During the Taisho era, ramen restaurants began to emerge in Tokyo and Yokohama. This influx of restaurants contributed to the explosion of popularity of ramen in Japan and overseas. Ramen is one of the most popular gourmet foods in the world. It can be found in tens of thousands of restaurants all over Japan.

Ramen is a national dish in Japan, but it has many regional variations. There are four major types of ramen. They are tonkotsu ramen, shoyu ramen, shio ramen and miso ramen. Each type has its own set of ingredients and flavors. However, there are a few key elements that make up a good ramen. Each ramen has a specific flavor foundation, a soupy broth, noodles and a topping.

Tonkotsu ramen is a rich, creamy soup with pork bones as the main ingredient. Tonkotsu broth is cooked at a rolling boil to give the soup an opaque appearance. In some areas, the broth is fortified with pork fat and pork bones to give the broth a thick and rich texture. Other areas of Japan, such as the Kanto region of central Japan, use shoyu as a seasoning. A soup with shoyu is often a clear broth. Tonkotsu ramen is also popular internationally.

Shoyu ramen is the most popular type of ramen in Japan. It originated in the Yokohama area of Japan and is often served with thin, wavy ramen noodles. The soup is seasoned with shoyu, a type of salty soy sauce. Miso ramen is also popular in Japan. Miso is a salty soy sauce, but it’s less salty than shoyu. It can be used with pork broths or with clear broths.

Togarashi is a Japanese chile powder that is used in two forms. It can be used for a light broth or a heavy broth. Shichimi togarashi is a spice blend that is used for broiled eel. Nanami togarashi is a spice blend that includes yuzu rind. These spices are also used to make Japanese curry paste.

Some ramen restaurants will garnish the bowl with various toppings. They might include vegetables such as cabbage or bean sprouts. Others will add crushed garlic and sesame seeds. Others will use kimchi. Some ramen restaurants will even serve shoyu tare as a table side condiment.

Some ramen restaurants also use fresh garlic. This is grated and added to the soup in place of regular onions. Others will add pickled ginger to the soup. Some will also use kimchi juice. Other toppings might include chashu, spicy mustard greens or bamboo shoots.

When you order ramen, it’s important to specify your choice of broth, noodles, and toppings. Many ramen restaurants will accept cash. It’s also a good idea to give the restaurant staff a ticket so they can save time. A ticket machine will help them get your order ready.

If you’re planning a trip to Japan, you’ll want to order your ramen well in advance. The ramen that’s served in most ramen restaurants goes quickly. The most popular ramen restaurants usually have major queues.