Ramen and Dipping Noodles: A Comparative Guide to Their Differences
- fotaquest
- Apr 21, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 4
Ramen and Dipping Noodles: A Comparative Guide to Their Differences
By Lars Guo
Published: April 21, 2024
Opening Message:I hope you’ve all been enjoying my blog posts! This one is all about Japanese cuisine, specifically ramen and dipping noodles. I’ll be exploring what they are, the key differences between them, my personal journey with both, what I love about each, my preference between the two, and a closing message. Let’s dive in!
Dipping Noodles (Tsukemen): Dipping noodles, also known as tsukemen, is a Japanese dish where noodles are served separately from the broth, allowing you to dip them before eating. While ramen shops are common, dipping noodles are a bit harder to find. The most common places I’ve come across them are in Japan and on the West Coast of the U.S., particularly in California. However, I’m sure they exist in other locations as well. My first encounter with dipping noodles was during my 2019 trip to Japan. On my last day in Tokyo, while at the airport, I decided to try them. I had first heard about dipping noodles from the anime Naruto, which piqued my interest. When I finally tried them, I absolutely loved them and regretted not having more during my trip. In 2021, during a trip to California, my brother told me about a place called Tsujita that served dipping noodles. Since we don’t live in California, it was an exciting discovery. The noodles were amazing, and I now make it a point to have some whenever I visit LA. By the time I returned to Japan in 2023, I wasn’t going to miss out again. I found a great place near my hotel in Akihabara, and my friend took me to a famous dipping noodle restaurant. Both experiences were fantastic, and I have no regrets about indulging in tsukemen this time around.
What I Love About Dipping Noodles: I love the texture and flavor of the noodles, which are quite different from ramen. The broth is richer, and the act of dipping the noodles enhances the experience. Since the noodles are served separately, they aren’t as hot as ramen, allowing me to start eating right away.
Favorite Dipping Noodles: I don’t have a specific favorite as long as the dish isn’t too spicy or contains bananas (not that bananas are a typical ingredient in dipping noodles!).
Ramen: Ramen is a well-known Japanese noodle soup consisting of a specific type of noodles served in a flavorful broth, often accompanied by vegetables and meat. It’s served hot and comes in many varieties, such as shoyu (soy sauce-based) and vegetarian ramen.
The first real ramen I ever had was at Ken’s Ramen in Providence, which, unfortunately, has since closed. It was so good that even my skeptical friend was impressed, and we tipped generously. For a while, Ken’s Ramen was the best ramen I had ever tasted on the East Coast. After discovering authentic ramen at Ken’s, I had another great experience in San Francisco in 2018. My mom and I were so impressed that we considered it the best ramen we had ever had at the time. When I returned to San Francisco in December 2022, I made sure to revisit the same ramen spot and ate there every night of my stay. It was absolutely worth it, especially since I now had Japanese ramen to compare it to. During my first trip to Japan in 2019, my brother and I had ramen there and were blown away by how fresh and flavorful it was. Everything was perfectly cooked, making it an unforgettable experience. When I returned to Japan in 2023, ramen wasn’t my main focus, but I still enjoyed it once or twice during my trip.
What I Love About Ramen: I enjoy the variety of flavors and styles that ramen offers. It’s also much more widely available compared to dipping noodles. Almost any ramen is great, as long as it isn’t spicy or contains bananas (which, again, is not a typical ingredient in ramen!).
Differences Between Ramen and Dipping Noodles:While both are Japanese noodle dishes, they have key differences:
Noodle Thickness & Texture: Dipping noodles tend to be thicker and have a chewier texture than ramen.
Serving Style: Ramen is served as a hot soup with all ingredients in one bowl, while dipping noodles are served separately from the broth.
Temperature: Ramen is served hot, while dipping noodles are typically served with cold noodles and hot broth.
Eating Experience: With ramen, you eat everything together, while dipping noodles allow you to control how much broth you want with each bite.
Which Do I Prefer?I prefer dipping noodles! I love their taste, texture, and the unique experience of dipping them into the broth.
Closing Message: I hope you enjoyed this blog post! If you haven’t tried dipping noodles or real, fresh-ingredient ramen yet, I highly recommend it. Instant cup ramen doesn’t compare to the authentic experience. Both ramen and dipping noodles are fantastic in their own ways, and I hope this post helped you learn more about them.
Stay tuned for my next blog post about my Japan trip—I can’t wait to share my experiences with you! Have a great day!
Comments