It's bad for you and tastes good, why wouldn't that be popular in the U.S.?

Here in US, abundance of college students still manage to survive on a solid diet of ramen noodles, cold cereal and beer to wash it all down.

Is ramen a less handy version of the British 'Pot Noodle'? I've never had ramen but it sounds like it (at least the supermarket option).

When I think of supermarket ramen, this is what comes to mind. I've never had British "Pot Noodles", so I can't say if they are less handy or not.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

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Ah, so they do come in their own bowl - when I googled they seemed to be in a plastic packet (no bowl). Same idea as a pot noodle then, self contained, just add hot water.

the british 'pot noodle' is a direct copy of cup noodle ramyun.

Cheap student food indeed is a rather common US association for Ramen noodles.

it's an assumption of innocent ignorance. by and large, the majority of the population couldn't tell you the difference between ramen, soba and udon - and, probably, collectively calls all asian noodles "ramen".

add to the fact that many of us in the states have grown up eating "Top Ramen" at some point or another and Ramen has kind of become an accepted term for asian style noodles.

even so, without digressing too much, i would probably disagree with your assumption that udon and soba are more popular in Japan. IMO, Ramen is pretty popular and generally more available than soba or udon. Haven't seen too many places that just serve soba or just udon, but many places just serve Ramen. Check out these blogs:

http://www.bento.com/rev/tokyoramen.html

http://www.ramenadventures.com/

Yes, well except for the plastic packet version, that is.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Ramen come in both bowl and plastic packet versions at U.S. supermarkets as well.

In Asia, particularly in Taiwan, the bowl version tends to be more expensive, and sometimes more "luxurious", than the plastic packet one.

I would think so that ramen acts like an umbrella/blanket term for Americans for a variety of Asian style noodles.

When I first came to the States for study, I had to look up the dictionary and asked around what Americans meant for "ramen." Americans' ramen is different from what I know about Asia noodles, including Cantonese, Chinese, Japanese & Taiwanese styles, that I grow up with.

Believe when I say that I'm very familiar with this.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Without any doubt.

I was merely providing a frame of reference for our UK readers who do know about "ramen."

OMG ramen shops, I live in Vancouver, BC, we have rthem and I miss when travelling usually ramen is for me, too spicy it's just perfect here.

Am I the only one who is horrified to read how much salt is in those Ramen packs? I'll never touch one again.

Just use half a packet.