Indeed, post-World War II hardship led to the development of the popular instant version of noodles in Japan. When Momofuku Ando, who passed away 10 years ago this January, was jobless and saw how hungry his fellow citizens were, he came up with his revolutionary dried noodles.
In his book Takashis Noodles, chef Takashi Yagihashi claims that “ramen is Japan’s ultimate comfort food, the equivalent of a cheeseburger, fried chicken, and deep-dish pizza rolled into one.”
How simple it has become for the rest of us to satisfy our soul-warming cravings, not just with ramen but with any of the quick-cooking Japanese noodles that are sold in most supermarkets. The Slurping Turtle restaurant in Chicago’s Yagihashi guided us through the various types of First, know where to look.
Examine the international foods section of your local supermarket; the majority carry a respectable selection of Japanese noodles. I discovered several varieties of cooked, shelf-stable udon at mine in addition to the typical ramen, dried soba, and udon.
An Asian or Japanese supermarket is the best option for even more choices. You’ll find plenty of dried, fresh, and pre-cooked frozen noodles. Fresh vs. dried.
There’s no shame in dried. With the exception of instant ramen, which is flash-fried and contains additives to extend shelf life, Japanese noodles, whether dried or fresh, are convenient and generally low in ingredients.
They all take only a few minutes to cook: dried noodles take a little longer to cook than fresh or fresh-frozen noodles.
Frequently portioned, freshly frozen noodles keep for months in your freezer. The cheapest option, dried noodles, can last even longer in your pantry.
But Yagihashi advises choosing fresh if you have to make a decision. Fresh noodles have a stronger flavor on their own and absorb the flavors of a broth or sauce the best. “Dried pasta doesn’t infuse as well,” he says.
If you plan to store dried noodles, you must use cool, dry storage. The best-buy dates on them may be years away, but according to Yagihashi, if you use them within six to seven months, they’ll taste the best.
Ramen. The popular wheat noodle is actually Chinese in origin. A combination of high-protein, medium-high gluten flours, as well as the essential alkaline ingredient kansui, which also contributes to the noodles’ yellowish color, give the dish its delightfully chewy, slurpable texture. Ramen can be wavy or straight. Fresh ramen also might contain egg white or whole eggs.
The next best thing, according to Yagihashi, is fresh “chow mein,” also known as “Chinese egg noodles,” if you can’t find fresh ramen.
Soba. This tan-colored noodle is made with buckwheat flour and wheat flour. It has squarish edges, is thinner than spaghetti, and tastes nutty. According to Yagihashi, the noodles’ color can vary depending on how much ground buckwheat kernels are used, from light tan to grayish-brown.
In and around Tokyo, where the smoothness of the noodle is a desired quality, soba is especially beloved. It’s wonderful in broth, chilled as a salad, or stir-fried.
Udon. Now this is a slurping noodle. The only ingredients are wheat flour, salt, and water, and it is thick, white, and slippery smooth. Although the typical udon resembles swollen spaghetti, there are other varieties, such as a flatter, linguine-like noodle.
While the modern process is largely automated, the traditional Japanese method of making udon requires a person to step on the dough (safely enclosed in plastic) while wearing clean socks (!). According to Yagihashi, Osaka is renowned for its udon, which is thought to be a more “down-to-earth” noodle than classy soba.
Somen. According to Yagihashi, this is the equivalent of angel hair pasta in Japan—a thin, white, wheat-flour noodle. It cooks in as little as 30 seconds. Somen, which is thought of as a light, summertime noodle, is typically consumed chilled in broth or with dipping sauce. It’s usually sold dried.
Shirataki. The popularity of these slick, slightly strange, calorie-free, carb-free, and gluten-free noodles peaked in 2015 after they first became known online several years ago. They’re made from the soluble fiber of the Asian konjac root, which, according to Serious Eats J, “basically passes straight through you,” which is why they’re generating so much buzz. Kenji Lopez-Alt. Typically, you can locate them in the chilled case next to the tofu. Before using them in soup or being tossed with sauce, it is advised that you drain and rinse them.
Types of Ramen
Ramen’s various varieties result from experimenting with these components. Here are some of the most common types of ramen:
Of course, the noodles themselves must be the only constant in the constantly changing world of ramen.
We must examine more closely what makes ramen noodles so excellent.
Wu-Mu ramen is exactly what you’re looking for if you want perfectly chewy ramen. Instead of being deep-fried, the noodles in this Taiwanese ramen brand are steamed before being dried. The steaming gives these lower-fat noodles the perfect chewy texture. Ramen perfection would be that distinct texture combined with a slightly sweet, unmistakably salty, umami-rich black bean sauce.
We at Yummy Bazaar make it simple to purchase ramen online. Our incredible selection invites you to experience new flavors while recalling old favorites. We’ll deliver the ramen you order from us right to your door. Even free shipping is available on orders of $59 or more of your favorite ingredients and foods from around the globe!
It’s hard to think of a common savory flavor that hasn’t appeared in ramen form at one point or another, including kimchi, chicken curry, pickled mustard, black bean paste, and four-cheese ramen varieties. You could eat ramen for an entire year and never get bored of it because there are so many different varieties available.
Unless it’s Samyang’s Nuclear 2X Spicy Chicken Ramen, in which case wait until you’ve mastered their regular spicy chicken ramen before even considering trying this one. You should keep plenty of milk and honey on hand because the twice as spicy version is so much hotter than the regular version—it’s so hot that it inspired YouTube challenges!
We carry ramen noodles from well-known Korean brands Samyang and Nongshim. Are you ready for intensely delicious flavors and a little (well, maybe a lot!) of heat? Take the latter’s Shin Ramyun Hot & Spicy Noodles, for instance, as proof that these two companies know how to deliver both flavor and heat. There is really nothing better for those who enjoy strong, spicy flavors.
Where to Buy Fresh Ramen Online
Sun Noodle is a leading provider of high-quality, fresh ramen noodles. They were founded in 1981 and currently deliver to 20 countries on three continents around the world. Their ramen noodle and saimin kits are filled with fresh, MSG-free, and delicious noodles and can be prepared in just minutes.
There are more than 600 different varieties of noodles available, and they come in a variety of nutritious and conventional flavors. They offer products and packages for both individual customers who want to make excellent ramen at home and for shops, restaurants, and chefs.
They provide packaged ramen kits in three flavors for people: shoyu, miso, and spicy sesame. On their website, they have a great recipe section with a variety of interesting and unusual ways to prepare the noodles if you’re not sure how to do it or just want some information.
Japan Center was established in 1976 and is a well-loved Japanese institution based in Central London. They went online in 2005 and have been shipping their delicious and high-quality Japanese food and products throughout the UK and internationally ever since.
They have a dedicated team that works diligently to find at least 30 new products to add to the store each week so their devoted customers can always enjoy a variety of items.
Despite having a huge selection of Japanese food and other items, they also have a sizable ramen noodle section. There are numerous types of ramen noodles available, including flavored single-serve portions and bigger bags of fresh noodles. Always check back to see if they still have what you’re looking for because their inventory is constantly changing.
Japanese snack subscriptions are another option to consider if you like this look. These typically don’t offer fresh ramen noodles, but they do provide other fascinating Japanese products.
Hakubaku is based in Japan and promises an authentic, restaurant-quality experience each time you cook up their noodles. Not only are their flavor options and combinations top-notch but they focus on creating the healthiest product they can.
They achieve this by using no MSG, fillers, preservatives, or additives. They provide soft, sustainable, and authentically fresh noodles that don’t require refrigeration.
For those who prefer a ready-made bowl of flavorful soup without having to add anything, they offer a variety of flavors. They sell larger bags that yield more servings in addition to single-serve bags.
They have established a worldwide network, with offices in Japan, the United States, and Australia. If you prefer, you can purchase their ramen noodles from Amazon as well as the respective websites.
Japan Crate is a subscription box service that allows people from all over the world to experience Japanese culture every month, in a variety of ways. Their original Japan Crate features a selection of Japanese candy, but they have since expanded to create several additional boxes.
One of them, Umai Crate, focuses exclusively on noodles. This can be of any kind, from bags from various brands that you can then purchase frequently to uncommon and distinctive single-serve flavors that are unavailable in stores.
Additionally, the noodle-themed crate frequently includes extras like spices and seasonings. You can use these with the noodles or however you see fit. Additionally, all products come with simple to follow instructions, and a few recipe cards are included to give you some ideas.
Each month, the boxes are sent directly from Japan, so you can be sure you’re getting real ramen noodles from the source.
Umi Organic is based in Portland and strives to offer the best and freshest organic ramen noodles that they can. Their noodles are available in a few stores in Oregan and Washington as well as many farmers’ markets.
They provide a few varieties for delivery to those who aren’t in the area. There are whole grain options, basic organic noodles, and noodles with miso sesame sauce.
They also have a ton of resources available for you if you’re new to ramen noodles. This includes a blog that provides information about the business, the noodles, how they are made, where they are sold, etc. A variety of recipes with background information, ingredient lists, and simple instructions are also available. If you’re also interested in yakisoba noodles, they also have some recipes there in addition to those for ramen.
Kaneyama began with a mission to bring authentic East Asian food to the USA that had never been seen before. They started small and have evolved into a large and well-known provider of real Asian cuisine.
They offer a wide variety of food, including ramen, salad, sushi, and sauces. They use only the best ingredients to create the healthiest, highest-quality options for all of their foods. Beyond health, they place a strong emphasis on flavor because they don’t want to sacrifice any aspect of the experience.
They offer a variety of flavors of single-serving ramen noodles that are pre-heated and ready to eat. Flavors include chicken, spicy chicken, miso, and pork. They take these traditional flavors and make them exceptional.
Additionally, you can follow a very informative and helpful blog on their website. This includes recipes and information on certain ingredients. Additionally, it offers instructions and guides for creating your own sushi. In Western culture, sushi has become enormously popular, and many people are curious about and eager to learn how to make it at home.
Ichiran USA has been on a mission to create and distribute some of the best ramen. They use only the best ingredients and some of the most advanced techniques which were developed by their master artisans.
They are a well-known supplier of tonkotsu ramen in particular and the brains behind the “five originals,” the essentials for the ideal tonkotsu ramen experience. This contains a unique spicy red sauce and a fragrant broth. Additionally, a private dining booth, an order form, and a specific ordering procedure are needed when dining in person.
However, they also provide their traditional and cutting-edge ramen for delivery across the continental United States because not everyone can be there to eat in all the time.
Three mouthwatering portions of their premium ramen noodles, their original spicy red sauce, and soup concentrate are all included in each of their take-home ramen kits. The kits are simple to use and consistently produce a perfectly authentic ramen experience.
FAQ
What kind of ramen noodles should I get?
- Hakubaku Organic Somen Japanese Wheat Noodles.
- Sukina Buckwheat Noodles.
- Lotus Foods Organic Millet & Brown Rice Ramen.
- J-Basket Dried Buckwheat Soba Noodles.
- King Soba Organic Buckwheat Ramen Noodles.
- Hime Japanese Ramen Noodles.
- Maruchan Ramen.
What is the difference between instant ramen and ramen?
The only similarity between ramen and instant noodles is that both are noodle soups. While instant noodles come in a wide variety of manufactured noodles, ramen is freshly made. Think before calling something “ramen” the next time.
Are ramen noodles sold separately?
The majority of ramen noodles are still sold in individual packages with accompanying seasonings, whether they are fresh or fried.
What is the best ramen to try for the first time?
The most straightforward variety of ramen is Shio Ramen, or salt base. Other than that, the most popular varieties are Kyushu’s Tonkotsu (Pork Bone) Ramen and Hokkaido’s Miso Ramen, both of which have a soy sauce base.
