The New York Times has a nifty article today about ramen shops in New York City. (Registration required, or use rv333/rv333 for username/password.)
[…] In Japan, ramen is more than a cheap cup of noodles. It is the national dish, cheaper than sushi, available everywhere and perpetually fashionable. With its rich, meaty broth, ramen is very different from other Japanese soups; in fact the dish is a relatively recent import from China. But since ramen became popular in Japan in the 1950's, it has been a national institution: quick, inexpensive street food, as closely associated with young people and budget meals as it is here. One Japanese name for instant ramen is gakusei ryori, or student cuisine. Ramen stalls cluster around train stations, and vending machines provide customized bowls. […]
The article also mentions a ramen museum/ theme park (in Yokohama) and an instant ramen museum (in Ikeda). More reasons to visit Japan: the Gyoza Stadium and Curry Museum.
Posted by rv at November 12, 2004 01:12 PM to food