Nothing compares to diving into a large bowl of steaming ramen. But there are proper and improper ways to enjoy this delectable Japanese favorite. There is no justification for eating plain ramen straight from the package, and the right toppings and modifications can really transform the dish. The next time you’re ready for ramen, avoid these blunders and give your bowl the respect it deserves by following these simple guidelines.
1) Dont skip the sniff. While everyone is eager to begin tasting, remember to first take in the aroma of your ramen before you begin to eat. Before you eat, make sure to inhale the aromas, as this will enhance the flavor.
2) Dont get grabby. It’s nearly impossible to wrap all the noodles neatly if you take too many at once. Eating noodles and toppings in small, manageable portions at a time will help you avoid filling your chopsticks to the brim. Itll help you with twisting, too.
3) Dont twist in the bowl. In relation to twisting your noodles, you should do this away from the broth. For a little more control, loop the noodles over your chopsticks with the spoon acting as an anchor. It makes for a neater, more enjoyable experience.
4) Dont forget the egg. If you skip the egg when making ramen, you’re doing it wrong. The ramen broth is only made better by the yolky goodness.
5) Dont make it hard on yourself. Do not hold your chopsticks in your left hand, even though it probably goes without saying. If you’re not a serious lefty, this will end badly. Even though it takes some practice to get the hang of it, using chopsticks to eat ramen is mandatory (never use a fork).
6) Dont forget the Nori, either. Nori (seaweed) can be confusing for the uninitiated. If youve never had seaweed, youre in for a treat. Although the salty food is delicious and paper thin, it should be consumed quickly. Wait too long and itll get soggy in the broth. Cut it up with chopsticks or a spoon, then devour it quickly.
7) Dont be shy about slurping. While slurping is customary when enjoying ramen, it may seem impolite in American culture. Start by tasting the broth to get a true sense of the flavor before eating the noodles. Next, when you’re ready to include noodles in the dish, eat them. A note here: good ramen has slurpable noodles. If the noodles stick together, ask for a fresh bowl. When you’re done, you’re welcome to tip the bowl back and gulp down any leftover broth.
8) Dont camp out. If you look at traditional ramen shops, you’ll see that many of them have standing room only. Why? The dish is meant to be eaten quickly. There is no need to take your time with the dish because ramen is best when eaten hot. Additionally, the longer it remains unfinished, the more the noodles absorb the soup. Take a bite and let the goodness that has been simmering warm you up with your spoon and chopsticks.
9) Dont substitute. Let me be clear: no substitutions ever. Sriracha is the sole exception to this rule (since it improves everything) along with any other toppings the chef provides. But in all seriousness, do not add salt, fish sauce, or hoisin. We’re going to assume that the real ramen broth is fine just the way it is because it takes hours to perfect.
10) Dont forget to double-fist. When it comes to eating ramen, its a two-handed effort. Pull the noodles out and use your soup spoon to loop them loosely over your chopsticks. Next, re-dunk the noodles in the broth, and scoop up some soup with a spoon. Bring both at once to your mouth, ideally with some green onions added. When you get the broth, noodles, and toppings all at once, the dish is at its best.
Japanese Do’s for Eating Ramen
You’ve got your equipment laid out. Your ramen is cooked and ready. It’s time to dive in.
But hold on, you can’t just dive in there carelessly. Even the most seasoned fans of ramen can find it intimidating. There is a way to handle the meal, which consists of a steaming bowl of long-boil soup, thoughtfully crafted tare (seasoning), perfectly cooked noodles, and carefully selected toppings.
To have the best experience, follow the suggestions below for the dos and don’ts.
Get Into a Rhythm of Broth and Bites
Orkin talks about finding the “rhythm of the noodle,” which is really your personal flow of how you want to eat your bowl of ramen. So when do you eat the toppings and the soup?
Some people start with all the toppings, but like Orkin, we’d advise eating them one by one. After taking a sip of the soup, slurp some noodles, then try a bite of one or more toppings (individually or all at once), then take another sip of soup, and so on.
You can also use the chirirenge to make a spoonful of ramen that is jam-packed with flavor by adding a few strands of noodles, some topping, and the soup.
Like the noodles, it’s best to start on the toppings first rather than waiting for them to become soggy in the soup. Instead of trying to cram the entire ajitsuke tamago (marinated, soft-boiled egg) into your mouth at once, split it in half in the soup or bite into it. It’s OK to put half-bitten toppings back into the bowl.
Chopsticks
No matter how adept you are with chopsticks, we suggest using them when eating ramen. When lifting your ramen noodles high out of the bowl for proper aeration (and admiration), chopsticks are the ideal tool.
To feed the noodles up into your mouth, you can use them almost like a two-pronged lever. By doing this, the noodles are also kept from flying around and splashing you in the face as you eat them.
If you are able to slurp with a fork, which is challenging, and pick up noodles with just a spoon, you are truly a ramen hero.
FAQ
Are you supposed to drink the broth in ramen?
It’s totally OK to drink the broth from the bowl. It’s considered a compliment to how good the broth is. But consume it at your own risk because those broths are sodium bombs (see above). When you’ve consumed all of the noodles in your bowl, it’s also acceptable to request more.
Are you supposed to bite ramen?
Ramen noodles can be bit into while being slurped up as long as you don’t drop them back into the broth. They will splash you and cause a mess, so avoid them.
Is ramen meant to be eaten fast?
Ramen is designed to be consumed quickly, slurping the noodles and drinking the soup with a spoon to get a substantial serving of noodles and the soup’s flavor in your mouth at the same time. The noodles should not be left in the hot broth for an extended period of time as this will cause them to continue cooking and become soggy.
Do you eat ramen with a spoon or form?
Chopsticks are required for eating ramen (never use a fork), though they take some practice.
