With the theme ‘Designing future society for our lives’, which emphasises sustainability, inclusivity and innovation, Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan naturally offers a diverse range of dining options to suit various dietary requirements. While traditional Japanese cuisine has not always been the most accommodating in this regard, one forward-looking restaurant at the Expo is reimagining one of the nation’s most iconic dishes – ramen – to make it more inclusive and accessible to all.
As its name suggests, GF Ramen Lab Expo 2025 Store offers a completely gluten-free take on the classic Japanese noodles. Every component, from the noodles to the broth and toppings, is prepared in a dedicated gluten-free facility to avoid any cross-contamination, and then freshly cooked in-store. That’s turned out to be a recipe for success: the restaurant has served over 10,000 bowls within its first month of opening.
Here, the gluten-free noodles recreate the distinctive chewiness of traditional wheat noodles by kneading alkaline water into a rice flour dough. The soy sauce, meanwhile, is a special gluten-free recipe that replaces wheat with rice.
The GF Shoyu Ramen is the restaurant’s signature bowl, featuring a flavourful umami broth made from kelp and seasoned with the aforementioned gluten-free soy sauce. It’s topped with two kinds of char siu pork, bamboo shoots and Japanese parsley.
For something heartier, try the GF PB Tonkotsu-style Ramen, a plant-based take on the classic pork-broth noodles. It’s entirely free from wheat and animal products, with a creamy, milky broth made by simmering kelp, vegetables and soy milk. Even the topping, Like Chicken, is a soy-based poultry alternative.
The restaurant also offers three premium options, all featuring chicken broths made from Miyazaki Jitokko, a brand of free-range chicken from Miyazaki. These include a clear soup version seasoned with soy sauce (GF Jitokko Shoyu Ramen), a clear salt version enhanced with yuzu for a citrusy lift (GF Jitokko Yuzu Shio Ramen), and a creamy broth for those seeking a richer texture (GF Jitokko Paitan Shoyu Ramen). All are served with the restaurant’s signature medium-thick gluten-free noodles.
GF Ramen Lab Expo 2025 is located in the Earth Table – Future Diner section, adjacent to the Forest of Tranquility. For more information, visit the website.
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