I have been running my own restaurants for many years and traveled to many places in the world. Many delicacies and flavors fade over time but Japanese ramen is always unforgettable. Every time when I visit Japan, Iโm unable to walk away at the sight of a ramen restaurant, unconsciously waiting in line for one bowl of ordinary but magical ramen. In Japan, ramen is generally considered to originate
from China, a country of noodles, and is therefore classified as a Chinese cuisine. However, Japanese ramen is different from the traditional Chinese ramen. Japanese "ramen" ("ใฉใผใกใณ") is said to be the transliteration of Chinese โLao Mianโ and โLu Mianโ, which refers to noodles in general. Where as Chinese ramen specifically refers to one type of noodle that is pulled long by hand. In the early Meiji era, ramen first appeared in Yokohama Chinatown. In the early 1900s, Chinese from Shanghai and Guangdong sold sliced noodles in Japan with a simple soup base and toppings. During the Showa period, ramen became popular in Japan, and by the time of 1980s, this Chinese-style noodles became one of the representative cuisines in Japan. Many great chefs across Japan combined this ramen with their local cultures and developed more unique flavors. Today, ramen is the first lunch choice for Japanese working classes. If you travel in Japan, the big pity is that you don't taste ramen. In Belgium, it is very difficult to find authentic Japanese ramen. I made a special trip to Japan a few years ago just to learn the art of ramen. During my learning, I was quite surprised to find the complexity and the uniqueness in the process of making ramen. To make a bowl of authentic Japanese ramen, you must use a Japanese noodle machine, Japanese high-quality flour and seasonings, and the unique craftsmanship known only to the true Japanese chef. After years of hard work, I was finally able to make a bowl of Japanese ramen. The carefully boiled soup has a warm color and delicious taste, the noodles are al dente and meet all your expectations. They are served with chashu(smoked pork sliced), menma(marinated tender bamboo shoots), soft-boiled eggs, and sprinkled with a handful of chives. The pleasure and satisfaction which the ramen brings to you is incredible. It is much more joyful to share the joy than enjoy alone. During the pandemic, many restaurants were forced to shut down, but I opened a Japanese ramen restaurant in the old market square at the center of Leuven. The reason Iโm doing this is that I know many people here crave for authentic ramen and Iโm here to satisfy their needs. I have imported a full set of Japanese noodle machines. Ramen in my restaurant is made with high-quality Japanese flour and condiments, and my Japanese ramen chef flies over to give on-site guidance from time to time. All this work serves only one purpose, that is to give you an authentic Japanese ramen here in Belgium. My Japanese ramen restaurant has developed more than ten different flavors to satisfy different tastes. You can also find many kinds of rice set meals and a series of Japanese snacks. What we offer you here is not only the cuisine but also the true oriental culture that has stretched for thousands of years.
