How to Eat Ramen Like a Pro | OpenRice Singapore

With ramen places popping up in Singapore, wouldn’t you agree that the ramen culture has invaded Singapore? It’s not really hard to understand why for you can easily fall in love with one bowl of hot soup generously filled with noodles, egg, bean sprouts, and that meaty but goodie chashu. Just thinking about how warm it would make your tummy makes you want to go to the nearest ramen place and slurp the noodles and soup broth down to the last drop!

But did you know that there’s an art to enjoying your ramen to the fullest. Though you can eat it anyway you want, it can be quite interesting to savour this dish like a Japanese pro. Not sure how? Then, follow our lead with these simple steps: 1. Breathe in the flavour The soup broth is such a complex thing. So many ingredients are added to it and as a result, the soup becomes thick, rich, and flavourful. Most ramen freaks would agree that this is the most vital part of the ramen for it can make or break the whole dish. As such, it’s only fitting that you try the soup first. It may sound funny but you can always close your eyes and breathe in the aroma of the soup. If you pay close attention, you can smell the ingredients which the chef has added to the broth (onions, garlic, pork, etc.) 2. Start with the noodles Once you have an idea on the soup base, it’s now time to dig in to the noodles. But wait, don’t mix it yet with the other ingredients. Enjoy it on its own first so you will know if it’s been properly cooked. Good ramen noodles are the ones which are al dente. They shouldn’t be too soft nor too hard. Now that you’ve chowed down some of the noodles, you can now mix the soup, noodles, and other ingredients together. As for the chashu, push it deep into the bowl and save the best for last. The longer it stays there, the more soup it absorbs. Hence, it will be softer and juicier! 4. Dig in! Now that you have mixed all the ingredients, you can now take another sip of the soup. Taste how the flavour becomes richer with the addition of the bean sprouts, garlic, and onions. Next up, drink the soup with the noodles. Don’t be embarrassed to slurp loudly for in Japan, this is actually one way of saying that you’re enjoying the dish. Continue eating your noodles and soup together until there’s no more left in your bowl. 5. Say “Gochisousama!” After you enjoy your ramen down to the last drop of soup, it’s customary in Japan to say, “Gochisousama!” This means, thank you for the meal. Now, for something fun. When you're not enjoying your ramen like a real pro, here's a short video to see which kind or ramen eater are you!

Image by Peh Yi Wen, Video courtesy of Washington City Paper See Also: Check out where to get the best ramen in Singapore Find the best Japanese restaurant to satisfy your craving