Japanese ramen winning converts in Hong Kong

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 18 Total Comments Show All

am1301 at 09:50 AM JST - 22nd January

i might be wrong, but the noodles are chinese egg noodles, but the soup, topping, and everything else is japanese.
ultradodgy at 11:08 AM JST - 22nd January

For the love of god, can't this country get some confidence already?

Does Japan really need the ego-stroking self inflation that comes via a noodle shop in - of all places - Wan Chai? Yeesh.
Nessie at 12:01 PM JST - 22nd January

I vastly prefer Chinese noodles to Japanese ramen.

this must be like americans "inventing" pizza or hamburgers?

Not "inventing;" "perfecting."
Betzee at 12:43 PM JST - 22nd January

Wanchai Downtown??? Not quite. Though it does have an earlier link to the Japanese than a restaurant. During the Japanese occupation before the end of World War II, Japanese troops occupied Wanchai and residents of one of the oldest and most densely populated communities on Hong Kong Island remember, not their cuisine, but their brutality.

The Chinese government claims it was the Japanese who made it into an "entertainment district," but others would claim that status predated the Japanese. Needless to say, it's survived a number of governments and many a dining establishment has come and gone.
JEC81 at 12:49 PM JST - 22nd January

There are a lot of Japanese ramen reaturant that I love. Could not name all of them.
Betzee at 01:05 PM JST - 22nd January

I love "Philadelphia Rolls," probably not something one should casually admit here but the salmon and cream cheese combo is irresistible!

Haven't eaten much real ramen, but the movie Tampopo, which underscored how difficult it is to get the broth right, was sure enjoyable!
hokkaidoguy at 01:31 PM JST - 22nd January

Betzee -

I would never have thought that someone would take the time to connect a story on Ramen to events that happened over 60 years ago during the war.

You've lowered the bar for all of us. Thank you.
Betzee at 02:10 PM JST - 22nd January

I would never have thought that someone would take the time to connect a story on Ramen to events that happened over 60 years ago during the war.

Well, I guess you better think again then.

The vast majority of Hong Kong Chinese arrived after the war seeking refuge from communism. The fact they are not descendants of those who lived through the Japanese occupation perhaps explain why they, like you, might find the connection to the present-day popularity of Japanese ramen restaurants irrelevant. But I'm confident they would stand firm against the encroachment of "the patriotism police" on freedom of expression.
dennis0bauer at 03:12 PM JST - 22nd January

Ramen is the bom, every asian country has a type that is ooshii! vietnamese pho, taiwanese chicken ramen!
Yelnats at 03:56 PM JST - 22nd January

Scandals with Japanese food being unsafe? Huh? Weren`t those all imported from China?
temporaryVisa at 04:55 PM JST - 22nd January

Hakata ramen is indeed the best ramen in Japan.
Noripinhead at 05:11 PM JST - 22nd January

temporaryVisa, I am inclined to agree with you.
Betzee at 11:11 PM JST - 22nd January

There is a Chinese view of their own culture as very repressive, on both a political and personal level. Traditionally the only outlet for expression was food and much effort has been devoted to creating "the perfect this" or "the perfect that" dish.

They recognize the Chinese origins of many things known in the West as Japanese, like bonsai trees, and are a bit miffed this has not been acknowledged. But they are very intrigued by what they perceive as Japanese stylization which differentiates the two cultures in their eyes. So it's not surprising Japanese restaurants would do well in China.
PichuTanaka at 10:00 AM JST - 23rd January

Ramen is also taking Toronto Canada by Storm.
bdiego at 12:28 PM JST - 24th January

I'm Chinese and both Chinese ramen and Japanese ramen are different. I prefer both, they're about as different as Italian minestrone and New England Clam Chowder despite having common origins. Every Japanese person I know is aware that ramen was invented by the Chinese, the same way televisions were invented but improved on by Japan.

What makes Japanese tonkotsu ramen better is the broth. What makes Chinese ramen better is the meat and noodles. Neither one wins on all three.

For the best ramen you've ever had, try Ichiran found in Kyushu and Tokyo. It's tonkotsu style. Try their onsen egg too, I order extra and sneak them out for my friends. =)