the ramen blog & other goodies!

It’s like something out of a bad 80’s commercial: you’ve got your ramen in my ice cream! *You’ve* got your ice cream in my ramen!

Tokyo ramenya Kikuya has something for everyone. Want a bowl of ramen but can’t wait for dessert? Have a bowl of vanilla ice cream ramen or even chocolate ramen! Prefer a drink with your ramen but can’t be bothered with a cup? How about a nice bowl of coffee milk ramen? Or a green tea ramen? And for the ultimate in Japanese delights: natto ramen. If you’ve had natto before…enough said.

Japan It UP!

First of all, our deepest sympathies go out to all the people who’ve lost homes in the Southern California fires, and a great big heartfelt THANKS go to all the brave firefighters. The “ramen blog headquarters” is just a few miles from the Santiago Canyon fire, and we’re still trying to pick all the ash out of our ramen.

Have you been to instant ramen heaven?

Here’s something I thought I’d never say: here’s a NSFW quote about ramen — ramen?!?!

Ramen, the educational video, just like the ones you watched in grade school (complete with educational video cheesy music)? (look in the lower left corner of the page)
via tokyolifer

Hey kids, science experiment

Can you eat a “galaxy” of ramen? A “universe” of ramen? How about a “black hole” of ramen

Yoshinoya is acquiring Ichiban Honbu, an Osaka-based ramen chain with 189 stores. Ichiban Honbu is known for their 180-yen (about a buck-fifty!!) “Bikkuri Ramen,” or “surprise ramen.” Hmm…could this mean you’ll soon be able to go to Yoshinoya for a beef bowl *and* and bowl of ramen? Sigh…I can dream, can’t I?

via JCN Network

How would you like a free “instant emergency ramen kit”? The catch? You have to live in Japan.

The Japan Convenience Foods Industry Association is offering these cool kits to 5 lucky winners. The emergency kit consists of instant noodles, water, a portable cooker, utensils, and even a wet towel! What a great idea!

It makes perfect sense: “Considering its convenience and long shelf life, instant ramen can be a perfect stock food for disaster prevention,” according to the association. Sure beats the heck out of some canned foods. And even if you don’t live in Japan, why not roll your own. All you need are a few simple items:
– Five servings of instant ramen noodles
– Three 500-milliliter bottles of mineral water
– A stainless cup
– Solid fuel
– A barbeque lighter
– A pair of chopsticks
– A wet towel

As I was typing this though, I accidently typed “emergency instant ramen kit” instant of “instant emergency ramen kit,” which made me see the idea in a whole new light…this would be a nice “emergency kit” to carry around with you at all times, in case that ramen craving hits you when you least expect it!

via tokyomango

Couldn’t find a darn thing about this contest, but what a cool idea! (And did anyone notice who took the pic? Any Star Trek TNG fans out there?)

Recently, it seems like a new ramen house opens in New York City every freaking day! Time Out NY calls it a Ramen War. “Ramen war”?! I’d settle for a ramen…um…”disagreement”. I’m not bitter, just jealous…

Ramen, for breakfast? Why the hell not!

In other ramen news:

Grilled ramen, and other crazy ramen recipes! Looks good…getting hungry…

Ramen erasers! Enough said!

I tend to eat my nama ramen plain, to get a true taste of the noodles and soup (that, and I’m lazy). Hawaiian food blogger Pomai takes nama ramen to a whole new level. Follow along, as he turns nama ramen into real ramen, complete with homemade chashu!

There’s a new craze in Japan: all you can carry/fit-in-one-bag foods for one low price. Check out this video of people trying to get their money’s worth at a store featuring all-you-can-stack instant ramen!