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April 27, 2006

Top Ramen Noodles – College Cooking 101

ramen

With the way we all ate ramen during college, you’d think that instant ramen was an instant hit at the markets. The fact is, when it was first introduced in Japan, it was considered a luxury item(imagine that) considering that it costs six times more than homemade noodles in Japanese grocery stores.

It wasn’t until Nissin brought it to the shores of the U.S. in 1973 with their convenient styrofoam cup, that the instant noodles sky rocketed in popularity. Nissin Foods now brings in over 300 billion yen ($2.7 billion U.S.) a year with their original “Top Ramen” noodles. Add all the competing ramen clones made in Japan, Korea, Europe, the U.S., China, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia and you have an estimated annual world market of $10 billion U.S.

Pretty good for a product with a wholesale price of less than 10 cents a pack. So what’s your favorite ramen?

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  • DonRay

    Ever hear of Kung Fu noodles? Boil a pot of that with some hotdogs and you’ll have one helluva bowl of ramen!

  • http://www.kumoriarts.com daBones

    Ah, now if only it were good for you. That’s okay. I’ll always be faithful to you, Nissin Instant Noodle Ramen. Friends forever.

  • lovedoctor

    I want to know how many people would order instant noodles at a resturant.

  • gmax

    udons much better than ramen! :p

  • http://the.sandalian.com sandalian

    I love instant noodles too. Sarimi, Supermi, Gagami, Mi Sedap are really delicious!

  • ziggie216

    heck no… real ramen > instant ramen

  • gnab

    oh gosh..i’m still trying to get over noodles from college… :-)

  • Khaeny

    My Kingdom for Ramen ! lol

  • Muten

    Maruchan is def. my favorite, but I get Top Ramen when I can’t find it.

  • Tien-Avenger

    I had an idea for an instant noodle resturant.

    Imagine a pearl tea place environment but the walls are lined with instant noodle brands and flavors from all over the world. You buy the noodles and hot water is free but charged for extras like meat or veggies and what not. and you know they sit down and eat.

    Target market is white america cause what asian has the right mind to spend 5 bucks on instant noodles? but for white americans it’s ‘exotic’ and the environment makes it ‘classy’ and it’s a reinvention of a ‘comfort food’ and just being there makes them more ‘diverse’ hmm…speaking of comfort foods if we carry mac and cheese it might be a best seller…

  • QueenOfRice

    it all the MSG and stuff that i love in fake instant noodles~

  • kuma87

    You know, here in Thailand you can actually order instant noodles in restaurants and food stalls. It’s a common thing. They charge like 20 Baht (50 cents), as oppose to 5 Baht per pack from stores. But of course, meat, eggs, and veggies are added and sometimes further seasoning is done.

    In Thailand the biggest ones are called Mama noodles man, the best! haha I have it almost everyday for breakfast, how unhealthy I know.

  • djss

    i love ramen period.

  • beni

    i actually hate it, well the instant ones anyways, it makes me puke

  • http://www.xanga.com/DianaCouture Diana52Couture

    with fried turkey sausage and a fried egg

  • Dexter Kanuto

    Ramen likeys: Tonkatsu, Laksa, Beef, Seafood, Chicken, Pork, and Tom Yam Goong flavor.

    Udon is also my likey. What more likeys I have?>>> Pinoy style noodles: Pansit Canton (Cantonese), Pansit Bihon, Pansit Sotanghon, Pansit Malabon, and Yakisoba (Stir-fried). Plus Mami noodles.

    Now I’m Hungry.

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