Experiences > Food + Dining

How Instant Ramen Became an Overnight Success

Launched by a Japanese businessman trying to solve post-WWII hunger crisis

By Will Levith
June 10, 2016 5:00 am EDT
Instant Ramen Inventor
Momofuku Ando, 94, founder of Japan's Nissin Food Products Co., inventor of the first instant ramen brand. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images)
Will Levith

Will Levith

More from Will Levith »

More Like This

Akshay Bhatia poses with the trophy after winning the Valero Texas Open.
Golfer Wins Tourney Despite Dislocating Shoulder With Fist Pump
Marcell Ozuna of the Braves rounds second base.
MLB Slugger Marcell Ozuna Benched for Hitting 415-Foot Single
Two examples of Meta's "Make-a-Video" turns text prompts into short AI-generated clips
Meta Just Introduced Make-A-Video, an AI That Generates Videos From Text
A black and white photo of hands holding an iPhone.
Online Diagnosis Videos Are Convincing Teens They Have Rare Mental Disorders

Experiences > Food + Dining
Add InsideHook as a Preferred Source
Add InsideHook as a Preferred Source

Most Popular

Coastal town at dusk with illuminated buildings, palm trees, and a beach, reflecting lights on the calm water.
The Italian Seaside Town That Still Feels Like a Secret
Two people, a man and a woman, look at a framed painting of a man with a blue cap and green jacket.
Can 30 Minutes With One Painting Fix Your Attention Span?
A triathlete in a white and black suit runs on a bridge, followed by a cyclist, with orange cones lining the road.
He’s 43. His Biological Age Is 27. Here’s His Routine.
A man in a baseball cap looks at his phone while a woman next to him drinks from a glass. Other people are in the background.
Field Report: Observing Men Hitting on Women IRL
A phone displays a vibrant green hill and blue sky. Outside the phone, the scene continues with a walking orange figure.
Why I’m Unreachable Until Noon
A screenshot of a tweet from Charli XCX featuring an image of a large group of young men in dark blazers and striped ties, one man in a white shirt stands out.
Why Is Everyone Copying This Yung Lean Music Video?

Recommended

Suggested for you

Coastal town at dusk with illuminated buildings, palm trees, and a beach, reflecting lights on the calm water.
The Italian Seaside Town That Still Feels Like a Secret
Two people, a man and a woman, look at a framed painting of a man with a blue cap and green jacket.
Can 30 Minutes With One Painting Fix Your Attention Span?
A triathlete in a white and black suit runs on a bridge, followed by a cyclist, with orange cones lining the road.
He’s 43. His Biological Age Is 27. Here’s His Routine.
A man in a baseball cap looks at his phone while a woman next to him drinks from a glass. Other people are in the background.
Field Report: Observing Men Hitting on Women IRL
A phone displays a vibrant green hill and blue sky. Outside the phone, the scene continues with a walking orange figure.
Why I’m Unreachable Until Noon
A screenshot of a tweet from Charli XCX featuring an image of a large group of young men in dark blazers and striped ties, one man in a white shirt stands out.
Why Is Everyone Copying This Yung Lean Music Video?

IRL: A bi-weekly report on where to go and why.

We're always on the scene eating, drinking and traveling near and far to bring you the best of what's happening out in the real world.

More Food + Dining, Right This Way

A smiling woman with braided hair and tortoiseshell glasses stands in a restaurant next to a decorative brick wall.

Ana Castro’s Perfect New Orleans Day Includes Dive Bars and Late-Night Fried Chicken

a man with a short beard and dark hair in a white shirt holding a negroni

The Best Martini in the World, According to Valentino Longo

a row of lobster rolls in paper boats collaged over the top of a tennis stadium

What Does It Take to Feed the US Open? I Suited Up to Find Out.

ariel arce sitting in front of a wood-paneled wall wearing a dark blue prada jumpsuit

Ariel Arce Knows the One Restaurant Seat to Avoid at All Costs

Explore More Food + Dining

Keep Reading

A blonde woman in a "Music is a Blessing" tank top plays a blue glitter bass guitar, flanked by a smiling DJ and a man in a beret.

The Private Club Courting Gen Z With … Ping-Pong?

A grid of six product images: a deer-print jacket, an espresso machine, brown suede clogs, two wooden speakers, and a tan leather sofa.

From Modular Furniture to Early Prime Day: The Best Deals on the Internet This Week

Three men in a dimly lit bar: two seated on a couch with a saxophone, one in sunglasses at a marble bar.

Products of the Week: Wooly Birkenstocks and Hunting Jackets

A person's arm wearing a rose gold watch with a clear face revealing intricate gears, on a dark green leather strap.

An Anniversary Upgrade for Vacheron Constantin's Most Complicated Watch