fish powder and egg yolk.

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Emma BrehenyEmma BrehenyEmma is Good Food’s Melbourne eating out and restaurant editor.

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Original URL: https://www.theage.com.au/goodfood/melbourne-eating-out/kajiken-20250318-p5lkjp.html