Ramen noodles

Ramen

Shōyu (soy-based broth) ramen
Alternative names	shina soba, chūka soba
Type	Noodle soup
Place of origin	Japan
Serving temperature	Hot
Main ingredients	Chinese wheat noodles, meat- or fish-based broth, vegetables or meat
Variations	Many variants, especially regional, with various ingredients and toppings

Ramen (/ˈrɑːmən/) (ラーメン, rāmen, IPA: [ɾaꜜːmeɴ]) is a Japanese dish. It consists of Chinese-style wheat noodles served in a meat or (occasionally) fish-based broth, often flavored with soy sauce or miso, and uses toppings such as sliced pork (チャーシュー, chāshū), dried seaweed (海苔, nori), menma (メンマ, menma), and green onions (葱, negi). Nearly every region in Japan has its own variation of ramen, from the tonkotsu (pork bone broth) ramen of Kyushu to the miso ramen of Hokkaido.

The origin of ramen is unclear. Some sources say it is of Chinese origin. Other sources say it was invented in Japan in the early 20th century. The word ramen is a Japanese borrowing of the Chinese lamian (拉麵). Until the 1950s, ramen was called shina soba (支那そば, literally "Chinese soba") but today chūka soba (中華そば, also meaning "Chinese soba") or just Ramen (ラーメン) are more common, as the word "支那" (shina, meaning "China") has acquired a pejorative connotation.