What is Ramen? Popular Japanese Ramen Varieties

Ramen, originating from Japan, has become a global culinary phenomenon. With its rich broth made from pork, chicken, or fish bones, flavorful wheat flour noodles, and diverse toppings, ramen has quickly captured the palates of many diners. So, what is ramen? Let’s delve into the details of this traditional Japanese dish in the article below!

What is Ramen?

Ramen is a traditional dish in Japanese cuisine, notable for its flavorful wheat flour noodles. The broth is meticulously simmered from pork, chicken, or fish bones, creating a rich and unforgettable taste.

A complete bowl of ramen is often served with char siu (thinly sliced pork), dried seaweed (nori), pickled bamboo shoots (menma), and green onions, offering a harmonious blend of colors and flavors.

*Ramen, the culinary essence of Japan, with chewy noodles and rich broth*

The origin of ramen remains a topic of much debate. Some argue that ramen originated in China and was later introduced to Japan at an unspecified time. Others suggest that ramen was created in Japan in the early 20th century.

According to ramen expert Osaki Hiroshi, the first ramen shop opened in Yokohama in 1910. Since the 1980s, ramen has gradually become a distinctive cultural symbol of Japan and quickly spread worldwide. In 1994, a ramen museum officially opened in a small neighborhood of Yokohama, showcasing numerous precious artifacts about the birth and development of this famous dish.

Regardless of its origin, ramen is now an indispensable part of Japanese culinary culture.

Japanese Ramen Varieties

Here is a list of the 10 most beloved ramen varieties in Japan:

Shoyu Ramen

Shoyu ramen, also known as Tokyo ramen, is characterized by its distinctive brown broth, made from Japanese soy sauce (shoyu), offering a light soybean aroma. The noodles are typically thin, allowing them to absorb the rich broth. A full bowl of Shoyu Ramen often includes dried bamboo shoots, green onions, fish cakes, seaweed, boiled eggs, and char siu (chashu).

Shio Ramen

Shio Ramen is one of the oldest ramen varieties, originating from the Hakodate region. Its broth is made from various salts combined with chicken or pork bones. The flavor of Shio Ramen is intense and irresistible but might be less universally appealing than other ramen types. Shio Ramen is typically served with char siu, pickled plums, fish cakes, boiled eggs, and greens.

Miso Ramen

Miso Ramen uses miso, a fermented soybean paste, to create a mildly sweet and flavorful broth. The broth is simmered from miso with chicken and fish, offering a unique taste. The noodles are often thick and wavy, served with soft-boiled eggs, char siu, and fish cakes.

Tonkotsu Ramen

Tonkotsu Ramen impresses with its thick, pale white broth, simmered from pork bones and fat for hours, offering a unique, rich sweetness and greasiness. The noodles are thin, typically served with pork, pickled ginger, soft-boiled eggs, green onions, seaweed, and various vegetables.

Tsukemen Ramen

Tsukemen Ramen, or cold noodles, is an ideal choice for hot summer days. The broth is simmered for hours with special ingredients, creating a richer flavor and more appealing color than regular ramen. Notably, the broth and noodles are served separately. Diners dip the noodles into the thick broth before enjoying.

Sapporo Ramen

Sapporo ramen is an iconic dish of Sapporo city, with its distinctive broth carefully prepared from pork bones simmered for hours, resulting in a thick consistency and rich flavor.

A special feature of Sapporo ramen is its combination with miso soybean paste, providing a characteristic sweet and fatty taste. The ramen noodles here are distinct, made from selected wheat, typically thicker and larger than those in other regions.

*Sapporo Ramen is a specialty of Hokkaido, known for its thick miso pork bone broth and thick noodles*

Hakata Ramen

Originating from southern Japan, Hakata ramen is a specialty of Fukuoka city on Kyushu Island. This noodle dish impresses with its milky white, smooth broth, created by simmering pork bones for an extended period. Hakata ramen noodles are thin, harmoniously combined with tender char siu and fresh green onions. To enhance flavor and color, minced garlic, roasted sesame seeds, or red ginger are often added.

Kitakata Ramen

Kitakata ramen is the pride of Kitakata city, renowned as one of Japan’s most delicious ramen varieties. The broth is rich, simmered from bones and special seasonings. The noodles are thick, with a moderately chewy texture, served with crunchy pickled bamboo shoots, fresh green onions, and a generous amount of char siu.

Wakayama Ramen

Wakayama ramen offers a unique blend of Tokyo and Tokushima styles, often referred to by locals as chuka-soba (Chinese noodles). The noodles are thin and straight, while the broth can be clear, with a traditional soy sauce flavor (shako-mae style), or a harmonious combination of rich tonkotsu broth and soy sauce.

A distinctive feature of Wakayama ramen is its tender, fragrant pork ribs, a popular topping, along with hard-boiled egg yolks instead of the raw eggs found in Tokushima. Interestingly, Wakayama ramen is often served with sushi, creating a diverse and unique dining experience.

*Wakayama ramen with thin, straight noodles, served with pork ribs and unique sushi*

Onomichi Ramen

Onomichi ramen is a specialty of the port city of Onomichi in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. It is a shoyu ramen, meaning ramen with a soy sauce-based broth. A special ingredient is dried sardines, known as niboshi. Niboshi provides a distinctive seafood flavor, blending with the rich soy sauce, creating a uniquely appealing dish.

Main Ingredients of Japanese Ramen

To create a delicious, authentic bowl of ramen, the following ingredients are essential:

Noodles: Made from wheat flour, water, salt, and kansui, giving them a distinctive chewiness. Depending on the broth, noodles can be straight or wavy, thin or thick.
Broth: The soul of ramen, simmered from chicken bones, pork bones, bonito flakes, kombu seaweed, and various mushrooms for hours, creating a rich and appealing flavor.
Pork: Char siu, tender pork simmered in soy sauce and mirin, is the most common meat in ramen, offering a characteristic sweet aroma.
Boiled Eggs: Soft-boiled eggs, marinated in soy sauce and sweet wine, provide a perfect balance of flavor and texture.
Vegetarian Ingredients: Tofu, seitan, and compressed bean curd are excellent choices for vegetarians, offering a light and nutritious taste.
Vegetables: Fresh bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, bok choy, shiitake mushrooms, green onions, dried seaweed, pickled ginger, and leeks enhance flavor and color.
Fish Cakes: Japanese fish cakes, such as kamaboko or narutomaki, add seafood flavor and enrich the ramen’s colors.

*Japanese Ramen: A blend of noodles, broth, pork, eggs, vegetables, and fish cakes, creating a distinctive flavor*

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Gluten Free Ramen Noodles

100,000đ/PACK

Akamaru Shinaji Ramen from Ippudo (Frozen)

105,000đ/PACK

Concentrated Ramen Soup 1L

165,000đ/BOTTLE

CP Fresh Minced Pork 1kg Package

148,000đ/PACK

CP Frozen Pork Belly 1kg Package

163,000đ/PACK

192,500đ/PACK

CP Frozen Minced Pork 1kg

119,000đ/PACK

139,500đ/PACK

Tulip Pork Luncheon Meat 340g

83,000đ/CAN

GFoods Chicken Egg 55g 10 Eggs/ Box

26,500đ/BOX

30,000đ/BOX

CP Chicken Egg 61g 10 Eggs/ Box

34,500đ/BOX

44,500đ/BOX

Chicken Egg Grade 1 - 63-65g (10 Eggs)

0đ/BOX

VPT Chicken Egg 55g 10 Eggs/ Box

27,000đ/TRAY

V.Food Duck Egg 65g 10 Eggs/ Box

31,000đ/TRAY

Tofu

5,000đ/PIECES

Bean Sprout

11,000đ/KILOGRAM

12,500đ/KILOGRAM

Bok Choy Da Lat

25,000đ/KILOGRAM

27,500đ/KILOGRAM

Dried Shiitake Mushroom 100g

39,000đ/PACK

Fresh Shiitake Mushroom Da Lat 200g

33,000đ/BOX

Kobe Bussan Frozen Crab Balls 500g

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Tempura Fish Cakes 300g

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Viet Sin Frozen Thailand Fish Cake 400g

55,000đ/PACK

Purchase Authentic Japanese Ramen Ingredients at Kamereo

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*Kamereo: Authentic, High-Quality Japanese Ingredients Directly from Gyomu Japan*

With Kamereo, businesses can conveniently place orders until 12 PM and receive them before 6 AM the next day. In particular, we support a co-inspection policy upon delivery, ensuring that product quality always provides the best experience to customers!

Conclusion

We hope this article has helped you better understand what ramen is and the diversity of Japanese ramen noodles. Don’t forget to follow the Food and Lifestyle section to update exciting culinary information and articles. If you’re looking for quality ingredients to prepare this delicious noodle dish yourself, visit Kamereo today to select the best products!

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