First, thanks for introducing me to the Price Points videos. They're so educational! And I love how you made this video in the same spirit because I learned a bit about judging ramen quality here today.
Another great Video Frank, would absolutely love to see some more instant ramen reviews especially as Japan is spoilt for choice, thanks from one of your Aussie subscribers (youtube and ramen!)
TIL air drying noodles are not a marketing ploy I was sus when I kept seeing air dried noodles being sold at Costco for a higher price point but now I see they are actually better! Always informative
Hi Frank…really enjoyed this fun upload. I like comparison videos and a tasting comparison is even better! Did your wife help by making you the noodles? LOL “are u still eating”? Can’t waste the ramen , right?? 😂 As always I’m looking forward to your next video. 😊🇨🇦
Wise Frank from 5 am Ramen. I really enjoyed your journey to northern Japan. I hope with time we can enjoy more journeys to northern japan far as Ainu / Hokkaido ramen styles and journeys to Southern Japan as far as Okinawa Ramen/Soba. Also, since your channel is view outside Japan. Please at some point release a Guide for Foreigners who want to visit Ramen Shops (and as a special request for someone with Cat Tongue (Neko Jita) who want to taste and enjoy a ramen tour (Guided or alone)) without disturbing the shop flow . Best Wishes and Success.
Thanks! The next episode in the Northern Japan series will be coming out soon. Will properly do a Hokkaido ramen trip and an Okinawa soba / ramen trip in the near future - absolutely. Besides www.5amramen.com, I'm working on those things you mentioned (beyond what's offered on www.tokyoramentours.com too). Thanks for watching and for appreciating the wonderful world of ramen!
Great video! Haha.. I grew up on the Square ones too…My mother used to make me Demae Iccho-the one with the blonde haired kid with the little blue outfit! I wish we could get the really good stuff here…but sigh.. have to go to Japan to get it! :) 👍 Even our Mitsuwa Market (Previously Yaohan) gets the generic instant Ramen….the ones with the ‘mystery meat’. Hahah…
Those will forever hold a special, square-shaped place in our hearts! Demae Iccho is a great one, including its running mascot. Yeah, the best stuff is indeed here in Japan - although I'm sure there's a lot more variety now outside of Japan!
You really know your stuff. I enjoyed this video and would love to see more videos like this. I think a blind taste test video would be fun to watch as well.
Thanks for watching and happy to hear that! I'm always itching to learn more too. The blind taste test is a great idea - want to to film that later down the road.
Great video. ITalking through the many differences was super interesting. It seems like there is a huge variety of instant noodles, and you mentioned two ways they can be made (flash fried or air dried) but I was wondering where the noodles are generally sourced. Does each packet manufacturer produce their own or are there some big manufacturers that produce many varieties that smaller packet manufacturers buy from?
Thanks! Happy you found the video intersting. The world of instant noodles is indeed crazy in terms of variety. Most manufacturers are very large, to the point where they're producing everything in-house, including the noodles.
This is such a great idea for a video! Wow, I was not actually expecting the price difference to be that little for a difference in quality. Better quality broth is well worth paying for imho. Also really enjoyed the history and ramen details too! Are the prices in USD converted from Yen? My takeaway from this though has been, more packets = more expensive haha. The miso ramen comparison was the most surprising! Did you both end up sharing the ramen when you were done filming?
I have wife to credit for this brilliant video idea too 😅. Yes, sometimes just a bit more can make a big difference! And yes, all prices were converted directly from Yen to USD. More packets can indeed bring up that price, alongside if the ramen is from a famous ramen shop. These can be two big factors. As to the leftover ramen, I ate the lions share, haha.
Glad you were able to do a "blind" tasting with the help of your wife. I wonder how the results would be if you didn't know how many packets came with the portion? Given your descriptions, though, I would bet you could still determine the difference.
I hope so (still getting it right without knowing the packet number)! Have gotten similar requests here to do a pure blind tasting test - will film this video at one point 😃. Thanks for watching!
These days, I eat mostly the bowl type, these being some of my favorites: www.instantramen.jp/post/best-instant-ramen-japan For the packet style, has there been one recently that stood out (among the more expensive ones)?
This was too easy for you being able to see everything before it was prepared. Suggest doing a true blind tasting next time with them already prepared in the same type of bowl so the extra packets are not a giveaway and you are going on taste and smell alone. Keep it up!
I wanted to highlight clues before prep by smelling, touching, etc. But I think a blind test in the future as a video would be a lot of fun - a pure taste test 😃. Will add that to the list. Thanks for watching!
This may be a crazy question...but how did you get to speak english so well when you were brought up in Japan....you sound as if you grew up in the states....I must be missing something in your history....lol....sorry
I'm Filipino American and therefore spoke English at home and also actually at school, since I went to an "international school". In other words, English was technically my first language.
The world of instant ramen is a big one!
Awesome video 😄🙌
Thanks buddy 😊
First, thanks for introducing me to the Price Points videos. They're so educational! And I love how you made this video in the same spirit because I learned a bit about judging ramen quality here today.
Thanks a lot and glad to hear it! Hope to do some more of these educational sort of videos in the future 😊
Great detective work!👍I was quite surprised by the difference in price of the last two especially
I was too! Being one of the highest ranked ramen shops in Sapporo helped 😃
Very interesting comparison and your wife is a keeper...GREAT JOB
Thanks and glad you enjoyed it 😊 She is a keeper!!
Another great Video Frank, would absolutely love to see some more instant ramen reviews especially as Japan is spoilt for choice, thanks from one of your Aussie subscribers (youtube and ramen!)
We are def spoilt for choice here 😊. Will plan for more instant ramen review videos! Thanks for watching and subbing (both)!! 🍜🍜
Love this video! It's so informative, and I can tell you've really done your research! Good job on the editing
Thank you so much - I had a lot of help with this one 😃
Have you tried the devil level ramen?! Love your videos!
You talking about Kikanbo? 5amramen.com/ramen/kikanbo-spicy-ramen
🔥🔥🔥
Hello friend, wish you always full of energy. A really great video. Thanks for uploading it👍🏼
Thanks for saying that and for watching! Glad the video was enjoyable!
TIL air drying noodles are not a marketing ploy I was sus when I kept seeing air dried noodles being sold at Costco for a higher price point but now I see they are actually better! Always informative
There's the rock solid proof - glad you were able to confirm this 😃. It does make a big difference. Thanks for watching!
Fun and educational 👍
Thanks and glad to hear it!
Hi Frank…really enjoyed this fun upload. I like comparison videos and a tasting comparison is even better! Did your wife help by making you the noodles? LOL “are u still eating”? Can’t waste the ramen , right?? 😂
As always I’m looking forward to your next video. 😊🇨🇦
Yes, she did - behind the scenes she made everything possible! Had fun making this one and as always, thanks for watching 😃
Wise Frank from 5 am Ramen. I really enjoyed your journey to northern Japan. I hope with time we can enjoy more journeys to northern japan far as Ainu / Hokkaido ramen styles and journeys to Southern Japan as far as Okinawa Ramen/Soba. Also, since your channel is view outside Japan. Please at some point release a Guide for Foreigners who want to visit Ramen Shops (and as a special request for someone with Cat Tongue (Neko Jita) who want to taste and enjoy a ramen tour (Guided or alone)) without disturbing the shop flow . Best Wishes and Success.
Thanks! The next episode in the Northern Japan series will be coming out soon. Will properly do a Hokkaido ramen trip and an Okinawa soba / ramen trip in the near future - absolutely. Besides www.5amramen.com, I'm working on those things you mentioned (beyond what's offered on www.tokyoramentours.com too). Thanks for watching and for appreciating the wonderful world of ramen!
Great video! Haha.. I grew up on the Square ones too…My mother used to make me Demae Iccho-the one with the blonde haired kid with the little blue outfit! I wish we could get the really good stuff here…but sigh.. have to go to Japan to get it! :) 👍 Even our Mitsuwa Market (Previously Yaohan) gets the generic instant Ramen….the ones with the ‘mystery meat’. Hahah…
Those will forever hold a special, square-shaped place in our hearts! Demae Iccho is a great one, including its running mascot. Yeah, the best stuff is indeed here in Japan - although I'm sure there's a lot more variety now outside of Japan!
You really know your stuff. I enjoyed this video and would love to see more videos like this. I think a blind taste test video would be fun to watch as well.
Thanks for watching and happy to hear that! I'm always itching to learn more too. The blind taste test is a great idea - want to to film that later down the road.
Loved this…
Thanks! 😊
Marutai is always my fav. Japanese instant noodle brand
Marutai is a fantastic brand! Love those Kyushu flavors.
Great video. ITalking through the many differences was super interesting.
It seems like there is a huge variety of instant noodles, and you mentioned two ways they can be made (flash fried or air dried) but I was wondering where the noodles are generally sourced. Does each packet manufacturer produce their own or are there some big manufacturers that produce many varieties that smaller packet manufacturers buy from?
Thanks! Happy you found the video intersting. The world of instant noodles is indeed crazy in terms of variety. Most manufacturers are very large, to the point where they're producing everything in-house, including the noodles.
This is such a great idea for a video! Wow, I was not actually expecting the price difference to be that little for a difference in quality. Better quality broth is well worth paying for imho. Also really enjoyed the history and ramen details too! Are the prices in USD converted from Yen? My takeaway from this though has been, more packets = more expensive haha. The miso ramen comparison was the most surprising! Did you both end up sharing the ramen when you were done filming?
I have wife to credit for this brilliant video idea too 😅.
Yes, sometimes just a bit more can make a big difference! And yes, all prices were converted directly from Yen to USD. More packets can indeed bring up that price, alongside if the ramen is from a famous ramen shop. These can be two big factors. As to the leftover ramen, I ate the lions share, haha.
Didn't know they're also air drying noodles now. Now I feel less guilty eating them.
There you go - guilt-free!
Hahaha I love guessing videos like these ones!! 🥘 You're welcome for walking 😂
Thanks for watching and for walking 😅. A little changeup from my usual videos.
have you tried the Ichiran instant noodles? I brought some back to the states from don Q. Although i am obsessed with Ito Yokado
I have, the latest one too: 5amramen.com/ramen/ichiran-instant-ramen
You're not messing around! Don Q and Ito Yokado have a great ramen selection 😎
You have a blog too? Awesome! I could, and have spent HOURS just walking through ito!
Glad you were able to do a "blind" tasting with the help of your wife. I wonder how the results would be if you didn't know how many packets came with the portion? Given your descriptions, though, I would bet you could still determine the difference.
I hope so (still getting it right without knowing the packet number)! Have gotten similar requests here to do a pure blind tasting test - will film this video at one point 😃. Thanks for watching!
I've been eating a lot of more expensive ramen packets lately. Do you have a favorite?
These days, I eat mostly the bowl type, these being some of my favorites: www.instantramen.jp/post/best-instant-ramen-japan
For the packet style, has there been one recently that stood out (among the more expensive ones)?
This was too easy for you being able to see everything before it was prepared. Suggest doing a true blind tasting next time with them already prepared in the same type of bowl so the extra packets are not a giveaway and you are going on taste and smell alone. Keep it up!
I wanted to highlight clues before prep by smelling, touching, etc. But I think a blind test in the future as a video would be a lot of fun - a pure taste test 😃. Will add that to the list. Thanks for watching!
This may be a crazy question...but how did you get to speak english so well when you were brought up in Japan....you sound as if you grew up in the states....I must be missing something in your history....lol....sorry
I'm Filipino American and therefore spoke English at home and also actually at school, since I went to an "international school". In other words, English was technically my first language.