If You Love Garlic, Eat Here: Daruma Shokudo in Aomori

Do you know where Japan’s holy ground for garlic lovers is?

It is Takko, a town in southern Aomori Prefecture.

Aomori produces more garlic than any other prefecture in Japan, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the country’s domestic production.

Even within Aomori, however, Takko is special.

The town regards garlic as a local treasure and has worked to produce high-quality garlic while developing it as a regional brand. “Takko Garlic” was also the first agricultural product in the Tohoku region to be registered as a Regional Collective Trademark.

In neighboring Sannohe, you will find a restaurant serving dishes made with generous amounts of Aomori-grown garlic—including garlic from Takko.

Its name is Daruma Shokudo, a restaurant specializing in garlic dishes.

The owner previously worked in garlic farming in Sannohe. The restaurant’s concept is “Bringing garlic into everyone’s daily life.”

Here, garlic is not merely a supporting ingredient added for aroma.

It is the star of the show.

Gigarlic Ramen

The most popular dish at Daruma Shokudo is undoubtedly its Gigarlic Ramen.

The name is a playful combination of “giga” and “garlic.” True to its name, this ramen contains an almost excessive amount of garlic—and plenty of garlic flavor.

In this single bowl, you can enjoy garlic in several different forms:

• Crispy garlic chips
• Garlic chips softened in the soup
• Raw garlic that you crush and add yourself
• Black garlic served on the side

The main toppings are bean sprouts, thinly shredded chili pepper, and, of course, garlic.

This is not a bowl of ramen built around chashu pork or an egg. It is designed first and foremost to celebrate the combination of garlic and ramen.

If you want meat, order it separately!

The first thing to notice is the generous scattering of garlic chips over the bean sprouts.

But do not be surprised—the soup is also filled with them.

Nothing is being held back here.

According to the restaurant’s official website, each bowl contains an entire bulb of garlic. It certainly deserves to be called the restaurant’s signature dish.

The moderately crisp garlic chips cling to the slightly thin noodles.

The soft noodles and crunchy garlic chips create a satisfying contrast in texture.

It tastes fantastic.

Even eating it feels energizing.

The broth comes only in miso flavor. Shoyu and shio versions are not available.

Crush and Add the Raw Garlic Yourself

Beside the ramen, you will find one white clove of raw garlic and a piece of black garlic.

Place the white clove into the garlic press provided with the meal, crush it, and add it directly to the ramen.

The sharp aroma and heat of the raw garlic immediately make the miso broth taste even more powerful.

The distinctive smell of raw garlic may remain on your fingertips.

That is part of the experience—although anyone concerned about the smell may want to avoid touching the garlic directly.

Eat the Black Garlic on Its Own

The other item served beside the ramen is black garlic.

Black garlic is made by aging raw garlic under controlled heat and humidity.

Its texture is soft, without the sharp heat of raw garlic. Instead, it has a distinctive sweet-and-sour flavor reminiscent of balsamic vinegar or dried fruit.

It is not meant to be added to the ramen. Peel it and eat it on its own.

Black garlic is a familiar product in Aomori and can often be found in local supermarkets and souvenir shops. Its unusual sweetness and acidity divide opinion, but I sometimes eat one clove a day as part of my winter wellness routine.

Whenever I wanted to eat garlic and recharge my energy, I returned to this ramen again and again.

White-Sauce Hamburg Steak

After all that enthusiasm for garlic, you may wonder: Why a hamburg steak?

Do not worry. Garlic is hiding here too.

A small amount of garlic is mixed into the white sauce covering the Japanese-style hamburg steak.

The garlic flavor is much less intense than in the Gigarlic Ramen, making this a more approachable option for anyone who wants to avoid an overwhelmingly strong garlic taste.

However, it is not a garlic-free dish.

Another detail worth noticing is the brown topping placed on the white rice.

When I visited in 2023, diners could choose one of four rice toppings:

• Garlic spicy miso: Garlic mixed with salty, mildly spicy miso
• Ume garlic okaka: Garlic combined with sour pickled plum and savory bonito flakes
• Chunky garlic soy sauce: Garlic with a soy-based seasoning
• Garlic furikake: A relatively mild dry garlic seasoning sprinkled over rice

The topping shown in my photo is garlic furikake.

It adds a gentle garlic flavor to the rice and makes it difficult to stop eating. Even this small side topping is devoted to garlic—exactly what you would expect from a garlic restaurant.

The hamburg steak is available only in limited quantities, so keep that in mind if you want to try it.

More Garlic Dishes to Try

Daruma Shokudo has many other delicious dishes.

According to the official website, the most popular set meal is yurinchi: fried chicken served with a sweet-and-sour soy-based sauce. The restaurant’s curries and dumplings also contain garlic.

My personal recommendation is the Hime Ninniku Tempura.

It is incredibly good.

The outside is light and crispy, while the inside is soft, fluffy, and sweet. Its flavor is much gentler than raw garlic, allowing you to discover another side of this familiar ingredient.

It may not always be available depending on the season and stock, so consider yourself lucky if you find it.

Check the official website or official Instagram account for the latest menu.

How to Order

You can order by scanning the QR code on your table with your smartphone or by pressing the call button to ask a member of staff for help.

When I visited in 2023, I could not find an English-language menu.

If ordering by QR code is difficult, press the call button and point to the photograph or name of the dish on the paper menu. This will probably be the easiest and most reliable method.

Access

Reaching Daruma Shokudo entirely by public transportation is not easy.

The restaurant is approximately five to ten minutes by car from Sannohe Station. Traveling by car or taxi is the most practical option.

However, taxis may not always be waiting outside Sannohe Station. I recommend contacting a taxi company in advance and arranging not only your journey to the restaurant but also your return trip.

The restaurant is located some distance from the center of town, so walking there is not recommended. Bear sightings are also occasionally reported in Sannohe. If you plan to walk, check the latest information from Sannohe Town before setting out.

Business days and opening hours may change. Check the official website or official Instagram account before visiting.