First real ramen

[xenon]

Good ramen has a depth to the broth.

The taste is very specific. I wouldn't say it's an acquired taste - but my wife wasn't a huge fan. I love the stuff though.

[Mik]

Eating it now and the Tonkatsu broth has excellent depth of flavor. I think you are right that it could be an acquired taste for some. MFR would not like it, but I do. The seasoned egg in it is great.

[Axtremus]

@george-k said in First real ramen:

@axtremus said in First real ramen:

What "fake" ramens have you had?

Good question!

What, exactly, is "ramen," other than Oriental Asian noodles?

Ramen to me is a derivative of Chinese wheat noodle soup. Be they factory produced or hand-made in small kitchens, one is not necessarily more or less derivative than the other. Within the Chinese culinary tradition, 'wheat noodle soup' is a category with a multitude of variations in itself, so there are lots to derive from and there is no saying which is the more authentic to derive from in the first place.

I have seen "ramen" written in two different ways:

1. 拉麵，literally translates to 'pulled noodle', may refer to Chinese 'hand-pulled noodle', which is a generally recognized subcategory of Chinese noodles. Nothing wrong the that. Though I have only seen "straight" noodles in this subcategory, unlike the wavy, spirally noodle you typically see advertised as "ramen"
2. 螺麵。The first word 螺 literally means 'conch' or 'spiral'. The second word simply means 'noodle.' This is more descriptive of the wavy, spirally shape you typically of see of dishes advertised as "ramen." If you take this literally, just about any noodle that's spirally in shape can qualify as "ramen."

For sure there are "purists" who insist on one narrow definition of ramen or another. I am happy to just find good soup noodles and enjoy them.

[Catseye3]

@xenon said in First real ramen:

Good ramen has a depth to the broth.

Broth?

[Mik]

Verdict is in..tasty stuff. I still prefer sushi, but this was very good.

[LuFins Dad]

Luke drags us to this place called Jinya Ramen Bar all the time. It's tasty enough, though I do note that much difference in the quality of the noodle. The quality of the broth? Yes... And I too like the soft-boiled egg...

[Renauda]

@george-k said in First real ramen:

This ain't real? I'm crushed.

My friend's wife, a pharmacist, refers to those ramen noodle packages as "Heart Attack in a Bag".

[George K]

@renauda said in First real ramen:

"Heart Attack in a Bag".

[Renauda]

@george-k

Be sure to add two or three eggs to that. Better yet, double up the package. Makes a hearty breakfast

[Friday]

Huge ramen fans in this house. In fact, during high school my daughter started to do a ramen critique thing on YT called "ShoYu the Ramen". Get it? Anyway, we used to go out for it, but since the pandemic we make it at home all the time. When I say "we" I mean my husband and kids; I just put my order and eat. I have to say that what they make for me at home is just as good or better than what we would get at restaurants.

[xenon]

@catseye3 said in First real ramen:

@xenon said in First real ramen:

Good ramen has a depth to the broth.

Broth?

From Wikipedia:

Ramen is a Japanese noodle soup. It consists of Chinese wheat noodles served in a meat or fish-based brothh