Lifestyle / Food / Regional soups
Pacific Islands · Hawaii
Hawaii Saimin Noodle Soup
By Staff Writer · October 6, 2026
Saimin is a Hawaii noodle-soup favorite shaped by the islands’ diverse food traditions. This home version uses dashi, springy noodles and familiar toppings.
State & Nation home-kitchen version. Timing is approximate; use the doneness cues in the directions.
Ingredients
- 6 cups prepared dashi, made according to its package
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce, plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 12 ounces fresh saimin noodles, or fresh ramen noodles as a substitute
- 8 ounces cooked char siu pork or fully cooked ham, thinly sliced
- 4 ounces kamaboko fish cake, sliced
- 4 green onions, sliced
- 2 hard-boiled eggs, halved
Directions
- Combine prepared dashi, stock, soy sauce and ginger in a pot. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook 5 minutes.
- Cook noodles in a separate pot according to the package; drain and divide among four bowls.
- Add cooked pork or ham and fish cake to the broth and heat for 3–4 minutes until hot.
- Taste broth and adjust soy sauce. Ladle broth and toppings over noodles.
- Finish each bowl with green onion and half an egg; serve immediately.
Regional background: Learn about this regional favorite. Ingredient quantities and directions above are a separately written home-kitchen version.