Ramen! It’s one of the best Japanese dishes around. In recent years, it has spread around the world, captivating and exciting the tastebuds of everyone who tastes it.
Ramen is a traditional Japanese dish featuring miso, meat, or vegetable-based broth that covers noodles and is topped with a selection of meats and vegetables.
All across Japan, there are noodle bars where you can get a bowl of ramen fast, and these have been popping up all over the western world since the 1980s.
If you’ve never had ramen before, you might be wondering how much a bowl will cost you. Bowls of ramen are usually large, consisting of an entire meal – so you may be wondering if getting one will break your bank!
Well, in this article we’re going to be talking about how much an average bowl of ramen costs within Japan and in the west.
We’ve also made sure to give some additional tips about what makes a good bowl of ramen, as well as a short FAQ to answer any extra questions you may have left over at the end.
Let’s get into it!
How Much Does Ramen Cost In Japan?
In Japan, ramen is a classic comfort food and very popular! Because of this, you’ll find that you can usually get an expertly made bowl without much issue.
Customer service in Japan is seen as something that should always be conducted with the highest quality, which is one of the main reasons why Japanese cuisine is known for its style. Bonus – you don’t have to leave a tip!
Before we get into how much a bowl of ramen will cost you, we first need to talk about the conversion rates into yen. We’re going to be using the dollar and the euro here, to give a wider range of currencies for you to consider.
Please note that currency conversion can and will change, so what we’re writing here is an estimate.
- 1 Dollar typically converts into 100-115 Yen.
- 1 Euro typically converts into 120-130 Yen.
There are countless ramen restaurants within Japan, and there will be a lot of variation in price, but for the purposes of this article, we’re going to look at the average (for the best ramen restaurants throughout Japan, read here).
A ramen meal will typically cost you somewhere around 600-1,200 Yen per bowl. However, it’s important to note that they often offer extra toppings and side items, which can take your total all the way up to 2,200 Yen.
That converts to around $16.38 for a full meal, and around 15 euros. So as you can see, this is a pretty standard price for a meal. You can probably get a bowl of ramen for around $10.00 if you find somewhere cheap and skip out on sides or drinks.
The price of a bowl of ramen will vary greatly depending on where you go and the kind of ramen they offer. Different meats can really increase the price. The cheapest ramens you’re likely to find are vegetarian ramen, which usually swap out meat for tofu.
How Much Does Ramen Cost In America?
In America, you’re likely to find ramen. A typical ramen bowl is more expensive in America. You also have to leave a tip in the U.S.. Depending on where you eat, there are going to be some variations.
The one thing you won’t be able to find in America is very cheap-end ramen noodle bars. This is for a few reasons.
Generally, food costs are much lower in Japan, especially for some of the staple foods like ramen. In Japan, Ramen is a staple food so you’re going to find much cheaper options if you’re looking to eat out on a budget.
Another thing to consider is that a ramen shop will charge what they can to cover how much income they will get. Turnover at a Japanese Ramen shop is going to be much faster than at an average American restaurant, meaning they will be able to charge less for the food.
So if you go out to eat ramen somewhere in America, don’t be surprised if you have to pay a little more, especially for something authentic.
Final Thoughts
So there you have it! A general Ramen Bowl Meal will probably cost somewhere between 900-2000 Yen depending on what is included. If you’re traveling in Japan in search of the perfect bowl of ramen, don’t be afraid to look at small places.
Some of these old, family-run businesses hold the keys to the best tastes in the country. We hope that this article has given you all the information you need to know about this issue. If you still have some questions, keep reading!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is The Most Famous Ramen In Japan?
Probably the most famous Ramen in Japan is Ichiran Ramen, a ramen chain that has so many locations you’re sure to bump into one. The most famous dish they have is their Tonkotsu ramen, a type of ramen that uses pork as the main ingredient for their broth.
What Are Some Famous Regional Ramen?
The three places that have the three most famous kinds of ramen are typically Tokyo (as you might expect), Sapporo, and Fukuoka.
Fukuoka is usually the best for their Tonkotsu ramen, Tokyo tends to feature soy sauce ‘shoyu’ ramen, and Sapporo is best for their Miso paste-based ramen.
What Ingredients Does Ramen Usually Have?
Because ramen is a comfort food that has a long history, there are a lot of different toppings you can have. The broth is typically made up of chicken bone, pork bone, miso paste, or soy sauce. For meat toppings, people generally go with Chashu (braised pork) or chicken.
For noodles, you can have Udon (thick) Soba Noodles or Rice Noodles (thin). And finally, some of the most popular vegetable toppings include mushrooms, bok choy, beansprouts, dried seaweed, corn, pickled ginger, and menma (fermented bamboo shoots).
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