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Now that the weather’s finally getting warmer and we're coming out of winter hibernation, you may be looking for cooler dishes to beat the heat. If you live anywhere like our hometown of Osaka, it gets quite humid, with summer temperatures reaching up to around 37°C (98.6°F). So what’s a noodle lover to do?

One of the great things about living in Japan (or subscribing to Nakama Noodles) is the huge amount of premium instant ramen options available. However, a true ramen pro will know how to take a good cup, bowl or pack and turn it into a masterpiece with just a few additions.

Tokyo is famous these days as one of the world’s international food capital, with many foods from all over Japan and the world collecting there. However, only one city has the nickname of ‘Japan’s Kitchen’, and that city is Osaka. People in Osaka are serious about their food, with there even being a phrase called kui-daore, which means ‘to eat yourself broke’.

Did you know that people generally don’t walk around and eat at the same time in Japan? For many, it’s about properly savoring the food and keeping the streets clean, making restaurants the go-to option for food. However, Japanese street...

In the world of ramen, most ramen enthusiasts will tell you that there are three major regional types of ramen. We’ve already talked about Sapporo ramen in our Hokkaido ramen guide and Hakata ramen in its own guide. Now, let’s talk about the third: Kitakata Ramen.

Ramen is experiencing a boom and is quickly spreading across the globe while moving closer and closer to being Japan’s most popular food abroad. Within all the different types of ramen, the one that’s becoming most popular is Hakata ramen.