Ramen

Ramen is a popular soup from Japan. It has long, wiggly noodles in a hot broth. The broth can be made from pork, chicken, or fish. People top their ramen with eggs, meat, and green onions. Ramen is warm, filling, and loved around the world.

Where Ramen Comes From

Ramen first came to Japan from China over 100 years ago. At first, it was sold in small food stands. Soon, ramen shops opened all over Japan. Each city created its own style. Today, ramen is one of the most famous foods in the world.

A steamy bowl of soy sauce ramen at a train station shop.
A steamy bowl of soy sauce ramen at a train station shop. (Lombroso / Wikimedia Commons)

Kinds of Ramen

There are four main kinds of ramen broth. Shoyu is made with soy sauce. Miso uses a salty bean paste. Shio means salt, and tonkotsu is made from pork bones. Cooks add noodles, meat, and veggies to the hot broth to finish the bowl.

Fun Facts

  • Japan has a whole museum just about ramen.
  • Instant ramen was invented in 1958 and can cook in only three minutes.
  • Astronauts have even eaten ramen in space.

Did You Know?

In Japan, it is okay to slurp your ramen loudly. Slurping shows the cook that you love the food.