Nagoya Heatwave
Mazesoba

Who wants steaming broth in July? When the heat peaks, Nagoya has a better idea. From Japan's fourth-largest city comes abura-soba — a broth-free ramen that thrives in summer. Thick, chewy noodles are coated in aromatic oil and tare, rich with depth and umami. Rather than swimming in soup, the noodles are tossed together at the counter, coating every strand. The result is a concentrated, deeply savory bite — all the richness of ramen, none of the steam. Abura-soba has been a Nagoya staple for decades, quietly beloved before the rest of Japan caught on. Consider it Japan's answer to the heatwave.