JAPANESE RAMEN NOODLES
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RAMEN IS A NOODLE SOUP DISH THAT WAS ORIGINALLY IMPORTED FROM CHINA AND HAS BECOME ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DISHES IN JAPAN RECENT DECADES. RAMEN ARE INEXPENSIVE AND WIDELY AVAILABLE. TWO FACTORS THAT ALSO MAKE THEM AN IDEAL OPTION FOR BUDGET TRAVELERS. RAMEN RESTAURANTS, OR RAMEN-YA, CAN BE FOUND IN VIRTUALLY EVERY CORNER OF THE COUNTRY AND PRODUCE COUNTLESS REGIONAL VARIATIONS OF THIS COMMON NOODLE DISH. TYPICAL RAMEN NOODLES ARE LONG AND ELASTIC, BUT COUNTLESS VARIETIES EXIST THAT VARY FROM THIN AND STRAIGHT TO THICK AND WAVY. SOME RAMEN-YA ALLOW YOU TO CUSTOMIZE YOUR NOODLE ORDER.
THE TOPPINGS AND SIDES
TOPPINGS ON BOWLS OF RAMEN ARE MORE THAN AN AFTERTHOUGHT. FOR MANY SHOPS, IT'S THEIR DEFINING CHARACTERISTIC. TOPPINGS CAN VARY FROM SIMPLE VEGETABLES AND SEASONINGS TO FAR MORE COMPLEX MEATS AND SAUCES THAT MUST BE PREPARED SEPARATELY AND IN ADVANCE. HERE ARE SOME COMMON ONES YOU MIGHT FIND.
SAKE
SAKE IS SERVED OUT OF PORCELAIN FLASKS THAT ARE KNOWN AS TOKKURI. IT IS POURED INTO SMALL CERAMIC CUPS CAALLED SAKAZUKI OR CHOKO. CHILLED SAKE MAY ALSO BE SERVED IN WINE GLASSES. FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS AND RITUALS, THE DRINK IS POURED INTO CUPS THAT ARE SAUCER-LIKE. AN INTERESTING WAY OF SERVING THIS DRINK IS IN A MASU. MASU IS A SMALL BOX THAT IS USED TO MEASURE RICE. THE CUP MAY BE PLACES INSIDE THE BOX AND SAKE SERVED IN THE CUP. THE MASU MAY ALSO BE PLACES ON THE SAUCER-LIKE CUP.
CHASHU
PORKBELLY
TAMAGO
BOILED EGG
NORI
SEAWEED
NEGI
GREEN ONIONS
NARUTO
FISH CAKE
SAKE
JAPANESE RICE WINE