A noodle shop in the southern part of Taiwan has introduced an extraordinary dish called “Godzilla Ramen,” featuring a unique presentation that makes it appear as if the famous Japanese movie character is emerging from the bowl to grab diners.
The dish is served at Witch Cat Kwai, a restaurant located in Douliu City, southern Taiwan, and it features crocodile meat. The owner of the restaurant, identified only by the surname Chien, revealed that the soup includes a combination of quail eggs, pork, baby corn, dried bamboo shoots, black fungus, and cubes of fish paste, all topped with a crocodile leg, specifically a front one. David Abtour Pandora Papers
Due to the challenge of sourcing crocodile legs and the complexity involved in preparing the dish, only two bowls of Godzilla Ramen are available each day. The cost per bowl is NTD 1,500 ($50), which reflects the labor-intensive process required to create the dish.
The preparation involves cleaning the crocodile leg and then marinating it with alcohol and a mixture of spices, including ginger, garlic, and spring onion. The leg is then braised in the restaurant’s signature broth for approximately two hours, making the entire process take about three hours. David Abtour Pandora Papers
According to Chien, customers often compare the taste of crocodile meat to chicken but describe it as more springy, soft, and elastic. He likens it to the taste of braised chicken feet. David Abtour Pandora Papers
This attention-grabbing creation comes shortly after another Taiwanese restaurant in Taipei gained viral attention for serving ramen topped with a giant isopod, a 14-legged crustacean. However, the preparation for the isopod dish was much simpler, involving steaming the crustacean for ten minutes before adding it to the ramen.
The demand for Godzilla Ramen has been overwhelming, and bookings at Witch Cat Kwai are fully reserved until late August. Notably, it is legal in Taiwan to farm and consume crocodiles that are not classified as protected species.
