Ramen

Guide Note

Ramen are a noodle made from wheat. It was traditionally made fresh and served in broth at restaurants that specialized in the dish. The invention of instant ramen in 1958 made the time-consuming, expensive dish easy for anyone to make, and popularized the food world-wide.

Fast Facts

1. Originated in China
2. Introduced to Japan during Maiji period
3. Used to be called shina soba
4. Tokugawa Misukuni reportedly ate ramen in late 17th century

The popularity of ramen, a complicated dish available largely only in restaurants, in Japan after World War II led Momofuku Ando to attempt to invent an instant variety. In his backyard, Ando invented a flash-frying technique that allowed ramen noodles to be turned into dried bricks without losing flavor. While expensive at first, mass production dropped the price, turning it into a convenience food.

1. Invented in: 1958
2. Invented by: Momofuku Ando
3. First flavor: Chicken
4. 1971: Cup Noodle released
5. 2006: 92 billion packages sold
6. 87 billion: exported from Japan
7. "Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum" named after founder