There’s even a Cup Noodles Museum in Osaka, Japan.
The Cup Noodles inventor Ando inaugurated the museum in 1999.
The museum features multiple exhibits and attractions inspired by the history of instant noodles, ranging from a make-your-own Cup Noodles factory to an interactive theater in the shape of Cup Noodles.
Instant noodles were once considered a luxury grocery store item.
When instant noodles were first introduced in Japanese grocery stores, they were typically six times more expensive than fresh noodles.
However, today’s instant ramen is one of the iconic “cheap” foods found in supermarkets. Most American grocery stores charge about 25 cents for a pack of instant noodles.
Ando’s philosophical take on running an instant-noodle company
Even though Ando was head of a big business that recorded $300 million in profits at the time of his death in 2007, he still enjoyed being an instant-noodle sage in between cups of ramen and rounds of golf. Occasionally, he enlightened employees by shouting, “What are you doing now?” at random intervals, but he also had a more serene approach to management.
His quotations, which were compiled in an employee handbook, resemble Zen koans rather than business jargon:
But his most enduring quote, as loosely translated by Momofuku superfan Andy Raskin, may be the best to end with.
What does it mean? Who knows. But it sounds delicious.
FAQ
Where was ramen invented?
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 the 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 Korean or Japanese?
The Japanese noodle dish ramen (/rmn/) (also spelled rmen or rmen, IPA: [ame]) is popular worldwide. It consists of wheat noodles prepared in the Chinese style (or, chkamen) and served in a broth with toppings like sliced pork (chsh), nori (dried seaweed), menma (bamboo shoots), and scallions.
Is ramen Japanese or Korean or Chinese?
The noodles were known as “Chinese soba” noodles in Japan until the 1950s despite being widely known to have been imported from China. Ramen shops first became popular in both nations in the early 1900s.
