Originally Posted by
JerryFF
Ramen is so much more popular in the US than udon or soba, but in Japan, it seems to be just the opposite. It never occurred to me before, but now I really wonder why. Any thoughts?
Ramen is cheap, and I imagine more well known.
My mom gave it to us as kids, and it was cheap and easily accessible poor college kid/newlywed food.
I don't remember noticing udon based soups (not that I was looking hard) until the late 80's....and it was something you made a trek to chinatown for.
Now you can buy it at Safeway ... but Ramen was at Safeway long before Udon was.