Midtown Manhattan’s Menchanko-tei (say that three times fast!) serves up a sumo-style stew of traditional Japanese hot pot and ramen noodles. They’re also from Hakata, so expect an attempt at tonkotsu ramen. But does it fall flat like a teetering yokozuna? That thundering sound you hear 
Curry is a staple, if relatively underrated dish in the pantheon of Japanese cuisine, and Nissin Cup Noodle’s variation on the theme is right up there in terms of popularity as an quick instant ramen fix. It’s not the sort of thing that rameniac eats every day, but when you’re hungry, it’s best not to ask too many questions and just 
how to disappear completely (from store shelves)
by rameniac | 14 Jan 2008
Many of you may have noticed a dearth of top notch instant ramen selections at your local Japanese supermarket. After asking around, I discovered the sordid truth behind this. Japan's ban on U.S. beef has apparently led to a retaliatory embargo on certain meat products from the J-motherland! It hadn't occurred to me before, but my suspicions were confirmed when I checked out the shelves at Mitsuwa Marketplace. None of the available ramen featured chashu or meat toppings! This means all the top-end favorites like Goota and Raoh and shop-signature lines like Kurume Taiho and Kujirakei are certified contraband for the time being. What a disaster.
I'll try to compile a list of the best among the slim pickings on offer these days, but granted, stuff like UFO Yakisoba and Myojo Chukazanmai are reliable standbys in these dire times.
