This episode explores the evolution of ramen, a dish with roots in Chinese noodle soups that found a new identity in Japan. Originally a street food for the working class, ramen became a symbol of resilience in postwar Japan, nourishing millions during times of scarcity. We follow its transformation through the invention of instant ramen by Momofuku Ando—bringing affordable comfort to the world—and its rise to culinary art with regional Japanese varieties like miso ramen from Sapporo and tonkotsu from Hakata.