# Why aren't ramen restaurants more popular in the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [October 24, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687 "2011-10-24T23:48:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GovernmentMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9c0ed/32.png) [@GovernmentMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GovernmentMan)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/1 "2011-10-24T23:48:50Z")
Outside of Los Angeles and New York (more educated / cultured populace?) ramen restaurants aren’t really that known. Ramen: [![](https://www.japanesefoodreport.com/photos/sapporo%20ramen.JPG) ](https://www.japanesefoodreport.com/photos/sapporo%20ramen.JPG) I’ve even see more pho places than ramen. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/2 "2011-10-24T23:52:59Z")
Probably because most Americans equate ramen with starving college students and have no desire to revisit that time in their lives, at least culinarally. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/3 "2011-10-24T23:57:09Z")
Wagamama’s outposts here in Boston are doing very well. I’d love to see more ramen shops. ---
**Author:** ![Farmer\_Jane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Farmer\_Jane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Farmer_Jane)\ **Post date:** [October 24, 2011, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/4 "2011-10-24T23:58:52Z")
Denver has 'em. To each their own, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/5 "2011-10-25T00:08:35Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > Wagamama’s outposts here in Boston are doing very well. > I’d love to see more ramen shops. Huh, I was unaware of this, but there’s one near my office. What do you recommend for lunch? ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/6 "2011-10-25T00:12:16Z")
> [@CitizenPained](#): > > Denver has 'em. To each their own, I guess. There’s a little hole in the wall in Niwot that simply rocks. They only serve ramen on Sundays because it is a one man outfit and he makes the noodles by hand. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/7 "2011-10-25T00:24:17Z")
> [@Maserschmidt](#): > > Huh, I was unaware of this, but there’s one near my office. What do you recommend for lunch? My soup favorites are Kare Lomen (with chicken or shrimp) and Chili Ramen (with chicken) My favorite non-soup dish is Yasai Katsu Curry (vegetarian) The soups are lighter for lunch. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/8 "2011-10-25T00:24:45Z")
It’s a good question. I wish we had some around here. I’d eat it, super spicy, all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Motorgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e36b37/32.png) [@Motorgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Motorgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/9 "2011-10-25T00:25:58Z")
> [@Motorgirl](#): > > My soup favorites are Kare Lomen (with chicken or shrimp) and Chili Ramen (with chicken) > > My favorite non-soup dish is Yasai Katsu Curry (vegetarian) > > The soups are lighter for lunch. If you want anything a little more spicy, ask for a bottle of their chili oil. A little on the surface of the soup, yum yum yum. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/10 "2011-10-25T00:40:39Z")
Explain to me why I need a ramen restaurant if I have a phở restaurant nearby. I’m not being snarky; just trying to understand the differences. Atlanta has lots of phở restaurants, but I’m not aware of any ramen places. ETA: I guess [Atlanta does have some ramen options](http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=ramen&find_loc=Atlanta%2C+GA), but I haven’t tried them. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/11 "2011-10-25T00:44:28Z")
I can go to a Japanese super market in the burbs and they have a food court that serves Japanese fresh ramens and udon etc but no ramen restaurant per se that I know of. I’d love to see some open up. ---
**Author:** ![boytyperanma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4491bb/32.png) [@boytyperanma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boytyperanma)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/12 "2011-10-25T03:07:51Z")
In the US we tend to do US Italian food instead. It’s entirely cultural. We go for sauces. They go for broths. So probably the same reason you can’t find Italian restaurants in Japan.(If you do expect it to be terrible because they are.) ---
**Author:** ![Leiko](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Leiko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leiko)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/13 "2011-10-25T03:56:35Z")
I’m in Western Washington- an area with enough Japanese places that within the past few years there was article in the New York Times with the focus “what’s up with Puget Sound eating so much teriyaki?” You’d think we’d have some ramen to go with, but usually there’s just miso soup or wonton for the fancier places. I can only think of a few ramen place in Seattle, and none in Olympia, whereas I can tell you at least 10 places just around the Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater area that do pho. I agree with silenus- I know what good ramen is like, but when I hear the ramen, I first think about Maruchan or Cup Noodles. ---
**Author:** ![Aestivalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Aestivalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aestivalis)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/14 "2011-10-25T04:08:40Z")
> [@Spoke](#): > > Explain to me why I need a ramen restaurant if I have a phở restaurant nearby. I’m not being snarky; just trying to understand the differences. > > Atlanta has lots of phở restaurants, but I’m not aware of any ramen places. > > ETA: I guess [Atlanta does have some ramen options](http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=ramen&find_loc=Atlanta%2C+GA), but I haven’t tried them. Pho is a rice noodle in a traditionally thin, clear beef broth. Ramen is a wheat noodle often in a rich pork, chicken, soy or miso broth. They are REALLY different, but there is a place for both. Try them all! In the Chicago suburbs, there are places here and there for Pho, but good Ramen is damn hard to find. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/15 "2011-10-25T04:20:32Z")
Ramen has been decreed by the hipster College of Cardinals as “unhip.” ---
**Author:** ![devilsknew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4da419/32.png) [@devilsknew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/devilsknew)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/16 "2011-10-25T05:38:08Z")
Look, Ramen is considered cheap… as it should be. Even in it’s purest form, homemade noodles, with rich Konbu based broth, miso, and kochujang… veg, meat, and anything else real… corn, fresh chiles, and Napa Cabbage. Sometimes people think of ramen as Chef Boyardee, when they could get Chef Batali. The price is negligible… In japan even the common stuff is cheap, in A,erica even the uncommon stuff is expensive. If I could get a Good, fully loaded, homewmade, ramen bowl for 5 dollars, I think I could compete with Subway… or at least a Bahn mi’. ---
**Author:** ![lshaw](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e36b37/32.png) [@lshaw](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lshaw)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/17 "2011-10-25T05:56:49Z")
I think most Americans equate ramen with Top Ramen. You know, the 25-cent instant stuff you survived on during your college days. No, just no. SF Bay Area has some fairly solid ramen joints in Orenchi, Santouka, and Santa Ramen. But within the US, I think the LA area can’t be beat. ---
**Author:** ![cckerberos](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@cckerberos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cckerberos)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/18 "2011-10-25T07:39:58Z")
> [@Leiko](#): > > I’m in Western Washington- an area with enough Japanese places that within the past few years there was article in the New York Times with the focus “what’s up with Puget Sound eating so much teriyaki?” [hijack] The “teriyaki” served in the Seattle area is a local phenomenon; it has nothing to do with Japan besides the name. [/hijack] I’d agree with the idea that pho has exploited the niche that ramen restaurants would be best suited for. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/19 "2011-10-25T10:36:55Z")
I think the whole idea that there is some deep reason that certain particular types of restaurant are popular in a given region while other types are not is mistaken. The types of restaurant that are available in a region are more a matter of whether anyone has tried to open up such a restaurant or has done a marketing campaign for such a restaurant than whether the people of that area like the food. Pho restaurants were unknown in the U.S. fifty years ago. Now they are common in certain regions of the U.S., mostly by being spread by immigrants from Vietnam after the Vietnam War. Ramen restaurants haven’t gotten that push. If they did, perhaps they also might be popular. It’s more a matter of luck and marketing than of anything intrinsic in people’s tastes. ---
**Author:** ![brittekland](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@brittekland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brittekland)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2011, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687/20 "2011-10-25T13:20:48Z")
You can go to any Japanese grocery store and buy the [soft ramen](http://shop.mitsuwa.com/eng/egoods/edetail.php?pid=3293), not the dry dehydrated instant kind, and get kinda close to the freshly made ramen taste sans the toppings like slice of beef and veges, etc. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-arent-ramen-restaurants-more-popular-in-the-us/600687.md?page=2)