A brief History of Ramen | Otaku Ramen (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of ramen? ›

Ramen is a Japanese adaptation of Chinese wheat noodle soups. It is first recorded to have appeared in Yokohama Chinatown in the early 20th century. Although ramen takes its name from lāmiàn, it did not originate from the hand-pulled lamian noodles of northern China, since the noodles used in ramen are cut, not pulled.

Instant noodles were invented by Momof*cku Ando of Nissin Foods in Japan. They were launched in 1958 under the brand name Chikin Ramen. In 1971, Nissin introduced Cup Noodles, the first cup noodle product. Instant noodles are marketed worldwide under many brand names.

Simply put, ramen is a Japanese noodle soup, with a combination of a rich flavoured broth, one of a variety of types of noodle and a selection of meats or vegetables, often topped with a boiled egg.

Conflict & Difficult Times. The famine, food shortages and difficult times that followed World War II nearly wiped out the first wave of ramen's popularity. Making a living in the food business was made impossible after Japan's government prohibited people from making a profit from a restaurant or push cart until 1949.

Momof*cku Ando (1910 – 2007)

Momof*cku Ando was born on March 5, 1910. He established Nissin Food Products and founded the Ando Foundation. In 1958, Momof*cku invented Chicken Ramen, the world's first instant ramen, creating the instant ramen industry.

In The Untold History of Ramen, George Solt explores how something as simple as ramen noodles can be transformed from humble beginnings as a Chinese dish to what is now recognized as a symbol of Japanese culture.

History. Instant noodles were invented in 1958 by Momof*cku Ando, the Taiwanese-born founder of the Japanese food company Nissin. He used Chicken Ramen as the first brand of instant ramen noodles.

Ramen became popular outside of Japan primarily due to the globalization movement. The geography of cuisine changed as the world became more linked. This noodle soup's rich and varied flavors were made more widely known when ramen restaurants appeared in big cities worldwide.

Noodles: Ramen noodles contain wheat flour, salt, water and a special alkaline water called “kansui.” “Kansui” is what gives the noodles their unique flavor and springy texture. Noodle shape and thickness often change depending on the type of ramen you're eating.

What is the history of ramen in Korea? ›

The first Ramen in Korea was instant noodle developed by Samyang Ramyun. In 1963, Jung Yun Jeon, a founder of Samyang Food Company, introduced the technology of making Ramen from Japan to Korea. The reason why he imported the skill from Japan is similar to that of Japanese noodle got popularity.

History. Tonkotsu ramen was invented in December 1937 by Tokio Miyamoto at his yatai originated in Kurume, f*ckuoka Prefecture, which is located on the northern shore of Kyushu island in Japan. The dish was further refined to its milky appearance by Katsumi Sugino when he accidentally overcooked his origin broth.

It may be considered rude to eat ramen with a fork if you are in a traditional setting or restaurant. This is because it is traditional to eat ramen with a set of chopsticks and a ramen ladle. However you can eat with a fork when you're at home if it's how you feel most comfortable.

Not finishing one's meal is not considered impolite in Japan, but rather is taken as a signal to the host that one wishes to be served another helping. Conversely, finishing one's meal completely, especially the rice, indicates that one is satisfied and therefore does not wish to be served any more.

Ramen is the epitome of Japanese food. The soup can be made with a soy sauce, miso, and salt base, but it is the pork-based variant that has been the most popular in recent years. So, it is unfortunate for Muslims that they can very rarely eat ramen these days.

Ramen is actually of Chinese origin, with most historians agreeing that it was brought to Japan by Chinese immigrants living in Yokohama in the late 19th century. Today, ramen restaurants offer a variety of styles and toppings, but early iterations of ramen were simpler—wheat noodles with Chinese-style roasted pork.

Is ramen originally Korean or Japanese? Ramen from Japan and Korea was inspired by the Chinese dish called lamien. The Chinese noodle dish originated from the northern part of the country. It is said that Japanese ramen was first served in the port city of Yokohama during the 20th century.

“There are five basic elements to ramen: noodles, tare, broth, topping and aroma oil,” Sun Noodle's executive chef Shigetoshi “Jack” Nakamura says.

Ramen is usually thicker in texture as compared to regular noodles. They are not as thick as other varieties, but they have a somewhat medium thickness and a chewy texture. Whereas noodles come in a variety of forms and are known for having a thinner consistency with a smoother texture.