Where Did Ramen Noodles Come From?

Place of origin

Most of us associate ramen with the soup packets we consumed as children when we think of it. Or we recall how, as broke college students, it was pretty much the only thing we could afford. Lets be honest. At the time, instant ramen was also the only dish we really knew how to prepare, and it was very simple. However, the chicken, beef, and shrimp-flavored Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup that is so popular today is not the original ramen.

There is a common misconception that the first ramen dish to be served in a restaurant originated in Japan. According to The New Yorker, George Solt, a professor at New York University, has conducted extensive research on the history of the adored soup. Through his work, Solt learned that the 19th-century origin of ramen was in China. Chinese tradesmen brought the soup over to Japan.

A quick history of ramen – YOKOCHO style

Fasten your seatbelts for a quick trip through ramen history as we start our tale in the 1800s in China, widely regarded as the birthplace of all things ramen. After the Meijiichin [Meiji Restoration] in 1868, Chinese immigrants brought the concept of noodles in a soupy broth to Japan in the late 19th or early 20th century. Chinatowns like the one in Yokohama, a busy port city that contributed to the spread of ramen’s popularity throughout Japan, sprang up as soon as people arrived there.

Yowaken, a restaurant in Japan, served a bowl of noodles resembling modern ramen for the first time in 1884, but it wasn’t until 1910 that Japan’s first ramen shop, Rairaiken, opened in Asakua, Tokyo.

Then, in 1947 Fukuoka, the now-famous Hakata tonkotsu Ramen was actually created by complete accident when restaurant cooks overboil the soup, turning the pork broth an excessive amount of milky and white. But after tasting it, they realized they had discovered something worthwhile, and Hakata tonkotsu broth was the result.

Regional variations of ramen began to appear, with Ajino Sanpei in Sapporo, Hokkaido in northern Japan, being the first ramen shop to produce miso ramen, which is now as synonymous with Hokkaido as snowboarding is.

After the war, bread and wheat consumption in Japan increased, and wheat was used to make ramen noodles. By 1950, yatai, or outdoor street stalls, had proliferated throughout towns and cities, providing workers with a quick hot meal at all hours of the day and night. These yatai were increasingly serving ramen noodles.

Momofuku Ando, the Taiwanese-Japanese founder of Nissin Foods, created instant noodles in 1958, which was a significant turning point for fans of ramen. This made it possible for anyone to prepare this comfort food at home in just a few simple steps.

Because of the need for a quick rest stop for busy workers during this prosperous decade, ramen’s popularity was growing not just in Japan but also internationally by the 1980s. Soon, ramen joined sushi, sake, and matcha as one of Japan’s foodie icons.

At this time, a growing number of regional ramen variants were developed and made available throughout Japan. Discover the various origins, backgrounds, and histories of the toppings for the various regional ramen, including salt “Shio,” soy “Shoyu,” miso, and tonkotsu, among many others.

A ramen museum in Yokohama was established in 1994 as a result of the ramen craze. They constructed a Ramen Stadium in Hakata Canal City, a food court honoring regional ramen with eight illustrious ramen yatai in one location.

Today, ramen is a global dish that is celebrated in ramen bars and restaurants all over the world. We want to travel to Japan, where there are 24,000 ramen shops in total, with 5,000 of them in Tokyo.

Tonkotsu ramen became one of London’s favorite soul food dishes after Shoryu Ramen, one of the first ramen bars to introduce authentic Hakata Tonkotsu ramen to ramen fans, contributed to the ramen boom in London and the UK in 2012. Heddon Yokocho, a genuine love affair and celebration of regional ramen right here in the heart of London, joined the ramen scene in 2020. Now let’s embark on a journey across Japan with you, so grab some beer and chopsticks.

Ramen vs Instant Ramen

Many of us likely grew up eating instant or cup noodles. These are very popular because they are tasty, affordable, and simple to prepare. But what is the difference between Ramen vs instant noodles?.

Most of us associate ramen with the soup packets we consumed as children when we think of it. Or we recall how, as broke college students, it was pretty much the only thing we could afford. Lets be honest. At the time, instant ramen was also the only dish we really knew how to prepare, and it was very simple. However, the chicken, beef, and shrimp-flavored Maruchan Ramen Noodle Soup that is so popular today is not the original ramen.

As The Nation reported, Japan suffered from food shortages and famine during World War II. The government decided on tighter food regulations and prohibited restaurants from making a profit on food, a rule enforced until 1949 (via First We Feast). Because of the black market, however, people could acquire wheat flour and so were able to enjoy ramen secretly. By the 1950s, it was reintroduced as an upscale food for Japanese families and became widely popular. The rest, as they say, is history.

According to First We Feast, Solts research found the Japanese first had ramen at the Rai-Rai Ken restaurant in Tokyo. The eatery opened in 1910 and employed Chinese cooks who made a popular dish called “shina soba.” “Shina” translated to “China,” and “soba” means “noodle dish.” The meal became a hit with blue-collar workers because it was inexpensive and filling. It didnt reach the masses, however, until decades later.

Many think the first ramen dish that was served at a restaurant was invented in Japan, but thats not the case. George Solt is a professor at New York University who has done extensive research into the origins of the beloved soup, according to The New Yorker. Through his work, Solt discovered ramen actually originated in China in the 19th century. Chinese tradesmen brought the soup over to Japan.

FAQ

Where do ramen noodles originated?

It begins in China in the 1800s, which is regarded as the birthplace of all things ramen. After the Meijiichin [Meiji Restoration] in 1868, Chinese immigrants brought the concept of noodles in a soupy broth to Japan in the late 19th or early 20th century.

Who invented ramen noodles?

Momofuku Ando was born on March 5, 1910. He established Nissin Food Products and founded the Ando Foundation. The instant ramen industry was founded in 1958 when Momofuku created Chicken Ramen, the first instant ramen ever made.

Is ramen more Japanese or Chinese?

Ramen is a Japanese adaptation of Chinese wheat noodle soups. Early in the 20th century, Yokohama’s Chinatown is where it first reportedly appeared. Despite being named after the northern Chinese dish lamian, ramen did not actually develop from it.

Is ramen Japanese or Korean?

There are two types of Ramen in Korea. One is referred to as Ramen and is a Japanese-style Ramen, while the other is referred to as Ramyun and are Korean-style instant noodles. We will first discuss the Ramen in Korea. In Korea, ramen is a popular Japanese dish that has had a big impact on the country’s food industry.

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