Japanese Ramen in Japan

I love all kinds of noodles but most of all I love a Japanese noodle dish, called Ramen. According to Wikipedia, "Ramen consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat- or (occasionally) fish-based broth, often flavoured with soy sauce or miso (a traditional Japanese seasoning produced by fermenting rice, barley and /or soybeans), and uses toppings such as sliced pork (called chashu), dried seaweed (nori), kamaboko (Japanese processed seafood product) , green onions and occasionally corn".  There are mainly four flavour categories of Ramen soup; Shio (salt), Tonkotsu (pork bone), Shoyu (soy sauce) and Miso.

I don't usually eat meat but when it comes to Ramen, I ignore that the soup is often meat based and just enjoy the taste (but putting chashu aside!).

In Osaka, Japan you can visit The Instant Ramen Museum (http://www.instantramen-museum.jp/), which is near Ikeda Station on Hankyu-Takarazuka Line.  This was founded by Momofuku Ando who invented the world's first cup-type instant noodle product known as Cup Noodles!  Obviously we had to go there for curiosity.

Inside of the museum, you see history of instant noodles. Apparently as many as about 100 billion servings are consumed annually around the world!!!

You can also create your own Cup Noodles at My Cup Noodle Factory.

First, you decorate your own cup....

You then take it to the noodle factory station to fill the cup with noodles, choose the soup flavour and the ingredients. You have selections of standard soup flavour, seafood flavour, curry flavour and tomato & chilli flavour.

Afterwards, they seal the cups and shrink-wrap them so that you can take home. It was quite fun!

After the museum, we walked back to the train station but on the way we found a Ramen restaurant, so we naturally had to have lunch there.

I think this one was Shoyu ramen with slices of chashu,  boiled egg, spinach, spring onions, etc.

This one was Tonkotsu ramen which has rather rich taste.

We also ordered Onigiri (rise balls with seaweed wrapped around them)

There are so many Ramen restaurants in Japan and they get very busy during lunch time as they are like Japanese equivalent of fast food. Good restaurant always has people cueing patiently to get their seats at the counter.

Inside, people hovering over customers, waiting for their turn. 

This Ramen restaurant in down town Osaka serves 30 different kinds of flavours.
This one is basic Ramen.

Another Ramen restaurant in downtown Osaka. This one is Miso ramen.

And this one is Shoyu ramen.

One day in December 2011 we all went to Kyoto for sightseeing. We did not have time for lunch so by late afternoon we were starving. We found a ramen restaurant off the main street on the way to train station going back to Osaka and went inside for a quick snack.

You get all sorts of toppings - this one with potato croquettes, chashu and egg.

This one with Memma (simmered bamboo shoots).

Basic ramen.

This is Emily, eating her ramen. In Japan you are allowed to make slurping noises when eating noodles.

This is Craig, Emily's boyfriend, eating Curry flavoured ramen.

Many ramen restaurant also serves Gyoza (Japanese pan-fried dumpling, originated from China) and people order this with ramen. Main ingredients are ground pork, cabbage and green leek.

I had a bowl of basic ramen at Kansai International Airport (Osaka, Japan) before flying back to UK!

Well, talking about Ramen really make me feel like eating one so I have just made one for myself! Here is a quick recipe for lazy cook.
I quickly marinated salmon fillet with soy sauce with ginger, wrapped it with foil and oven roasted for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, cut little bit of green and red peppers and onions into strips and fried them for garnish along with spring onion and red chilli while the ramen noodles are prepared.  Unfortunately this is a frozen ramen bought from local Chinese supermarket as you can't get fresh one where I live, however it is still delicious.