Ramen Noodles! Noodle, noodle, noodle.

December 2, 2002 9:19 AM

Hungry? Got a couple of minutes and a quarter? Ramen Noodles! The "Official" Home Page, complete with recipies. Not to mention, the history, and inedible uses.
posted by angry modem (21 comments total)

College students everywhere rejoice!
posted by Steve_at_Linnwood at 9:36 AM on December 2, 2002

Along with Mountain Dew the basics of any hacker diet...
posted by PenDevil at 9:56 AM on December 2, 2002

Just tip from a ramen connoisseur, always be sure to purchase actual Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc.) brands on ramen instead of the American or generic brands. I really cannot fathom how anyone can stomach non-Asian ramen.
posted by gyc at 9:57 AM on December 2, 2002

I really cannot fathom how anyone can stomach non-Asian ramen.
Ramen-snobbery??? Jeeeeeebus...
posted by PenDevil at 10:04 AM on December 2, 2002

Am I going to be the first person in this thread to say "Everybody Loves Ramen?" Am I?

Good Lord. It seems I am.
posted by hot soup girl at 10:07 AM on December 2, 2002

gyc has the right idea. I won't go near the American ramen after trying nongshim ramen. Look for this character, 辛, to make sure it's spicy.
posted by bobo123 at 10:22 AM on December 2, 2002

Great post! Lots of interesting/surrealistic info. I like the tips on having a 1) Pet Ramen ("If you ever get one to talk, you might want to consider slacking off on the hallucinagens a little"), a 2) Ramen Chia Pet ("Water daily, and leave in a well lit place, and watch your ramen pet grow over time, learn to love it, and eventually, eat it.") and a 3) toy Ramen ("Try taking uncooked intact Ramen down to the park. Glue on a mast and sail made of the flavor packet. Launch your Ramen boat and watch it sail.")
I believe there is this huge Ramen Museum somehwere in Japan, isn't it?

ps: "Note that the art of Ramen throwing doesn't rely on strength, but form."
posted by 111 at 10:39 AM on December 2, 2002

Nalleys chili + Ramen = Bachelor Chow.
posted by y2karl at 10:51 AM on December 2, 2002

Dried ramen = yucky. The ones in foam cups are worst of all. But Nongshim makes some (not in foam) that are moist noodles with a Kimchi paste and a little pack of freeze-dried veggies, and they're grrr8.

oops! what bobo123 said. :-)
posted by stonerose at 10:59 AM on December 2, 2002

Four words that should never go together: Ramen Clam Chowder Pie (4th one down).
posted by gottabefunky at 11:06 AM on December 2, 2002

i like how the design of the site seems to vibe off that ramen no-frills, getyaby lifestyle!
posted by Peter H at 1:36 PM on December 2, 2002

wow. that ramen clam chowder pie is scary stuff.
posted by juv3nal at 3:03 PM on December 2, 2002

My wife won't let me eat instant ones in styrofoam cups. "They're not made with preservatives, they're made OF preservatives." I have a friend that works in the Nissin Cup Noodle factory in the south of Kyoto (in Uji, the famous tea-growing area where many scenes in The Tale of Genji occurred in the 11th century), and when he gives us samples, she throws them out.
posted by planetkyoto at 4:11 PM on December 2, 2002

BTW, trucks cruise the neighborhoods on summer evenings playing this tune and selling ramen for about ¥500/bowl. (link goes to page with sound, not sound itself)
posted by planetkyoto at 4:18 PM on December 2, 2002

I concur that ramen is convenient and tasty, but it comes with a hefty nutritional price . People don't always remember that innocuous-looking noodles and broth are filled with saturated fat and sodium.

I'm not saying that you should avoid it completely, but remember that all things should be enjoyed in moderation. There are healthier variations of ramen, but in my experience it's more enjoyable to eat the real thing occasionally instead of the lesser stuff more often.
posted by Mayor Curley at 4:27 PM on December 2, 2002

Am I the only one the would eat dried ramen (or Chinese noodles as everyone calls them here) dry straight from the packet, using the soup base as seasoning?

Just wondering, since there are some here that prefer ramen noodles non-dried to start with... :-)
posted by shepd at 6:20 PM on December 2, 2002

When in religion class in high school we were studying the Hindu religion. When we found out about the Brahmin, we figured the one highest in that caste should be called the "Top Brahmin". Kind of silly looking back at it, but we thought it was sophisticated high school humor.
posted by Eekacat at 7:02 PM on December 2, 2002

I shouldn't even be telling you this. But if you live in the Bay Area, go to the Ramen Club on California Drive in Burlingame, and you will be very happy. One friend to whom I introduced the place rates it as "four times better than any other restaurant" -- an exaggeration, it can't be more than three times better.
posted by precipice at 7:27 PM on December 2, 2002

I eat Ramen every day. Mmmm...
posted by adampsyche at 7:34 PM on December 2, 2002

This just in: Kuro5hin reader argues, unconvincingly, that Ramen is not food. Point and laugh.
posted by rusty at 7:37 PM on December 2, 2002

Oh, Ramen in those cups, bought at the Store 24 on Comm. Ave., and all those nights in the BU Computer Center writing papers....

These days, packaging of the dozens of brands/varieties in an Asian market fascinates me. So colorful and mysterious!
posted by ParisParamus at 8:15 PM on December 2, 2002