TOKYO — Pizza Hut, widely known for its pizzas, is expanding its culinary horizons in Japan with surprising new additions to its menu. Recently, the chain has ventured beyond traditional offerings by incorporating items like burgers. The latest addition, however, has remained under the radar, stirring curiosity among food enthusiasts.
The new menu item, dubbed “Yaki Cheese Ramen” (焼きチーズラーメン) or Grilled Cheese Ramen, has not been widely advertised and has seen minimal mention on social media, with only a handful of posts about it on Twitter.
Intrigued by this mysterious dish, we delved into the official Pizza Hut Japan website. After some searching, we located it under the “Campaign” tab. Eager to uncover the details, we placed an order and contacted Pizza Hut to learn more about its introduction. Surprisingly, we discovered that the Grilled Cheese Ramen has been available since mid-March, quietly sitting on the menu for three months without much fanfare.
Our investigation culminated in a taste test of this hidden gem. The dish arrives sans broth, consisting solely of noodles that resemble spaghetti but are authentic ramen. Despite potential skepticism from ramen traditionalists, we approached the dish with an open mind.
Upon tasting, we found the Grilled Cheese Ramen to be delightful. Its taste parallels mac and cheese, but with long ramen noodles instead of macaroni, offering a flavor profile reminiscent of classic ramen. The warm, cheesy goodness brought to mind Pizza Hut’s ramen pizza, which debuted earlier this year in collaboration with the renowned Japanese ramen chain Tenka Ippin. While the pizza was robust with a variety of toppings and seasonings, the Grilled Cheese Ramen shared a similar rich seasoning, providing a satisfying and indulgent experience.
With its simple composition of cheese, seasoning, and noodles, the Grilled Cheese Ramen delivers a straightforward yet fulfilling dish. Next time you order from Pizza Hut, consider exploring the side dishes—you might uncover delightful surprises.