You use a ramen ladle when you drink ramen soup,
Or when you want to cool down the hot ramen noodles.
It also makes you control the noodles easily,
So you can prevent getting soup stains on your clothing.
1. Do you know how to use it?
When I was little, my family didn't have ramen ladles.
We had Western style spoons, but we don't have the custom of using spoons for Japanese cuisine at home.
We lift the soup bowl and drink from it.
So ramen ladle for me was unusual since I didn't use it at home.
There was a ramen shop called Ramen Kitakata on Sakura street in Mito.
And probably it was the first place for me to use a ramen ladle in my life.
2. Hold the ramen ladle like the picture above
Scoop the soup and bring it to your mouth, and tilt the ladle so the soup can go into your mouth.
You might think it strange that you are drinking soup from the side of the ladle.
But this is the way you use this ramen ladle.
3. You can also cool down the noodles
If you can’t handle hot foods, it will come in handy.
Before bringing the noodles into your mouth,
Put these noodles on the ladle and let them cool down.
4. It also comes in handy if you are afraid of staining your clothing
Putting some noodles on the ladle can allow you to get rid of extra soup.
So you can avoid dripping ramen soup onto your clothing.
5. Ramen ladle is called “otama-jakushi(お玉杓子)”
We also call it “otama” too.
“Tama” means a ball, and “jakushi” means a ladle in Japanese.
More specifically, you add the word “mokusei”. This means wooden.
So longer version of the name of the ramen ladle is “mokusei otama-jakushi”
Some people might know this word “otama jakushi” as a tadpole.
Here is why…
This animal is named after this ladle because the shape looks like the ladle.
6. You use this ladle for ramen, udon, soba, and other soups in Japan
These are popular soup noodles in Japan.
But actually, there is another spoon especially for ramen.
7. It is called “renge”
This is a Chinese style spoon for soup, rice, and other foods.
It is usually made of ceramic while otama-jakushi is made of wood.
Renge is smaller than otama-jakushi.
Which one do you like better?
Let me know in the comment section below.
Due to Covid, a lot of good ramen restaurants have closed
It makes me feel very angry.
I used to eat ramen out frequently,
But in this situation,
Ramen shops have started to shorten the hours, limit the number of customers, or even closed their shops.
It has affected the industry so much.
I am afraid good ramen will be gone
But meanwhile, you still can enjoy ramen in the comfort of your own home.
Here are some of my recommendations for ramen lovers.
1. Sapporo Ichiban Shio Flavor
MY THOUGHTS OVERALL ★★★★☆
In truth, Sapporo Ichiban delivers a good quality shio ramen experience.
Actually, it is very difficult to find good shio ramen.
Do you know why?
Because it is very difficult to make it since it is very simple.
There are many good shoyu and miso flavored instant noodles out there.
But I feel specifically, the shio flavor market is monopolized by Sapporo Ichiban.
Think about this for a moment having good shio ramen for your dinner with your favorite ramen toppings.
Now, you want some, don’t you?
2. Nissin Raoh Shoyu Flavor
MY THOUGHTS OVERALL ★★★★★
It is nearly impossible to make restaurant quality noodles at home without the right tools and equipment.
How can you beat that?
Using Raoh’s shoyu flavour will help you achieve this easily. This is top-notch ramen hands down!
One pinnacle of instant noodles is the soy sauce flavor. It is expensive compared to regular ones but let me tell you, it deserves every single penny.
In a nutshell, I loved every bit of it.
...And I am sure you will too.
3. The problem here is that no toppings come with these packets.
Here are some topping options and recipes for you.
Green onion
4. Have you ever faced these issues...
A lack of large, high-quality soup bowl sets at home?
Are you still struggling with...
😢 ...small bowls that aren’t large enough for soups, noodles and toppings.
😢 ...spillage every time you eat out of your bowl.
😢 ...low-quality tableware and utensils that don’t compliment your food.
Look no further,
Our best-selling bowls are here to fix all the issues you face with small, inefficient tableware.
After struggling with spillage and leakage during dinner time,
We decided to introduce APEX S.K’s large soup bowls to the market.
Want to hear why some people absolutely love our ramen bowls?
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About the Author
Kei is a self-proclaimed ramen lover, blog writer and founder of "Apex S.K. Japanese tableware".
"I am from Ibaraki, Japan.
Ramen is great! It can bring you a sense of happiness and satisfaction that no other food can. I have been eating ramen for 30 years.
If there is no ramen, my life would be miserable.
Ten years ago, I worked as an office worker. The job was really stressful - excessive working hours, low wages, unpaid overtime work, and constantly being yelled at by my boss.
I was new and alone, no girlfriend, no friends, and felt very lonely.
My only oasis was the ramen shop near the office. For me, the ramen chef there was literally an angel. I saw a halo on his head. (No joke)
Tonkotsu shoyu ramen was my all-time favorite. He made ramen with broth chock-full of umami flavor, nice chewy handmade noodles, and tender chashu.
My greatest dream is connect people with ramen through my blog. I want to share a lot of interesting and funny stories and ramen trivia with you.
Knowing more about ramen can help you appreciate your ramen and make it taste extra delicious."
Did you know that we offer more than just a ramen blog?
We also have an exclusive collection of ramen-inspired t-shirts and hoodies that any true noodle lover will adore.
Head over to ApexRamen and check it out for yourself.
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