Most Americans know ramen only in the 5000-pack for a buck instant variety and as “starving college student food.” But ramen is so much more. Anyone who’s ever spent some time in Japan will know that “real” ramen permeates the culture there, and even their instant ramen is light years ahead of the cheap “brick” ramen you can buy here. Happily, “real” ramen is making inroads in the U.S. as well.
I love ramen, and I want to share my love of ramen with you. Of the 4 most popular types of ramen out there, shoyu is definitely my favorite, though I try not to be too biased. I know what I like and this is my attempt to describe my encounters with the ramen world.
sweet site!
This is awsome!
Edjusted, great site. how to email you? Emailme. Got soy saunce story for your ramen blog…
This is the BEST ramen webiste!! Edjusted is the BEST ramen guru!! I would love to have ramen with you sometimes!! 🙂
I have a very important ramen question —
My favorite type of Ramen is Maruchan Ramen Tomato. I was only able to ever find it in Phar Mor stores – until they went under in 2001. Do you know if a. they still make it, and b. where I can get it.
I’ve tried web searching and have found nothing.
It is the BEST ramen ever– I can’t find it ANYWHERE!
Jennifer: I’m not sure where you live, but you could try different “asian” supermarkets. Down in southern California, they were available at the 99 Ranch stores a while ago. I bought a few packs and liked it! Or maybe you could try the folks at noodle son or ramen depot (you’ll find the links under my “ramen links” and “ramen shopping”)
Also I found this:
Maruchan Inc.
15800 Laguna Canyon Rd.
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 789-2300-Phone
(949) 789-2350-Fax
I too love Maruchan tomato ramen but one day they all just dissapered like it was never there I live in michagan and was able to buy it at one of the super markets but now I can hardly even find a referance about it on the net do you know of any any at all sites that would sell this PLEASE help me
Hello, Another ramen blogger here.
There are a lot of “raw” nama-ramen that are instant ramen but the noodles are not dried and taste much closer to the real thing. They will deliver the ramen in dry ice, I think they deliver overseas… Here’s a link:
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/ab-out/500611/567753/
Email me if you are even in Japan, China or Taiwan. I can give you a must try ramen list. 🙂
Ramen Road Scholar: your site is great! And I will definitely ask you for recommendations the next time I’m in Asia!
Hello! I LOVE your site.
One of the things I miss most about Japan is the food. I grew up there, and so a big part of me is missing without that wonderful food. I live in SoCal and have been on a witchhunt for some authentic ramen and I found this site linked from wikipedia. Thank you for creating this site!!!
I had some good ramen at this little vendor in the fashion district in L.A. (not the high end fashion district) and I was surprised by how good it was!! I don’t remember how to get back there, though. It was in a big supermarket-kind of place among Mexican food vendors and such.
hey you must be all fatened up! eating all that ramen XD
great to see another ramen fan out there! i just launched my ramen website recently. would you like to do a link exchange? happy holidays and all best!
Hey great blog! Keep checking in. Love Shinsengumi. Just thought you’d wanna know about the news about the inventor of instant noodles on my blog (link) keep up the great work! -haj
Hello – I’m writing from a profile and obituaries programme
for the BBC in London.
We will be proofiling the late Momofuku Ando this week.
I was wondering if we could interview about your noodle obsession!?! And what noodles mean to you. Only a ten minute interview over the phone – not live.
Please post a reply on your noticeboard. Thanks!
Hi Mariam, I would be honored to be interviewed. Could you please send an e-mail to bbc@ramenramenramen.net and we can make arrangements that way? Thanks!
Hi,I read about this site in an story on ramen in the SF Chronicle today! Interesting website!! There are a few ramen places here in the Bay Area (besides the one you reviewed in Berkeley) and I hope you eventually come up here to try those too!
You are ridiculous…but I love it.
I grew up in the States, but live in Tokyo now. I too am a huge ramen fan. If you ever go to Tokyo you have to try a black sesame Tan Tanmen place in Azabu-Jaban. UNREAL!!!
Long live Ramen……
and next time you have gyoza, instead of soy sauce, try mixing some fresh lime juice and white pepper together.
Cheers, great site!
lol ed, i was wondering why all my traffic today was coming through your page. then a friend just forwarded me the SF article. congrats man! everybody buy a lapel pin from this guy, stat! =P
Matt V: thanks! What’s the name of the place in Azabu-Jaban? Every time I’m in Japan, my head spins from all my ramen choices!
rameniac: thanks as always. Everyone, go check out rameniac.com for more ramen reviews. There’s no such thing as too much ramen!
Thanks for checking out my site and adding it to your ramen links!! I may organize a GO RAMEN! Run in a month or so. I’ll post the details soon but here’s a hint: it has nothing to do with running and a lot to do with eating ramen!
This site is great! I love ramen… keep up the great work
So what’s the concensus on best instant ramen, not the bowl/cup ones that you pour water in?
And are there really any good “healthy” ones (ie not fried)? Non-fried ones just don’t taste good.
Great site. We’ve added to the ramen directory.
I am loving your website! Please continue sharing your love for ramen..
I want to say thank you for this website. I was looking for some information about a Ramen co. and stumbled here, and the funny thing is one of the post had it. adjusted posted the info for Jennifer.
I also would like to say I LOVE RAMEN !!!!!! I eat it everyday,(sometimes more then once LOL) It,s been the only food that doesn’t set my bad gallbladder off in a tis. So thanks again.
Pretty cool. Made me crave for some noodles. That’s it.
*off to the nearest convenience store.
Awesome site! Love ramen and love the quirky-ness of your site.
@Sharon: Thanks Sharon!
Hi everyone. I need some help. I’m heading down to Irvine (in the OC) this weekend with my wife and 3 kids. We love ramen and we’ll be there all weekend. Which ramen place should we try?
@Oren: Thanks for your kind words. If you don’t mind driving a bit farther from Irvine, there’s some good ramen to be had in Costa Mesa. I’d suggest:
Santouka ramen in the Mitsuwa supermarket. Splurge a bit on the deluxe toroniku ramen and you won’t be disappointed.
Daikokuya ramen in the Marukai supermarket. Their tonkotsu-shoyu ramen is solid.
Kohryu ramen. The last few times I’ve been there there’s been a wait, but it’s good stuff. They have a variety of different ramen to choose from.
If you’re constrained by time and need to stay in Irvine, there’s Shizuma ramen off Barranca. Shizuma’s not as good as the Costa Mesa ramen houses but they serve up decent ramen.
Hope you have a good trip and let us know what you think!
We just started our company last week, which I wanted to feature on this blog. Its called as Ramen Addict. The website url is http://www.ramenaddict.com
It has one of the biggest collection of instant ramen noodles. Please check it out and also if possible we can always promote your blog.
If you are looking for some rare instant ramen noodles or everyday popular cup noodles check us out at http://www.ramenplace.com
No ramen pictures in a ramen site? …
@theramenblog We are making our US debut! From 6/26 in Gardena Marukai located at 1740 W. Artesia Blvd., Gardena, CA 90248.@menyairoha
You are awesome! I’m kind of a new ramen enthusiast so I’ll be looking forward to new posts. I love this site 😀
I love the site and I love ramen. Unfortunately, since returning from Japan 12 years ago, I haven’t been able to find my favorite packaged ramen. It was wan tan men style and had orange packaging and a pig on the front. In fact, you reviewed something by the same company here https://ramenramenramen.net/2005/09/22/ramen-rating-won-ton-men/ but I’m looking for the package kind, not the cup type. My hiragana is terrible these days (it’s been 12 years afterall) but based on the package, I think the manufacture is “Esukoku.” Can you help?
Hi Glen, thanks for the kind words. Sorry, I haven’t seen any “brick” ramen made by that company. For what it’s worth, your katakana is just about right on…it’s esukokku. If I ever come across that brand again, I’ll report back.
This is like the best website i’ve ever come across. Never would I ever thought that a ramen inspired website would have such a profound sentiment and spiritual meaning. Thanks!