The Ramen Podcast

Triumph, tragedy, survival, luck...you name it, Ryan Wants Ramen has been through it. After recently losing his newborn son to SIDS, Ryan wanted to come on and talk ramen to help him cope and raise awareness for others. His positive mindset is just what we all need to hear and help with our own struggles. After taking a two year hiatus from ramen, Ryan has announced that he's making a return and will become the new head chef for Kenji's Ramen in Vancouver, WA.

This episode is dedicated to Casey Callahan. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death for babies between 1-month and 1-year-old in the United States. For more information please visit sids.org.

To donate to the family please visit their GoFundMe Page.

Follow Ryan Wants Ramen: @ryan.wants.ramen

Follow Kenji's Ramen: @kenjisramen

Music by ⁠⁠⁠Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop⁠⁠⁠

Host: Keizo Shimamoto ⁠⁠⁠@goramen⁠⁠

This week we have the honor of welcoming two ramen freaks from deep within the ramen matrix who share their experiences of learning from the intricacies of the world-wide-web and beyond. John Josephson and Elvin Yung are the next ramen hopefuls leading a new generation of ramen heads to our beloved bowl of soup and noodles.

Follow John Josephson ⁠⁠⁠@kansuibae

Follow Elvin Yung @shikaku.ramen

Music by ⁠⁠Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop⁠⁠

Host: Keizo Shimamoto ⁠⁠@goramen⁠⁠

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz ⁠@ramen_fiendd

This week we spend almost two hours with the Ramen Beast talking about past, present, and the future of ramen and what he's been working on with the Mensho team overseas. Throw in a little secret drama and this episode will leave you yearning for more.

Follow Ramen Beast ⁠⁠@ramen_beast

Music by ⁠Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop⁠

Host: Keizo Shimamoto ⁠@goramen⁠

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz @ramen_fiendd

This week we welcome a young legend-in-the-making, Payesone Myatmon from Zao Stamina Ramen in Bethesda, Maryland. Born and raised in the shadows of legendary ramen shops in Ikebukuro, Payesone is a second-generation ramen chef who has the culinary pedigree and training every young ramen freak desires. Striving to protect tradition and represent his roots, Zao Stamina Ramen is quickly becoming one of the best ramen shops in the nation.

Follow Zao Stamina Ramen ⁠@ZaoStaminaRamen.md

Follow Payesone ⁠⁠@payesone

Music by ⁠Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop⁠

Host: Keizo Shimamoto ⁠@goramen⁠

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz ⁠@ramen_fiendd⁠ 

Passion prevails from 5am until eternity! This week we welcome Frank from 5 AM Ramen to share his envious story of turning a ramen hobby into a dream business. From social media ramen expert to Tokyo ramen tour guide (and now Kyoto too!), Frank gives us insight on how far one's passion can take you.

Follow Frank @5amramen

Book a tour! https://www.tokyoramentours.com

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

Host: Keizo Shimamoto @goramen

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz @ramen_fiendd 

This week we welcome one of the most exciting ramen shops in the country and maybe even the world. I've been trying to get Clint on an episode for years. I finally got him and this episode never wanted to end. We talk about Japan, the early years of his popup, and the months long battle with the city of SF to open his brick and mortar. Join us as we listen and learn about life in and around the ramen shop called Noodle in a Haystack.

Follow @noodleinhaystack

Reserve a seat

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

Host: Keizo Shimamoto @goramen

Co-Host: Shawn Bentz @ramen_fiendd

This week I welcome Chef Dave Wang from The Aspen Ramen Club in Aspen, Colorado. A high-altitude, down-to-Earth kinda guy whose professional aspirations early on in his career led him back to his love for ramen. Do you have your ramen token?

Follow @chefdavewang

Also follow @ramen_fiendd and welcome my new co-host!!

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

An epic episode that almost got lost forever. This week we welcome Daisuke Watanabe and his wife Yuka (and Jeff!) from Ramen FeeL in Tokyo to talk about their experience making ramen in America. We also welcome the team from Pickerel in Providence, RI & Mochiko in Cincinnati, OH. Grab your popcorn and hot weiners cuz this one hits! Special thanks to Jeff for helping recover the files!

Follow Ramen FeeL @ramen_feel

Follow Pickerel @pickerel_ri

Follow Mochiko @mochikocincy

Follow Jeff @jeffreythewang

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

This week we welcome two brothers who recently took a 'dream ramen journey' of their own and slurped 57 bowls at 40 shops in 22 days. Wow! Hear their take on all of them and how the trip has inspired their own ramen making dreams.

Follow @Zaknoodle

Follow Brett Chalabian @bchalab

Follow Matt Chalabian @daschalaa

View their list of ramen shops here

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop

God Speed you ROONEY! Fresh off his three-week trip to Japan, we sit down to discuss his ramen journey from Nashville to the World. Inspired by the famous motto "Ramen is life, Rock & Roll is greatest", ROONEY's enthusiasm is forever contagious. From humble popup to resident ramen shop in a brewery, Black Dynasty Ramen is looking next to find a shop of their own.

Follow Black Dynasty Ramen @blackdynastyramen

Find them in Nashville at Black Dynasty Secret Ramen House

Opening clip from ゴッド・スピード・ユー! Black Emperor

Music by Michael Sakamoto & Judo Chop