Ramen has become one of the world's most ubiquitous comfort foods. But just like burgers or barbecue in the U.S., the dish can change shape depending on the region and the chef. In this episode of Gochi Gang, Reina Scully teams up with ramen obsessive Keizo Shimamoto for a journey through some of Japan's most recognizable ramen styles. From the history of shoyu ramen in Tokyo, to the rise of tonkotsu ramen in Hakata, to the advent of a special dipping ramen called tsukemen, Reina and her friend Sakura Yagi are getting a true crash course in ramen-ology. But what about ramen in the U.S.? Sakura's father, Bon Yagi, breaks down the history of NYC's longest-running ramen shop, Rai Rai Ken, and trail-blazing ramen chef Ivan Orkin explains his unique approach the noodle on the Lower East Side.
A special thank you to the NYC Ramen Enthusiasts Club, featured in the Rai Rai Ken section of the episode.
https://www.meetup.com/NYC-Ramen-Enthusiasts-Club/
https://www.eatwith.com/events/51238
Get your Gochi Gang merch here: https://shop.firstwefeast.com/collections/first-we-feast?_=pf&pf_t_shop_by_show=Gochi%20Gang
Subscribe to First We Feast on YouTube: http://goo.gl/UxFzhK
Check out more of First We Feast here:
http://firstwefeast.com/
https://twitter.com/firstwefeast
https://www.facebook.com/FirstWeFeast
http://instagram.com/firstwefeast
First We Feast videos offer an iconoclastic view into the culinary world, taking you behind-the-scenes with some of the country's best chefs and finding the unexpected places where food and pop culture intersect.