Top Ramen facts for kids
Chicken flavor packages of Top Ramen
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| Introduced | 1970 |
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| Markets | Instant noodle |
Top Ramen is a popular American brand of instant ramen noodles. It was first introduced in 1970 by a company called Nissin Foods. These quick and easy noodles have been a favorite for many years!
Contents
The Story of Instant Noodles
Instant noodles were invented in 1958 by a clever person named Momofuku Ando. He was the founder of the Japanese food company Nissin. His very first instant ramen noodles were called Nissin Chikin Ramen.
How Top Ramen Came to America
By the late 1960s, Momofuku Ando wanted to bring his instant noodles to the United States. He noticed that most people in America did not have the right bowls or chopsticks for eating ramen.
During a trip to the US, he saw a grocery store manager prepare ramen in a simple way. The manager put the block of noodles into a paper cup and poured hot water over them. This gave Ando a brilliant idea! It inspired him to create the famous Cup Noodles brand.
In 1970, Nissin started a branch of their company in the US. They opened their first factory in America in 1973, located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Top Ramen quickly became a very important brand in the world of instant noodles.
What People Think of Top Ramen
When Top Ramen first came out, it was actually seen as a special, expensive item. In 1958, it cost about the same as eating noodles at a restaurant! Many stores were not sure if it would sell well. However, by the end of that year, Top Ramen was everywhere, and stores had trouble keeping enough in stock because so many people wanted it.
Today, people have different opinions about Top Ramen. Some food reviewers enjoy the noodles, especially when they add extra ingredients like turkey or an egg. Others find the broth a bit plain or the noodles too soft. However, many people still love Top Ramen for its quick preparation and tasty flavors. It's a go-to meal for busy students and families alike!
See also
- Frozen noodles
- Instant noodles
- List of instant noodle brands
- Maruchan – another maker of instant noodles
- Noodles
- Pot Noodle
- Sapporo Ichiban – another maker of instant noodles
