Instant Ramen History and How It Changed the World
Updated: Sep 25
It's insane how far instant ramen has come. Around the globe, there's 100 million servings of instant ramen EVERY YEAR. But it makes sense. Instant ramen is tasty, super convenient AND comes in all sorts of varieties.
Instant Ramen History - How it All Started
Instant ramen was first invented in 1958 by Japanese-Taiwanese businessman and Noodle God, Momofuku Ando. But let's rewind a bit.
After World War 2 (post 1945), Japan was having difficulties feeding its population. Rice shortages around this time didn't help either. As such, the Americans donated a lot of wheat flour to Japan. This wheat flour wasn't used for bread production though. It was used for ramen noodles sold in food carts!
Amidst this ramen noodles backdrop, Ando was working on perfecting them in "instant" form. After endless experimenting, he got it right in 1958. The world's first instant ramen, a "chicken ramen", was born. This "packet" style brand is still sold to this day.
His chicken ramen was a blockbuster hit. People loved it. Why not? All you needed was a pot of boiling water and a bowl to eat from.
The Age of Cup Noodles
Ando and his company Nissin took it a step further in 1971. While traveling in the US, he was inspired to create the Cup Noodles brand that we know and love today.
This "cup" style instant ramen was a smash hit as well, especially outside of Japan. You didn't even need a separate bowl for your ramen - the cup took care of this!
Within the Cup Noodles brand, there's today plenty of flavors - from to cheese curry to Thai tom yam kung.
Premium Instant Ramen is Even Better
In modern times, instant ramen has reached even greater heights. Many "premium" style instant ramen come in properly shaped bowls. But the biggest difference is that they're that much closer to enjoying actual ramen at a ramen shop.
This means a deeply flavored soup, fresher noodles and unique toppings - whether a big slab of pork or crunchy onions. Nowadays, premium instant ramen includes regional styles...or famous Japan ramen shops and their signature soup.
In short, the world of instant ramen has come a long, long way. Just like it has since 1958, it will continue to evolve.
Visiting Japan soon? Join our Tokyo Ramen Tour or grab our Tokyo Ramen Guidebook for curated, easy-to-follow ramen recommendations across the city.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who invented instant ramen?
Momofuku Ando, founder of Nissin, invented instant ramen in 1958, introducing the world's first packaged "chicken ramen."
When did Cup Noodles come out?
Nissin launched Cup Noodles in 1971, after Ando was inspired by seeing how Americans ate ramen during a trip to the US.
Is premium instant ramen actually similar to real ramen shop bowls?
It's gotten much closer over the years — modern premium versions often include deeper, more developed broths, fresher noodles, and toppings modeled after specific regional styles or even famous shop recipes.
How much instant ramen is consumed worldwide each year?
Roughly 100 million servings are eaten globally every year, reflecting just how far the product has spread since its 1958 invention.
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