This is a pretty straightforward post. I ate real ramen noodles for the first time today! Of course I’ve had cheap instant ramen from the grocery store before, but I happened to be at a food court earlier that had a place selling regular ramen, and I figured I’d see what it was all about since I’ve heard it’s extremely popular in Japan to get ramen as a proper dish. The variety (tonkotsu) I got had the noodles in broth alongside savory meat that reminded me of prosciutto, with a boiled egg and small portions of seafood as well. I wasn’t really sure what to expect, but I enjoyed it! The meat had a smooth texture that accentuated the savoriness, the broth gave everything a nice tangy aftertaste, and the noodles themselves added volume / substance to the meal. The noodles with a soda cost about $20 in all, which I would consider acceptable since I felt quite full by the end. I’ve been trying to continue my efforts from 2025 to branch out more, and the experience was overall a pleasant time that put a new twist on a familiar type of food. I’m glad I went with it instead of a burger or wings like I usually get.