When you think of ramen, what comes to mind? A steaming hot bowl prepared fresh at your favorite ramen restaurant, or a dried package of noodles you picked up from the grocery store? What if I told you there’s a new way to ramen coming that’s the best of both words? Before we get to what's coming, let's take a quick trip back to where it all started. First Came The Ramen Restaurant Ramen first arrived in Japan in the late 1800s, brought by Chinese immigrants. Over time, it evolved into something uniquely Japanese. Springy noodles served with piping hot broth, mixed with flavorful tares, and topped with a variety of veggies quickly turned ramen into one of the ultimate comfort foods. In 1910, the first dedicated ramen shop, Rairaiken, opened its doors in Tokyo, giving inspiration to a century of great ramen makers. It also introduced what would become one of ramen's most iconic styles: shoyu ramen. People would travel from across the country to try! Then Came Instant Ramen As ramen spread across Japan, every region started putting its own spin on the dish. Different flavors found homes in different regions. Tonkotsu in Fukuoka, miso in Hokkaido, and even Tantanmen inspired by Chinese street food. Different flavors called for different toppings. Regions experimented with various kinds of fish, proteins and veggies, making every bowl its own unique experience. Eventually, people wanted that same kind of comfort at home, without making the trip to their local ramen shop. Enter, the instant ramen craze. In 1958, Momofuku Ando and his company Nissin created the first instant noodle packages and it changed the way people enjoyed ramen forever (if you listen closely you can hear the college kids rejoicing)! Suddenly, ramen was quick, affordable, and available almost anywhere.But convenience came with a tradeoff. The broth became powder. The toppings became optional. And somewhere along the way, the restaurant experience got left behind. Don't get me wrong, I love a good instant noodle! There's a time and a place when instant ramen hits the spot, but for me, more often than not, I want the full experience! Now Comes Restaurant-Quality Frozen Ramen All that said, what could be better than sitting down at a ramen restaurant, or indulging in a pack of instant noodles? Well, the answer can be a bit of both! Restaurant-quality frozen ramen that you could have almost instantly in the comfort of your own home. At Crafty Ramen, we've spent years figuring out how to bring restaurant-quality ramen into your freezer. Real bone broth. Scratch-made noodles. Real protein. Real veggies. Frozen together, exactly the way they're meant to be. No plastic tray.No powdered soup packet.No adding water. Just heat it up in the microwave or on the stovetop, and dinner's ready in minutes.I told you a new way to ramen was coming… Do you believe me now? Stay tuned as it’s coming to a freezer near you very soon!
