Taiwan mazesoba was popularized in 2008 by which ramen chain?

Taiwan mazesoba was popularized in 2008 by the ramen chain Menya Hanabi.

The dish originated in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, as a dry or “mixed” noodle dish rather than a bowl of soup. Its foundation is chewy Chinese-style wheat noodles tossed with a strongly seasoned meat-based topping, often minced pork flavored with soy sauce and spices.

Menya Hanabi helped turn the local specialty into a widely recognized Nagoya food. Typical toppings include raw egg yolk, green onion, garlic, nori, fish powder, and minced meat. Diners mix everything together before eating, which explains the mazesoba name: maze means “mix.”

A common mix-up is assuming “Taiwan” means the dish originated in Taiwan. In this case, Taiwan refers to the Taiwanese-style minced-meat flavoring; the dish itself was developed and popularized in Japan. Taiwan mazesoba is also related to, but distinct from, ordinary mazesoba.