Did you know about RAMEN Noodles ????

Everything You Need to Know About Ramen

No longer are Japanese dishes a novelty around the world. From sushi to ramen, Japanese cuisine has become globally popular. And without a doubt, Japanese ramen noodles make for one of the most loved comfort foods across the planet.

The History of Ramen

We should start by pointing out that ramen, even though a Japanese staple dish today, has actually originated in China. The mix of tradition and cuisine has led to a rich variety of ramen recipes. Ramen is prepared with Chinese-type wheat noodles, the kind we can find today in many Asian restaurants.

The cultural contact between Japan and China happened in the middle of the 19th century when the Japanese country started welcoming merchants and travelers from all over the world. At the time, Chinese noodle soup became very popular thanks to its comforting taste, nutritional value, and cheap price.  

The Japanese adaptation of Chinese recipes caught on rather quickly, resulting in many a street stall to start selling ramen, with different varieties appearing throughout the regions. Once known as Shina-soba or Chuka-soba, the term Ramen is widely in use today.

The main differentiating aspect of Japanese ramen compared to Chinese soup is the umami taste of the broth. The true soul of good ramen, it’s precisely the broth that makes the dish unique and highly regarded. 

Different Types of Ramen Dishes

As mentioned, there are many different types of ramen and new recipes are constantly emerging. As there is no single be-all-end-all formula, each chef and each family have a lot of room to innovate, play and adjust the ingredients, following trends or seasonal products. But some more typical region-based specialties do exist.

• Sapporo Ramen. The capital of the island of Hokkaido, in northern Japan, is almost a mandatory pilgrimage for ramen lovers. It’s famous for the miso variety, which produces a powerful broth full of flavor and aroma. Noodles tend to be somewhat thick and among the most typical toppings are sauteed bean sprouts, roasted or minced pork, corn, bamboo, or butter.
• Tokyo Ramen. It’s obvious that one can find infinite varieties of ramen in the Japanese capital, but there’s a typical style that identifies the city’s ramen scene. It usually consists of pork, chicken, and vegetable broth with soy sauce, kombu seaweed, dried bonito, and katsuobushi. The noodles are usually very curved and it‘s a common practice to serve them with pork.
• Hakata Ramen. This ramen dish is prepared with a broth of pork bones that are sometimes cooked for days to release all the fat and collagen. The noodles are thin and the broth can sometimes be flavored with miso or soy sauce. Sesame, garlic, pork, ginger, takana (pickled mustard leaves), or nori seaweed are common ingredients.
• Kumamoto Ramen. The dish is characterized by a somewhat lighter broth with usually added chicken. The noodles are smooth but thicker, and common toppings include kikurage mushrooms, cabbage, bean sprouts, and garlic. The most distinguishing thing about Kumamoto is mayu, a kind of thick black sauce made from roasted garlic with sesame oil.
• Kyoto Ramen. Two types of ramen predominate in Kyoto: the thicker kotteri-kei and the lighter assari-kei. Based on soy sauce, Kotteri-kei usually includes chicken meat, kujnoegi onions, spicy pasta, and seaweed.
• Asahikawa Ramen. The soy, chicken, pork, or fish-based broths stand out, with thin and curved noodles. It’s typical to find a layer of fat on the surface, which helps to conserve heat in the colder months.
• Hakodate Ramen. The ramen recipe focuses on a light broth, that’s softer and more transparent, yellowish, with not too thick noodles. It can be served with all kinds of ingredients, with pork, nori seaweed, spinach, and naruto being the most common.
• Kitakata Ramen. The base is a light soy broth without too many toppings, but with some handmade noodles, curved, flat, and somewhat rubbery.

How to Eat Ramen?

Unlike with sushi, there aren’t too many rules when it comes to eating ramen – as long as you make it obvious to everyone around just how much you enjoy the dish. That said, loud slurping noises, splashes, and even an occasional stain are all part of traditional ramen eating. While chopsticks are typically used for taking smaller bites and grabbing the noodles, you can also use the spoon to eat better or to drink the broth, which can also be drunk directly from the bowl.

Today, ramen in Japanese culture is considered to be one of the staple dishes. Not only is this a popular meal to make at home, but it’s also a hit among the street stalls and restaurants. There are even store-bought instant versions of the dish. And if you dearly desire to try this particular specialty as well as other amazing Asian dishes, don’t hesitate to pay us a visit at Ichimora. We pride ourselves on delivering top-notch Asian meals with the warmth and comfort of our relaxing restaurant ambiance.