Hawaiian Saimin Recipe and History, Whats Cooking America (2024)

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Hawaiian Saimin is a favorite local fast food of the Hawaiian islands (also known as the national dish of Hawaii). It is considered the supreme comfort food of the Islands, eaten at any time of day. You can find Hawaiian Saimin at snack bars, coffee shops, and even on the McDonald’s menu (in Hawaii only). Saimin is basically an inexpensive noodle and broth soup, similar to Japanese ramen.

In Hawaii, you will get the real thing, fresh, thin white noodles in a clear broth with green onions, kamaboko (fish cakes), and sometimes ham or char siu (pork). Some people add chicken, eggs, shrimp, and whatever else is desired. The Saimin is eaten very hot with chopsticks or spoons, and the broth is then drunk from the bowl. Do not be afraid to slurp, as there is simply no quiet way to eat Saimin. A few ambitious home cooks will make this noodle soup from scratch, but most people just rip open the ready-mix instant packages that can be found in all stores and is manufactured in Honolulu.

History: Japanese immigrants consider Saimin to be Chinese, and the Chinese consider it to be Japanese. Because Hawaii is made up of an incredible mix of cultures – Hawaiian, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Thai, and many others – it could have originated from anywhere, then combined into this very tasty and popular soup. Each new wave of immigrant workers adapted their native cuisine to fit the Islands’ available ingredients.

More delicious Hawaiian food to learn about and and make: Loco Moco, Poke, Shave Ice, and Spam – Spam Musubi

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Hawaiian Saimin Recipe:

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:Hawaiian

Keyword:Hawaiian Saimin History, Hawaiian Saimin Recipe

Servings: 3 to 4 servings

Author: What's Cooking America

Ingredients

  • 4quartswater
  • 1tablespoonsalt
  • 1(8-ounce) packageJapanese soba noodles,dried*
  • 4cupschicken stockor broth**
  • 1tablespoonginger,freshly-grated
  • 2tablespoonssoy sauce
  • Toppings***

Instructions

  1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, add 4 quarts of water and salt; bring to a boil. Add soba noodles and boil 4 to 6 minutes until al dente. Remove from heat, drain, rinse under warm running water, and then set aside until ready to use.

  2. In a large pot over medium-high heat, add chicken broth and ginger; bring just to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Add soy sauce and your favorite toppings; simmer for 5 minutes longer or until toppings are cooked. Remove from heat.

  3. Place cooked soba noodles in a large soup serving bowl; spoon broth mixture (with toppings) over the top and serve.

  4. Makes 3 to 4 servings.

    Hawaiian Saimin Recipe and History, Whats Cooking America (2)

Recipe Notes

* Soba noodles can be found in the Asian food section of most grocery stores, at Japanese food specialty stores, and online. To purchase online, click on the green link.

** Learn how easy it is to make your own homemadeChicken Stock - Basic Chicken Stock.

*** Topping Suggestions (Pick and choose your favorites):

Sliced Spam
Baked ham slices
Roast Pork slices
Sliced carrots
Shredded green cabbage,
Chopped bok choy
Sliced mushrooms
Green peas
Scrambled or fried egg
sliced green onions or scallions
Cooked small shrimp, peeled and deveined

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Comments and Reviews

8 Responses to “Hawaiian Saimin History and Recipe”

  1. Suzan Nakashima

    How to make saimin noodles. I can make saimin, however I would like to make the noodles from scratch. Do you have recipes for making the noodles. Thank you.

    Reply

  2. Gordon Haas

    Here’s one from the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 2001 (also broth recipe) http://archives.starbulletin.com/2001/03/07/features/request.html

    Reply

    • Whats Cooking America

      Thanks for sharing a link to homemade Saimin noodles!

      Reply

  3. Finger Monkey Love

    I’m amazed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s
    both educative and entertaining, and without a doubt, you have hit the nail
    on the head. The problem is something too few people are speaking intelligently about.
    I am very happy I found this during my search for something relating to this.

    Reply

  4. Brian Hirayama

    Unfortunately, this recipe is not even close to the real thing. Saimin broth takes hours to make properly, from scrubbed and boiled pork bones and dried shrimp. Soba noodles are absolutely the wrong type of noodles. Kind of an injustice to Hawaiian saimin to simplify things this way, especially when people think this is “educational”.

    Reply

    • Nancy

      Brian, the intro to the recipe states this is a quick version, and that the real thing needs an ambitious cook to make it from scratch. The intent is not to do injustice to Hawaiian Saimin. We would love if you have a traditional recipe to share, we would be happy to add it to this web page as an option for Saimin aficionados that want to take on the traditional way of making it. I know it is much better than the fast version.

      Reply

  5. Gerry

    What is the right type of noodle? Can’t find the frozen noodle we used to get back in the 50’s – 60’s.

    Reply

  6. Jim

    My mom got a recipe from a Japanese lady at church when my dad was stationed (Navy) in Hawaii (1968-1972). She said they had a particular kind of noodle that she couldn’t find on the mainland so for many years she used very fine egg noodles and now that she can find them she uses rice noodles.

    Reply

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Hawaiian Saimin Recipe and History, Whats Cooking America (2024)

FAQs

Hawaiian Saimin Recipe and History, Whats Cooking America? ›

Being popular on the Hawaiian Islands for more than 100 years, it started in the early 20th century among immigrant Asian laborers on sugar plantations. To this day, saimin can be frequently consumed in small noodle shops, or found in home cooking.

What is the history of saimin in Hawaii? ›

Being popular on the Hawaiian Islands for more than 100 years, it started in the early 20th century among immigrant Asian laborers on sugar plantations. To this day, saimin can be frequently consumed in small noodle shops, or found in home cooking.

What does saimin mean in Hawaiian? ›

sai·​min ˈsī-ˈmin. : a Hawaiian noodle soup.

What is the difference between saimin and ramen? ›

The difference between the noodle soups is minimal but distinct: Saimin noodles hold higher ash and egg content than ramen noodles, giving the former a chewier texture while keeping its thin shape. Saimin broth is also typically clearer than that which accompanies ramen.

Why do people in Hawaii call ramen saimin? ›

The name saimin is the combination of two Chinese words: sai, meaning thin and min, which means noodle. It's believed that the dish originated during the early twentieth century plantation era as various Asian ethnicities – Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Hawaiian and Portuguese — came together.

Who created saimin? ›

Among the immigrant population in Hawaii, one of the largest (besides the Chinese) and most influential (besides the Caucasian) immigrants were the Japanese and it is theorized that saimin was created by this ethnic group wanting to eat ramen.

Is saimin Japanese or Chinese? ›

But trying to claim its name origin makes it a Chinese dish is perhaps too narrow a view. Saimin was born from the so-called “mix plate” culture of Hawaii's sugar plantations in the late-nineteenth century and draws influence from Chinese, Japanese, Okinawan, Portuguese and Filipino cuisine.

What does Kai Aloha mean in Hawaiian? ›

KaiAloha means love the ocean and as we continue to grow as a company, we strive to build partnerships with environmental organizations who share similar initiatives to protect and cherish our kai.

What are the different types of saimin? ›

With each family crafting their own blend of broth, noodles, and flavoring there are overlapping recipe types that go under flavor categories of: alaea, shoyu, mushroom, shrimp, and beef types.

What is saimin broth made of? ›

Saimin broth is traditionally made with dashi, a combination of powdered kombu (dried sea kelp) and flaked dried bonito (a tuna). Dashi is a Japanese condiment used widely as a foundation flavor in the cooking of Japan. Dashi powder is sold in packets and can be stored in a kitchen cupboard.

What is ramen without the soup called? ›

Again, both mazemen and abura soba are basically a bowl of ramen without a significant broth component. The main flavors in both come from the tare and the fat, which together form the sauce that ends up coating the noodles.

What is the Hawaiian version of ramen? ›

Basic saimin is often eaten as a snack, while more substantial versions can be made to make it a full meal. The noodles are thin and white and usually a softer texture than that found in ramen. The broth is typically clear and made with a light dashi (or Japanese) stock.

What is the Mexican version of ramen? ›

Japanese Ramen meets the flavours of Mexico with sweetcorn, colourful peppers, minced meat and jalapeno chillies. Prepare the noodles according to the package instructions. Fry the minced meat in the heated oil for about 5 minutes.

What was ramen originally called? ›

The Japanese cut the noodles instead of pulling them by hand as the Chinese did, but they kept one aspect of hand-pulling: The word “ramen” is a variation of the Mandarin term for “pulled noodles.” (The original moniker, “Shina soba,” quickly came to be seen as offensive.)

What is the meaning of saimin? ›

1. long, thin noodles used in preparing various Japanese dishes. 2. a soup made of broth and vegetables and served with such noodles.

Why do we as Hawaiians practice Mālama ʻāina? ›

~~ To restore the health of the natural environment and native ecosystems of the ahupuaa, and to involve our community in the stewardship, restoration, and management of the land and resources within the ahupua'a of Waipā.

When did Paao come to Hawaii? ›

By 1200 AD the islands, by what some native scholars (kapuna) believe, were invaded by Tahitian priests and warriors. Led by a priest named Paao, they established a caste based social system and warrior society known as the Kapu system.

What is the history of the Pali in Hawaii? ›

Named “Pali” meaning "cliff" in Hawaiian, the Pali Lookout is the site of the Battle of Nuʻuanu, where in 1795 King Kamehameha I won the struggle that finally united Oʻahu under his rule. This fierce battle claimed hundreds of soldiers' lives, many of which were forced off of the Pali's sheer cliffs.

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